Football
10y

Stoke boss Mark Hughes hails Mame Biram Diouf winner at Man City

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes hailed Mame Biram Diouf's stunning winner after his side claimed a shock 1-0 victory at Manchester City.

- Pellegrini: City had a 'bad day' against Stoke

Diouf ran from deep inside his own half to nutmeg Joe Hart and hand the Potters all three points at the Etihad Stadium.

It was a brilliant first goal in Stoke colours for the former Manchester United forward, who was signed on a free transfer from Hannover in the summer.

Hughes a news conference: "We are really pleased for Mame. He is a striker and when you come to a new club you want to make an impression as quickly as possible and that means scoring goals.

"We could see he was going to give us something we didn't have last year, which was pace and power on the break. It was an outstanding goal and I hadn't realised until I saw it again how deep he picked the ball up.

"He kept on going and you always sensed he was going to go all the way and get a shot off. Thankfully there was enough power on it to beat Joe. It was fantastic goal to win any game.''

Diouf might also have had a penalty in the first half when he appeared to be tripped by Aleksandar Kolarov, while he went close to a second when he almost connected with a Peter Odemwingie cross.

Yaya Toure went closest for City when he hit the bar and the midfielder also appealed for a penalty late on after a challenge by Erik Pieters, but he was instead booked for diving.

Hughes said: "Apparently people were saying it was a good call for a penalty. But I saw the one we should have had in the first half, which I felt was a good call.

"I am going to say they even themselves out. We scored a goal so we would have won anyway.''

The victory was Stoke's first of the season and Hughes expects it to lift their campaign.

He said: "It was important. Either way, I always sensed this was a game that was going to kickstart our season.''

Hughes, a former City boss, said the only personal satisfaction he took was in the importance of the victory for his side, as he had "no axe to grind" with the Premier League champions.

He added: "I was here as the manager and enjoyed that time. It didn't last as long as I thought it could have done, but there you go. You just move on to the next challenge. I am at a good club now.''

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