Stoke 0-1 Newcastle: Ayoze Perez scores second goal of the season to heap more misery on Mark Hughes as Potters drop to 16th in the table

Daily Mail | January 1, 2018

If Mark Hughes is planning any New Year’s resolutions, he may want to consider giving up gambling.

The Welshman admitted that he played a weakened team in a 5-0 defeat at Chelsea two days ago to give Stoke a better chance of beating Newcastle, and the high-risk strategy backfired in the wind and rain here.

Ayoze Perez grabbed a 73rd minute winner to send Newcastle above Stoke in the table as Hughes’s slipped back to two places above the relegation zone.

Newcastle forward Ayoze Perez met the ball with his right foot before firing past Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland

Perez celebrates with substitute Dwight Gayle after his goal put Newcastle ahead with 17 minutes remainingu00a0 — Perez celebrates with substitute Dwight Gayle after his goal put Newcastle ahead with 17 minutes remaining

Stoke forward, Saido Berahino, hadn't been on the pitch long when Perez struck to heap more misery on Mark Hughes's side

Perez finished off a lovely move which was started in Newcastle's half - see more analysis in our brilliant Match Zone — Perez finished off a lovely move which was started in Newcastle's half - see more analysis in our brilliant

The home supporters responded with chants of ‘Hughes out’ at the final whistle as the Newcastle fans sang ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning’, and his future in the Potteries will be under scrutiny again after this defeat.