Hello Guys I am trying to run an sql Query through php but im getting an error that i can't get to fix. 

```
$sql = 'DROP TABLE IF EXISTS Stats;
     CREATE TABLE Stats (
     id int(11) NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY AUTO_INCREMENT,
     name varchar(255) ,
     Type int ,
      below int ,
     meeting int ,
     exceeding int 
     );   ';

if (mysqli_query($con, $sql)) {
    echo "New record created successfully";
} else {
    echo "Error: " . $sql . "<br>" . mysqli_error($con);
}

```

Ant it gives me this error

> 
> You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that
>  corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use
>  near 'CREATE TABLE Stats ( id int(11) NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY
>  AUTO\_INCREMENT, name varc' at line 2
> 
> 
> 

However If I remove the `DROP TABLE IF EXISTS Stats;` Line It works 

```
$sql = 'CREATE TABLE Stats (
id int(11) NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY AUTO_INCREMENT,
  name varchar(255) ,
  Type int ,
  below int ,
  meeting int ,
  exceeding int 
);   ';

```

I get 

> 
> Error: CREATE TABLE Stats ( id int(11) NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY
>  AUTO\_INCREMENT, name varchar(255) , Type int , below int , meeting int
>  , exceeding int ); Table 'stats' already exists
> 
> 
> 

Because I get the message `Table 'stats' already exists`

Any reason or idea on how to fix this issue would be greaty appreciated.