Mark Hughes admitted some Stoke fans' unrest at their latest defeat was 'understandable' as the pressure mounted on him following a 3-0 loss to West Ham.
The heat has been cranked up on the Potters boss, who heard chants of 'Hughes out' and 'sacked in the morning' at the bet365 Stadium as his team suffered a fifth defeat in six to a Hammers side who have taken seven points in eight days under David Moyes.
Stoke were only trailing to a contentiously-awarded penalty in the first half before Marko Arnautovic haunted his old club by doubling the lead, and substitute Diafra Sakho added a third to leave Hughes' men just above the relegation zone.