Stoke chairman Peter Coates has delivered the dreaded vote of confidence in manager Mark Hughes in the build-up to Saturday's Premier League clash at Watford.

The veteran Potters owner publicly backed his manager amid mounting criticism on the back of a 2-1 home defeat by Bournemouth on Saturday, which itself followed a 7-2 hammering at Manchester City.

Only goal difference separates Stoke from the bottom three with nine games gone, and they have lost four of their last five games in all competitions, including a humbling Carabao Cup exit to Bristol City.

And Coates is demanding a turnaround from the club's upcoming games in what appears an ultimatum to the Welsh boss over his future.

“We have winnable games coming up which we need to win,” he stated. “We need to get back to winning.

I feel we have got a good squad that should be capable of competing in this league and nothing has changed my view on that.

“I am concerned about the last two poor results and we need to do better. But I did say two poor results. I don’t think results have been poor up to then.”

Coates added that Hughes retains the confidence of the Stoke board, but how long that will last if they drop into the relegation zone on Saturday is another question.