Manchester City have slipped to 15th place in the table after picking up just one win in their last six outings, but boss Mark Hughes is confident of shortly being in the top half of the Premier League.

Reflecting on the mere eight-point gap separating relegation from a Uefa Cup place, Hughes said: "It depends on whether you want to put a positive or a negative spin on our situation. We plan to turn people's opinion around.

"We understand where we are. We want to be in the top half going into the New Year.

"It is a strange league this season. It is so close. A couple of back-to-back wins and you are sixth or seventh.

"In the short-term we want to get points on the board. That will calm everyone down.

"It will give us a clear focus for the second half of the season. My teams are always stronger in the second half of the campaign."