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Mark Hughes content with Stoke's Premier League point at Brighton

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting
Image: Eric Choupo-Moting put Stoke ahead at Brighton but they couldn't see out their lead

Mark Hughes was content with Stoke's point from their 2-2 draw at Brighton but bemoaned their inability to see the game out and take all three.

City twice led at the AMEX Stadium, first through Eric Choupo-Moting's opener and then when Kurt Zouma struck just two minutes after a first equaliser from Pascal Gross.

The hosts ultimately restored parity for good when Jose Izquierdo netted after an hour - but Hughes still took positives from an engrossing fixture.

The Stoke manager said: "It's an away point in the Premier League. You have to be happy with that.

"I don't think they created too much of note. I'm probably disappointed in terms of the goals we conceded.

Stoke City's French defender Kurt Zouma heads the ball to score their second goal for 1-2 during the English Premier League football match between Brighton
Image: Kurt Zouma's goal was Stoke's sixth from a corner in the Premier League this season, more than any other team

"There were opportunities, certainly with the first one, to nip things in the bud. We missed a couple of tackles on the edge of the box which allowed them to get the ball into a good idea.

"They got a little bit of luck with the ball going through (Lee Grant's) legs but in general play overall, I thought we were very much in control of the game.

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"They didn't really affect us too much in terms of an attacking sense so an away performance, I suppose you have to be happy with that.

"I'm slightly disappointed we twice got into winning positions and weren't able to see the game to a conclusion but overall, a point is good so we'll take that."

Stoke City's Kurt Zouma (right) celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the game with Ryan Shawcross and Kevin Wimmer (left) during the Premier League
Image: Mark Hughes was happy to take a point from a competitive fixture against Brighton

Zouma's goal, scored moments after Gross had struck, was Stoke's sixth Premier League from a corner this season, more than any other team.

While Hughes took satisfaction from that, he believes his team could have been even more effective at set pieces.

He added: "I just think in terms of what we try to do and the way we manage games, that's something which has become more evident in our play in recent weeks.

"We've got guys who, if we put the right balls in the right area, they'll get on the end of them.

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"We're probably guilty at times of getting in good positions and not producing the quality of ball those guys need.

"At set plays I thought our delivery was okay but in general play that maybe let us down on a couple of occasions. We had good situations and we didn't produce that ball we wanted.

"We are more resilient though. That's two away games recently and we haven't been beaten so I think that augers well for games ahead of us."

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