Stoke City boss Mark Hughes planning to spoil Middlesbrough party

By PA Sport

Image: Mark Hughes is hoping there will be no more celebrations at Middlesbrough on Saturday

Stoke City boss Mark Hughes hopes to give Middlesbrough an early lesson in the realities of Premier League life.

Hughes begins his fourth season in charge of the Potters with a trip to promoted Boro on Saturday.

A sell-out is expected at the Riverside Stadium as Middlesbrough return to the top flight after a seven-year absence, but Hughes wants to spoil the party.

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Hughes said: "It is not one you would have chosen, facing a newly-promoted team with all the energy and confidence of winning week-in, week-out from the previous year.

"That will still be their mindset, they'll be positive, but we have just got to make them aware, quickly, what the Premier League is all about.

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"We are an accomplished Premier League team in our own right and we have the ability to do that.

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"The crowd will be on a high and we will have to deal with that but we are looking forward to it.

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"We are taking 3,000 fans ourselves so we are going to get great backing. Our fans are great here but away from home they go that extra mile for us. There won't be a situation where we feel isolated out there."

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