5 Premier League managers under pressure

#2 Mark Hughes (Stoke City)

Stoke fans remain hopeful of a turnaround in the fortunes of their team under Hughes

Hughes was appointed as Stoke boss after the departure of Tony Pulis in 2013 and provided top half finishes in his first three seasons, thus justifying his appointment.

Last season Stoke managed to finish 13th in the league, with Hughes aiming to change the style of the Potters who had been often criticised for their playing style. Hughes wanted to incorporate more flair and style in Stoke's play, which was evident by the type of players he signed during the summer.

But it hasn't really worked for Hughes for the last two seasons and he is looking to get the season back on track and escape the lowly position the team currently occupies.

Defensive mess

Kurt Zouma had to be consoled by teammates following the 7-2 defeat at Man City.

An early season victory over Arsenal and a draw with Manchester United were indicative of a bright start to the season. However, a poor run of form including heavy defeats against Chelsea and Manchester City have raised numerous questions.

The arrivals of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Jese Rodriguez has helped fill the void left by the departure of Marko Arnautovic. The less said about Saido Berahino, the better as he has been a complete disaster since joining from West Bromwich Albion.

Defence remains a worry for Stoke despite bringing in three central defenders in the summer. Bruno Martins Indi looks to be suffering from the second-season syndrome while summer signing Kevin Wimmer hasn't hit the ground running as expected.

The addition of Kurt Zouma on a loan deal brought a lot of optimism but is yet to be seen on the field with the defence looking disorganised and lacking in pace as injuries have not allowed Hughes pick a settled back line so far this season.

A fullback should have been a priority with the available options ageing as well as declining in terms of productivity. Stoke have kept 2 clean sheets so far in the league and must improve given the thrifty nature of the team's strikers.

What next?

A favourable run of fixtures for the next four games could be a welcome boost for Hughes and his team to get their season up and running.

Last week's win at Watford was a step towards recovery.

After a summer where the board fully backed the manager, it's his responsibility to make the teamwork. The board are still behind him so the manager might be afforded some time before the dreaded "vote of confidence" is invoked.