Mark Hughes has confessed that Stoke City's poor start to the season could well cost them the chance of hitting their targets for the campaign.

The Potters have lost four games in a row and taken just one point in all, coming on the opening weekend when claiming a 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough.

City's latest heavy defeat came at Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon, as they shipped four goals for the third time already this term to remain at the foot of the Premier League table.

Hughes, who has guided Stoke to ninth-place finishes in each of his three years in charge at the bet365 Stadium, is desperate to see his side quickly turn their fortunes around.

"We have ambitions this season and if this run continues any longer we won't be able to achieve them," he is quoted as saying by BBC Sport. "We need to turn this round very quickly. We haven't got going yet.

"We've been ninth in the last three years, and we spoke about being better than that. Collectively we need to be better. We can't keep conceding easy goals like the first two."

Stoke face West Bromwich Albion and Manchester United in their next two league games ahead of the international break.