"If people start looking at what we do on a daily or weekly basis in terms of preparation, looking for reasons why we are not winning, they won't find any, because we prepare better than any.
"We've had a number of injuries to the back four. Once we get that continuity that we're looking for in terms of selection, hopefully we'll get a clear run now. Everybody wants a settled side and we haven't had that yet.
"I speak every week with Tony, Amit and the other shareholders. I think they were encouraged by our performance against Everton [a 1-1 draw], they know the reasons we are where we are.
"We have discussed those at length; we have had problems, but they seem to be resolving themselves now, so we fully anticipate the coming weeks will be better.
"They look at everything – obviously the results, because that is the most disappointing part, but certainly they are encouraged by the manner of our performances and what we have been able to produce, albeit not for the full 90 minutes.
"But they are very supportive, and I'm very happy I have owners and a chairman who understand what we are trying to do and believe in what we are doing."
Hughes believes defender Anton Ferdinand will continue to snub the Kick It Out anti-racism campaign by refusing to wear the training T-shirt before Saturday's match. "I've not discussed it with him this week. Obviously he didn't last weekend and nothing's changed to any great extent," Hughes said.
Arsenal's Jack Wilshere is finally due to return for his first Premier League match in 17 months. The plan is for him to play around 15 minutes ahead of starting against Reading in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday, but just the sight of England's outstanding young player back on a football pitch is certain to raise damaged morale at the club.
Knee, ankle and foot injuries have curtailed Wilshere since his breakthrough season in 2010-11, and so it was predictable yesterday that Arsène Wenger should lace news of the 20 year-old's comeback with a warning.
"Physically he is at 80 to 85 per cent," said the Arsenal manager. "What you have to consider first is that he has no setback and that you don't put players in situations where they are tired, and don't have coordination, and they pick up an injury.
"After, if you look at a more selfish view, you can say a guy can play an hour. But during this hour it is important that he is fit enough to play."
The key, as Wenger acknowledged, is that Wilshere will only return to "100 per cent" through being reintegrated into the first team. No amount of training can acquire the sharpness that comes through playing regularly. If there are no setbacks, Wenger would expect that to take two months.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is also rated as "60-40" to return for Arsenal. Bacary Sagna is also in contention following long-term injury while Theo Walcott, Wojciech Szczesny and Kieran Gibbs all hope to be available next week, with Abou Diaby due back in a fortnight.
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