Stoke City players Joe Allen, Charlie Adam and Erik Pieters enjoy Christmas party in Manchester with wives after praise from manager Mark Hughes

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Stoke City celebrated their first win in over a month as Mark Hughes' players hit Manchester's Menagerie bar for their Christmas party on Saturday night.

The Potters, who sit 13th in the Premier League, were given the green light to go out by their manager after he praised the 'courage and character' shown in their home victory over Swansea City.

Among the players out ahead of the hectic festive period were Joe Allen, Charlie Adam and Erik Pieters, joined by their wives Lacey-Jo, Sophie and Nermina.

Joe Allen and wife Lacey-Jo were among the Stoke City party out at Menagerie in Manchester

Charlie Adam and wife Sophie are pictured, as well as Erik Pieters and Nermina Pieters-Mekic

They were pictured outside upmarket Manchester eaterie Menagerie to enjoy the festive celebrations before Stoke endure a run of five games in 18 days starting with a trip to Tottenham this coming Saturday.

Stoke are yet to string a run of wins together this season but Saturday's win over Swansea lifted some pressure after a run of four games without victory.

In doing so, they moved up three places to shift away from the relegation zone – six points clear of endangered Crystal Palace and West Ham.

Hughes was delighted with the result, earned in a turnaround by goals from Xherdan Shaqiri and Mame Biram Diouf, given the way his team pulled back from behind.

'It would have been very easy to feel sorry for ourselves,' Hughes said.

'We had to show courage and character and clear our heads. We dusted ourselves down and set about trying to do something about the situation.' 

Mame Biram Diouf and Peter Crouch celebrate together in Saturday's win over Swansea City

Mark Hughes praised his players and they followed up the win with their Christmas party