Adkins: Stoke point shows how far we have come (From Daily Echo)
When news happens, text SDE and your photos or videos to 80360. Or contact us by email and phone.
Adkins: Stoke point shows how far we have come
8:35am Monday 31st December 2012 in Sport
Adkins: Stoke point shows how far we have come
Nigel Adkins insisted Saints’ 3-3 draw with Stoke is proof his team have adapted to life in the Premier League.
There were few hopes for a Saints victory before their game at the Britannia Stadium with the Potters undefeated at home in the league this season.
Stoke had only conceded four home goals in nine games – the best home defensive record in any of the top leagues in Europe.
But Saints changed their team to deal with the hosts’ physical threat, and scored three goals in the first half.
They might have had more, and in the end were only denied a memorable victory by a stunning 90th minute equaliser from Cameron Jerome.
“It just shows how far we’ve come,” reflected Adkins.
“We do play some good football but this was a different mindset and a different mentality, but we’re coming away with something which is important.
“The players have shown another side to their game which is really important.
“There’s a lot of positives to take from the game.
“We knew we had to weather the storm and that was the case in the last half hour of the game when the ball was coming forward from a relentless situation.”
Adkins was refusing to let the fact that Saints let a 3-1 lead slip, and failed to see it out at 3-2 with Stoke down to ten men, dampen his enthusiasm.
“It’s a fantastic point away from home,” he said.
“Stoke had only conceded four goals at home this season and we’ve scored three and could have scored more.
“It’s always a difficult place to come to, our supporters were great and first half it was only us you could hear because our game management was spot on.
“We changed a few of the players around because we knew we’d have to deal with an aerial bombardment that would probably come.
“The players have been top drawer. We scored some really good goals.
“We knew at a period of time Stoke would get plenty of balls into the area.
“You look at the size of the team they finished with was really big, and the players have had to defend manfully.
“At the end of the day it’s a wonder strike from the lad to get Stoke City an equaliser.
“The turning point is that probably we could have scored a fourth one, but great credit to the players.
“It’s a great point away from home and the players have gone and demonstrated another side to their game.
“We do pass the ball about and play, and this was another aspect and mentality.
“It’s two away games we’re undefeated and there’s a lot of positives to take.”
Comments(15)
mack chinnon
says...
8:50am Mon 31 Dec 12
SO50 Saint
says...
9:04am Mon 31 Dec 12
kent141
says...
9:21am Mon 31 Dec 12
He really must win the silly statement of the season from the "positives" he took from the emirates , the only "positive" was that Arsenal dident score 10 or more
dennytg
says...
9:21am Mon 31 Dec 12
Normandy
says...
9:57am Mon 31 Dec 12
SO50 Saint wrote:Agree with this post, we should not be suprised to be winning a game and then be happy ecause it turns out to be a draw because we would have settled for this before the game.
I've been very suprised with peoples reactions to this game yes a point would have been good before the game but being 3-1 up you have to take all 3. We were excellent first half and until watching the highlights back I didnt realise how well Guly played so not gonna slate him for that miss. As far as I see it NA left the subs too late we were losing the midfield battle in the 2nd half and nothing was done to change that. That's where we lost it a few defensive substitutions early on and we would have had the points.
We should have held on after being 3 -1 up. Come pn NA please get this sorted. Good luck Saints for next game.
St Forlife
says...
10:06am Mon 31 Dec 12
His job is to pick the players up and rebuild them ready for the next game. Just because he doesn't talk about the dissapointment of conceding a 2 goal advantage doesn't mean he won't address it.
I like positivity. You can't turn the clock back so no point moaning about what has happened but you can do something going forward. I'd rather listen to a manager talking about what is good than what is bad.
As for the bad - well looking at the table the deluge of goals at the back hasn't been stopped entirely, but 7 or 8 games ago no one would have thought we'd have the best goal difference in the bottom 6 (not a proud fact I know - but we are where we are) and that is worth another point! The defence is in need of strenghthening and midfield too have a defensive responsibility - and Corky has come in and done brilliantly - but more work to do there.
The next few games are going to be tough with the young Saints graduates flying at Arsenal and Chelsea in form again. But I still look around the teams in the PL and reckon we're at least as good as everyone outside the top 8 or 9 - so let's hope January sees one or two additions that make a difference - and when Adam get's back we're be chasing league places not survival come April.
SO50 Saint
says...
10:12am Mon 31 Dec 12
He really must win the silly statement of the season from the "positives" he took from the emirates , the only "positive" was that Arsenal dident score 10 or more”
Oh Darren Kenton, do you really expect NA to come out and criticise the side constantly. Just because that's what Saggyface always does doesn't mean it will work take yesterday for instance. I would far rather NA talks to the press about the positives and addresses the negatives behind closed doors.
OSPREYSAINT
says...
10:48am Mon 31 Dec 12
st.athan saint
says...
10:50am Mon 31 Dec 12
SO50 Saint wrote:was there and never saw much of a midfield battle but with walters jones jerome and crouch on the field wasn't difficult to work out stoke's tactics - still got neckache. Thank god haven't got to watch them every week
I've been very suprised with peoples reactions to this game yes a point would have been good before the game but being 3-1 up you have to take all 3. We were excellent first half and until watching the highlights back I didnt realise how well Guly played so not gonna slate him for that miss. As far as I see it NA left the subs too late we were losing the midfield battle in the 2nd half and nothing was done to change that. That's where we lost it a few defensive substitutions early on and we would have had the points.
SO50 Saint
says...
10:56am Mon 31 Dec 12
Rising_Son
says...
11:17am Mon 31 Dec 12
SO50 Saint wrote:And, if we had strengthened midfield, and they then sent on Crouch and Jerome, do you think we would have coped better? I have my doubts.
Well they had the likes of Whelan Whitehead etc all in there I feel a bit more strength in that area of the field would have been crucial. I'm more talking about before the likes of Crouch and Jerome both came on. It was as if we waited for them to make their move before we did ours. Also when J Rod smashed the ball across goal a bit more composure there and it would have been 3 points.
SO50 Saint
says...
11:31am Mon 31 Dec 12
rocketone
says...
11:32am Mon 31 Dec 12
A brilliant game ensued and we very nearly won it!
CB FRY LIVES
says...
2:21pm Mon 31 Dec 12
OSPREYSAINT says...
8:37am Mon 31 Dec 12