Stoke City defender Moritz Bauer has made a rallying cry to teammates.

The Austrian international, an impressive presence during his five games at right back, says now is not the time for players to feel sorry for themselves.

“It's a really bad situation," he acknowledged, “but there's still games to go and a lot of teams are in a similar situation. Two victories in a row and the whole thing can change a lot.

“We have to be very focused and with this two-week break we can grow together as a team."

Meanwhile, Stoke chairman Peter Coates denies they're suffering this season due to complacency.

He told BBC Sport: "It's nonsense. We haven't been complacent at all.

"You never get complacent in this game. Every season is difficult, every game is difficult. How do you get complacent in something as competitive as the Premier League?

"We are trying to be better all the time. It's constant, you never stop, but it's highly competitive and it's difficult."