Match of the Day running order sees Stoke snubbed and Leicester top the bill more than Arsenal or Manchester City

Stoke were left until last more than any other club while Leicester were first up on eight occasions as they crusied to the title

If Mark Hughes hopes that his time at Stoke City has seen the Potters transformed from a predictably robust side to an aesthetically pleasing top-half regular, it seems he still has a long way to go before convincing Match of the Day.

Stoke were shown last on the BBC’s Premier League highlights programme nine times, more than any other club in the top flight, with the likes of Bojan Krkic, Xherdan Shaqiri and Marko Arnautovic unable to convince producers that the Potters have become one of the teams to watch each weekend.

Unsurprisingly, Leicester topped the bill on more occasions than any other club [eight], while only Arsenal and Manchester City managed to avoid being last on a show throughout the entire season.

Stoke did feature first on three occasions this season when their victories over Chelsea, Manchester City and the thrilling 4-3 success over Everton being picked ahead of all other matches, but Hughes admitted that he is not surprised by the running order snub.

"That is no surprise at all,” said Hughes. “I think it happens every year, and we have been in the top 10 (in the Premier League) for three years and still can't shift that title.

"Over the course of a season you would expect to be on (high up) so many times, but for whatever reason we get slipped back in the running order.

"But we don't really bother too much about it - and I think people probably watch other football shows these days anyway, so don't read too much significance into it."

Leicester’s Premier League title success not only proved every critic wrong in the football world, but it will lead to Gary Lineker presenting the first Match of the Day next season in nothing but his underwear after making a daring promise earlier in the season.

After Leicester's eight first-up screenings, City followed closely with seven, while dethroned champions Chelsea joined Liverpool and relegated Norwich in being top of the show six times. Only Aston Villa and West Brom were not shown first throughout the entire season, although Villa won’t even be on the show next term after their dismal campaign resulted in relegation to the Championship.

The viewing order still appears to be based largely on the number of goals scored in a match, with the first game averaging 3.89 goals compared to the last match averaging just 1.37.