Stoke City succumbed to a third consecutive defeat in all competitions on Tuesday as Huddersfield Town sealed a 1-0 victory at the Bet365 Stadium.

Having entered the clash knowing that a victory would allow them to leapfrog the Terriers in the Championship standings, the Potters initially made a positive start to the clash.

Although they were unable to carve out any clear cut opportunities, Stoke dictated the tempo of the game and looked relatively comfortable throughout the first-half.

However, following the break, Huddersfield began to grow in confidence with Adama Diakhaby forcing Badou Ndiaye to make a crucial challenge inside the penalty area.

After Peter Etebo, Lee Gregory and Tyrese Campbell failed to hit the target for Stoke, the visitors produced a moment of real quality as Diahkaby set up Juninho Bacunha who slotted past goalkeeper Adam Federici.

Although Stoke pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages of the game, Huddersfield held on to secure their first league win of the season.

During this particular clash, the Potters failed to register a single shot on target (via BBC Sport) despite having 18 attempts at the bet365 Stadium.

When you consider that this is now the third time that Stoke haven't scored this season, it is clear that poor finishing is a key reason for their recent demise.

With the Potters set to face Swansea City on Saturday, it will be intriguing to see whether Jones can find a solution to this particular issue.

The Verdict

Whilst Stoke have been far from convincing in a defensive sense this season, a lack of attacking threat has also hindered their chances of achieving success over the past two months.

Currently at a risk of being dragged into a relegation battle, the Potters need to make drastic changes if they are to escape their current plight.

Therefore, it may be time for chairman Peter Coates to replace Jones with someone who can galvanise Stoke's players who are clearly bereft of confidence.

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