After an excellent 2015/16 Premier League campaign, Mark Hughes’ Stoke City have had a difficult start to the new season.
After a poor start to January 2016, where Stoke City won only one of their four Premier League fixtures, the Potters picked up their form over the course of February and March, recording wins against Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Watford, with some excellent displays from Xherdan Shaqiri and Marko Arnautovic.
Stoke City’s Xherdan Shaqiri celebrates scoring their second goal with Marko Arnautovic
However, of their remaining seven Premier League fixtures between April and May, Stoke City managed only one win, coming on the final day of the season against West Ham United. Despite their excellent start to the season in 2015, Stoke City’s form at the tail end of the season had undone a lot of their hard work, and the Potters finished 9th.
Stoke City manager Mark Hughes gestures
Knowing the Potters needed reinforcements, with a creative midfielder and a striker at the top of the list, Mark Hughes wasted no time in improving his side over the summer. Bringing in Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen, who had been having an excellent Euros with Wales, and Manchester City’s Wilfried Bony on loan, Stoke City looked a lot stronger going into the 16/17 Premier League season.
Stoke City’s Joe Allen comes on as a substitute to replace Bojan Krkic
However, despite the reinforcements, Stoke City’s new season got off to a very poor start. After an opening day 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough, Stoke City went on lose their next four Premier League fixtures, until finally stopping the rut with a 1-1 draw with Tony Pulis’ West Bromwich Albion, thanks to a goal from new signing, Joe Allen.
Stoke City’s Joe Allen celebrates scoring their first goal
The result was followed by another 1-1 draw, but this time with high-flying Manchester United, thanks to a goal from Allen once again. The result showed signs of improvement for the Potters, after a poor start to the season.
Stoke City’s Joe Allen scores their first goal against Manchester United
The draw acted as somewhat of a catalyst for the Potters though, who went on to record three straight wins against Sunderland, Hull City and Swansea City, the latter thanks to goals from Wilfried Bony and an Alfie Mawson own goal.
Stoke City’s Wilfried Bony scores their first goal
November however would prove to be another tricky month for the Potters. After a 1-1 draw with West Ham, Mark Hughes’ side then suffered a 0-1 defeat to Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth. However, they ended the month with a 0-1 win away at Watford, thanks to a Gomes own goal.
Watford’s Etienne Capoue in action with Stoke City’s Bruno Martins Indi
Starting the month of December with a win, things were again starting to look up for Stoke City, after a 2-0 home victory against Burnley, thanks to goals from Walters and Muniesa.
Stoke City’s Jonathan Walters scores their first goal
However, since then, Stoke City have been without a win, and their form looks to be dipping again. Going into the new year, Mark Hughes will be hoping his Stoke City side can find some consistency, or else they may find themselves lingering towards the wrong end of the table come the end of the 16/17 season, instead of progressing as they did last season.
Stoke City manager Mark Hughes
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