Stoke City 1 Hull City 0: Mark Hughes eyes top-half finish

Mark Hughes challenged Stoke City to secure a top-half finish after Peter Odwemwingie fired the Potters to victory over Hull City.

The Potters broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute after former West Bromwich Albion striker Odwemwingie slotted a finish past Steve Harper.

I am enjoying my football here and my team-mates are brilliant with me. We hope to continue that

Mark Hughes

Stoke moved up to 10th thanks to slender win and are on course to secure a record points tally, and Hughes is happy with his side’s form.

“When we got the lead, we were quite comfortable,” Hughes told BBC Sport. “We have won four in five which is good at Premier League level.

“We have needed the threat in behind and [matchwinner] Peter Odemwingie gives us that. He ran through the middle and capitalised on the errant pass. He has hit the ground running and done well for us.

“Our intention was to get into the top half and we are in a good position now. We are going to try and go for it.”

Odemwingie expressed his happiness at Stoke after scoring his fifth goal in nine games for the Potters following his January move.

“I am very pleased, maybe not with the performance but we dug deep. We didn’t create enough in the first half but we knew we had to be committed today,” Odemwingie added.

“I am enjoying my football here and my team-mates are brilliant with me. We hope to continue that.”