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Swansea boss Monk promises post-match drink with Stoke staff

Swansea manager Garry Monk says he will share a post-match drink with his old teammate Mark Hughes despite their public spat at Stoke in October.

The paths of the two managers will cross for the first time on Saturday since a controversial Britannia Stadium contest saw Monk accuse Stoke's on-loan winger Victor Moses of "cheating" to win a penalty and labelled referee Michael Oliver's decision to award the spot-kick as "disgusting."

Hughes took exception to those remarks, saying it was "unacceptable" for Monk to label one of his players a cheat and later questioned the Football Association's decision not to charge the Swansea manager for his comment.

Stoke assistant manager Mark Bowen went even further by saying Monk was "totally out of order," but the Swansea boss says the incident is long forgotten as far as he is concerned.

"There will be no problem from my side of things and I'm sure there won't be from Mark," Monk said.

"What I said [at Stoke] is there for everyone to see but I've moved well on from that and focused on the future.

"If other people are concerned about that let them be, it does not bother me one bit because I'm only focused on the game.

"I'll have them [Stoke coaching staff] in for a drink after the game. One hundred percent. No problem.

"There's wine and beer in the fridge or a soft drink if that's what they want."

Hughes appeared to patronise Monk after Stoke's 2-1 win at the Britannia when he said the rookie boss "would learn to bite his lip on such matters as he gains managerial experience," but the former Southampton teammates will not carry a grudge into the Liberty Stadium return.

"People say I'm young, but I'm too long in the tooth," Monk said.

"I've been in the game long enough to know that things get said and done and, whether you agree or not, you must have honour.

"Win, lose or draw, you make sure you're respectful to whoever you're playing against.

"I was at Southampton with Mark and he is a good guy, I respect the work that he does and he's had an excellent season.

"You will have disputes and different opinions on certain things but that's what it is."

The two clubs are in a battle for eighth place with Swansea currently holding a three-point advantage having reached the 50-point mark for the first time in their Premier League history.

But Stoke would move above Swansea on goal difference by winning at the Liberty Stadium for the first time.

"It's a massive game for both clubs," Monk said.

"They are trying to hunt us down and we want to extend that lead by getting another three points.

"Our fans really need to make this as vocal and vibrant as possible to help the team.

"You cannot underestimate how important that is and in these defining games it is more important than ever."

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