Mark Hughes: 'Nothing fortunate about Manchester City draw'

Mark Hughes 'smiles' before the match between Manchester City and Stoke City on March 8, 2017
© SilverHub
Mark Hughes praises his Stoke City players for sticking to the gameplan by frustrating Manchester City and earning a credible point at the Etihad Stadium.

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has insisted that his side were good value for their point at Manchester City after restricting his former club to minimal chances.

The Citizens mustered just the one shot on target all evening - a first-half free kick by Aleksandar Kolarov - as they struggled to break down a resolute Potters backline.

Man City did improve in the second period following the arrival of David Silva from the bench, with their best opening seeing the Spaniard shoot wide after some nice interplay, but in the end the visitors - thrashed 4-0 by Tottenham Hotspur last time out on their travels - held out for a positive point.

"We had a good shape about us. Sometimes people go on about systems and formations but it's not about that, it's about seeing through a game plan," Hughes told Sky Sports News.

"We could have very easily taken the lead and we restricted them to very few clear opportunities. Not many teams come here and restrict Man City to so few chances.

"We didn't rely on luck. We made our own luck and were difficult to break down. We were all disappointed with the result at Spurs and it hurt us as a group. You can see what it meant tonight and that shows the honesty of the group."

Stoke, who remain ninth in the Premier League table, return to action on Saturday with a home fixture against leaders Chelsea.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola watches on during his side's Premier League clash with Hull City at the Etihad Stadium on Boxing Day
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Chelsea27213357203766
2Tottenham HotspurSpurs27168353203356
3Manchester CityMan City27175553292456
4Liverpool28167560352555
5Arsenal26155655312450
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd261310339221749
7Everton28138747301747
8West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom28117103637-140
9Stoke CityStoke2899103240-836
10Southampton2696113234-233
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham2896133849-1133
12Burnley2894153142-1131
13Watford2787123347-1431
14Bournemouth2886144054-1430
15Leicester CityLeicester2776143045-1527
16Swansea CitySwansea2883173661-2527
17Crystal Palace2774163546-1125
18Hull City2866162654-2824
19Middlesbrough27410131930-1122
20Sunderland2754182450-2619