Mark Hughes is back under serious pressure after his gamble at Chelsea ultimately backfired, in what could become a watershed moment for the Stoke manager.

Hughes’ future at the bet365 Stadium appears increasingly precarious after Ayoze Perez’s 73rd minute goal secured Newcastle only their second victory in 13 Premier League games.

For the second time this season, there were loud chants of 'Hughes Out' from the home supporters at the final whistle and this felt like a significant, perhaps fatal, blow.

Hughes surely had to win this game after fielding such a weakened team at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, yet this dismal defeat and the manner of the performance will only increase the scrutiny on the Welshman.

Despite his impressive first three years in charge, when he finished ninth every year, the statistics right now are damning: he only claimed 11 wins from 40 Premier League games in 2017 while Stoke have the worst defensive record in Europe’s top five leagues.