Stoke City vs Newcastle United at Stadion.Core.ViewModels.Matchday.LocationViewModel

Many fans have already left, plenty others are making their way towards the exit. There's likely to be a chorus of boos at the finale, with some already holding up signs saying 'Hughes out'.

A flurry of corners for the Stoke and the latest is taken by Adam. It's another decent delivery but Diouf, who's made quite the introduction since replacing Shaqiri, heads over the bar.

FOUR minutes of added time! 

Newcastle now defending in numbers and Stoke desperately truing to force their way back into the match. Diouf drafts a tame shot wide, giving the visitors a chance to catch their breath.

That's the chance! Unbelievably Stoke haven't found an equaliser! A scramble inside the area sees Diame head towards goal but Darlow again makes a divine intervention, with Manquillo then stealing the ball off Berahino's toe to ensure they don't have another chance.

Stoke just can't quite find the avenue for an equaliser. Choupo-Moting has just seen an opportunity pass him by after some strong defending but there is still something for the hosts to take here.

Stoke need to find a response but Darlow has done extremely well today. That's twice he's made two big saves, with the first coming when the game was still goalless. It may require something special to beat him here.

WHAT A SAVE! Darlow again with a spectacular save! A cross into the box is first taken down by Choupo-Moting, then finds it way to Crouch but he can't get it under control. It falls to Diouf and it seems like an equaliser is inevitable- but Darlow again gets down well to make a superb stop.

Stoke do of course have one more substitution to make and the decision that Hughes makes on the bench will be a crucial one. Unfortunately, from what we've seen from them this season, it probably won't be enough.

It does of course mean that Stoke's wait for a goalless draw in the Premier League continues and ensures that Newcastle have just the one. 

That's set up a dramatic finish to this game and this is set to be the most important 15 minutes of Mark Hughes' spell in charge of Stoke.

Huge shout! Gayle makes movement to start a decent run and Zouma bundles him to the ground. It certainly looked like a penalty but neither the referee or his assistant are interested.

Heading into a crucial twenty minutes for both sides and Mark Hughes in particular. Whatever the end result, it's clear from this performance that both sides need to spend to improve their squad.

CLOSE! Shelvey steps up from the resulting free-kick and it's a decent attempt. It finishes a yard or so wide of the mark but Butland looked concerned.

Newcastle still look like the most dangerous out of the two sides but Butland has had a fairly easy time since the break. At the other end, Darlow was called into action to prevent Choupo-Moting's effort from range but hasn't had to do much else.

Stoke have had their backs against the wall for a while but they have a corner. Adam delivers into a decent area but it goes all the way through, meaning the wait for a goal here continues.

Tide of the game now flowing in Newcastle's favour, as they continue to find joy down the right. Butland is yet to be properly tested since the break but the Stoke defence are being kept on their toes.

Decent spell for Newcastle this, who now earn a corner. Ritchie heads over towards the Newcastle fans to take it and they go short. It's clearly one off the training ground but it doesn't work out, as Crouch heads the ball away when it eventually comes into the area.

SAVE! Incredible save from Darlow! Stoke have done well since the break and Choupo-Moting moves well to find room the shoot, firing towards the far post but being prevented by the Newcastle man. Much better from the Potters!

That's better! Adam surges down the right, finding pace from somewhere, and plays a dangerous cross into the area. Darlow palms it away and it's a crucial intervention from the stopper, as it would have surely been the opening goal had he missed it.

Hughes really needs a win, despite maintaining the support of the owners. The fans have started to turn and it's rather understandable, particularly with attacking displays like this.

Stoke starting the second-half as they finished the first, knocking the ball around and maintaining possession. Newcastle seem happy to let them do that, as they're not doing anything when it comes into the attacking third.

KICK-OFF! Stoke now kick to the left and get us back underway. Hopefully we'll see more action around the penalty box in this half!

Butland makes another save after a tame effort from Ritchie, as we enter the one minute added on.

Huge appeals for a Stoke foul on the edge of the box but the referee isn't interested. Pieters is barged to the ground off the ball and there was certainly a case for a free-kick but Chris Kavanagh gestures that it was momentum that caused the collision.

Edging towards half-time and the talks at the break will be crucial. Rafael Benitez will be the happier of the two managers as it stands but he's been seeing the same old problem with his attack. As for Stoke, they need to get going.

Charlie Adam strikes at goal from the halfway line and fires it over the bar when Darlow was on his line. In terms of pointless attempts, that tops the lot.

Choupo-Moting wins a corner, giving Stoke an opportunity from a set-piece, but Shaqiri's delivery is easily headed away. The Potters put the ball back into the box again and Crouch miscues an acrobatic attempt.

Another chance for Newcastle, as Ritchie rises high to head towards goal. It's a comfortable save for Butland but it continues a worrying trend for Stoke.

Stoke need to improve in attack but this game is definitely there for the taking. They need to quell the Newcastle storm for now though.

I mentioned Newcastle's attacking woes earlier and it's been the difference here. Decent opportunities but they're yet to find the net. Benitez may already be dreaming about a new striker.

Stoke have plenty of rugby references thrown about and it seemed that Clark had got himself confused, as he went for a conversion there.

WHAT A MISS! How did that not go in!? A dangerous corner was flicked on by Murphy and Clark had acres of room at the far post to tuck it home. Instead, he sends an effort into the stands. 

Promising period of the game for Stoke but I'm reluctant to say that Darlow has been tested. He did make that save from Adam but it was probably a shot for the club calendar as it was extremely dramatic.

SAVE! One for the cameras from Darlow, who shuffles across to palm Adam's free-kick from 35 yards behind. 

Stoke have had the majority of possession so far but they're yet to do much with it, as Darlow hasn't been tested. This is the sort of match that can be the difference between safety and relegation, so I'd like to see more from the Potters.

Not too sure how Hughes will be feeling so far, as his side haven't quite got themselves going in attack and their defensive line continues to crumble. Fortunately, Atsu has been wasteful.

Decent game on show here to start 2018 as both sides are going for it, which is understandable considering their current positions. Only the one clear-cut chance though so far.

Tom Edwards has done well down the right hand side for the Potters and just played a dangerous ball into the area but the Newcastle defence got it away. Certainly a positive for Stoke though, with the youngster making his fourth consecutive start.

Better from Stoke as a direct ball is taken down well from Crouch, who smashes an effort past the wrong side of the post. The offside flag was raised though so it wouldn't have counted. 

Atsu is the main talking point from the early exchanges and it sums up the biggest problems for both sides. Stoke's defence is leaking once again and Newcastle don't seem to have the calibre in attack to find an opening. Both areas could be strengthened now that the January window is open.

SAVE! Atsu has another chance but it's wasted again! Perez charges forward and feeds through Yedlin out wide, who cuts the ball into the middle where the Ghanian international is lurking. It's an ok effort but not enough to beat Butland, who makes a good save.

Stoke are struggling to retain possession here but they get a free-kick just inside the Newcastle half, after Yedlin impedes Choupo-Moting. Adam delivers into the middle but the visitors' defence holds firm.

WIDE! Atsu has been the threat for Newcastle but he's left his shooting boots in the North East. Pieters heads a cross away but he gets nowhere near enough distance on it, allowing Atsu to collect and aim for goal. He tries to curl an effort into the corner but gets his angles wrong.

Shaqiri able to continue, which is a relief for Stoke, and those hoping for goals today may be in luck. The Potters are yet to have a goalless draw in the Premier League this season and Newcastle have had just one - which came at the weekend against Brighton.

Stoke had a chance to break there and only a superb tackle from Yedlin quelled that threat. There are concerns for the hosts though as Shaqiri is receiving treatment following that challenge.

Corner to Newcastle after the Magpies break and Atsu drags a shot wide, though it takes a deflection. They go short and immediately concede possession. 

Stoke starting well here, with Adam's cross into the area collected by Darlow. They've settled into the game well and have dominated possession in the early exchanges, although they are yet to cause any real danger.

KICK-OFF! Newcastle get us underway in this crucial clash at the bottom of the Premier League and kick to the left.