Adkins: Beating the teams around us is key to Premier survival (From Daily Echo)
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Adkins: Beating the teams around us is key to Premier survival
9:30am Monday 10th December 2012 in Saints News
Nigel Adkins stressed the importance of Saints beating the teams around them after they boosted their Premier League survival chances with a well-deserved win against Reading.
The records will show that it was Jason Puncheon’s second-half goal that separated the sides at St Mary’s, but in truth the gap in quality was far greater than that.
Had Saints lost, they would have dropped to 19th in the table, level on points with the Royals but behind them on goal difference.
However, victory meant that Adkins’ side climbed up to 15th and moved six points clear of the club that pipped them to the Championship title last term.
“I am pleased that we have got a home victory, pleased that we have beaten someone close to us in the league – that is the important thing,” said Adkins, whose side kept the opposition out for only the second time this term and are now two points above the drop zone.
“I am delighted have a clean sheet. We scored one goal, could have scored more.”
Saints did in fact score more than one, only to have another effort from Puncheon ruled out for what appeared to be a phantom foul.
The midfielder headed in Adam Lallana’s first-half corner, but referee Jon Moss blew his whistle and penalised Maya Yoshida for an alleged infringement on Reading keeper Adam Federici.
Replays showed that the goal should have stood.
“It’s a perfectly good goal,” agreed Adkins. “The goalkeeper’s obviously pushed Maya, who’s standing in and around him, slips over, Jason’s unmarked at the far post, puts the ball in the back of the net, and for me the referee’s made a poor decision.
“But you’ve got to get on with it and we’ve gone and got our three points.”
Adkins added: “We talk about it all the time, it’s the importance of winning your home games.
“We put a good performance in to win the game and it’s important to win the games against the teams who are in and around you in the league.
“Obviously, winning at home, and winning against a team that were in and around us, was pleasing.”
The Saints boss did admit, however, that the victory should have been more comfortable than it was.
“We dominated the game, we were worthy winners,” he said.
“The amount of chances we created, if anything we should have put a few more in the back of the net.
“We’re good at St Mary’s. The crowd get behind the players. We played a good tempo of football, a variety of attacks and it was a good 1-0 victory.”
Comments(15)
BracknellSaint
says...
10:04am Mon 10 Dec 12
Nothing wrong with Puncheon's first either, which would hve made it that ore comfortable.
Bit disappointed we didn't add a bit to reducing the goal difference column, as 3-0 would have been about fair.
Big games now for us with Sunderland and Fulham, but that could really boost our season to where we should be already if we hadn't dropped silly points against Norwich, Swansea and to some extent Fulham at home.
Saintsayer II
says...
10:14am Mon 10 Dec 12
insane saint
says...
10:23am Mon 10 Dec 12
Saintsayer II wrote:or take all the points of of the big boys and then tear the small ones a new one.....
One little problem here We only have 3 more home games against teams in the bottom half of the table so we have got to get a least 15 points away from home against the lower clubs OR hopefully nick a few off of the higher clubs
then we will be flying
stay on the positive side of it don't look at the negatives. the saints are moving in the right direction no need to look over our shoulders just look up.
COYR
TOGETHER AS ONE.
scooter75
says...
10:47am Mon 10 Dec 12
Dickosfc
says...
10:54am Mon 10 Dec 12
insane saint wrote:^^^^^ Now thats the approache ^^^^^^^
Saintsayer II wrote: One little problem here We only have 3 more home games against teams in the bottom half of the table so we have got to get a least 15 points away from home against the lower clubs OR hopefully nick a few off of the higher clubsor take all the points of of the big boys and then tear the small ones a new one..... then we will be flying stay on the positive side of it don't look at the negatives. the saints are moving in the right direction no need to look over our shoulders just look up. COYR TOGETHER AS ONE.
Dickosfc
says...
10:55am Mon 10 Dec 12
Alicesdad
says...
11:26am Mon 10 Dec 12
Do not forget we nearly caused a shock against City, and against United and our second half against Tottenham was awesome.
Granted we must beat the teams in the bottom half but we are not looking to be a timid suvival outfit. We have the capability to be in the top ten and team to be feared.
Time will prove me right
OSPREYSAINT
says...
11:39am Mon 10 Dec 12
scooter75 wrote:.. as opposed to your good self pure crass.
What a guy Tangohead is, his comments are pure class.
promised land
says...
12:28pm Mon 10 Dec 12
jerseysaint
says...
1:05pm Mon 10 Dec 12
with Nigel Adkins, he will go onto prove
is a top class premiership manager.
There is a lot to be said for players
loving playing for you.
He is the best manager we have had since GS.
Stroppy_gramps
says...
1:07pm Mon 10 Dec 12
keep it up on the pitch Saints, great to be back in the Premier League. To see us, one of the original teams in the Premier League, back on the way up the table.
batesieboy
says...
3:14pm Mon 10 Dec 12
warrens 76
says...
3:27pm Mon 10 Dec 12
jerseysaint wrote:Star quality BUT to keep him we ourselves must be worthy of his code..
I am so glad the board have kept faith
with Nigel Adkins, he will go onto prove
is a top class premiership manager.
There is a lot to be said for players
loving playing for you.
He is the best manager we have had since GS.
..he is a real good egg and does things in the decent old fashioned way, we must stand by his decisions and make him feel other clubs are not worth the risk to his integrity.."together as one".
Buddy SFC
says...
9:10pm Mon 10 Dec 12
Saintsayer II wrote:The point being for NA who studied Psychology is that the confidence you gain with the 6 pointers with clubs around you in the table, this allows you to take that confidence into the games against the teams in the top half of the table ........
One little problem here We only have 3 more home games against teams in the bottom half of the table so we have got to get a least 15 points away from home against the lower clubs OR hopefully nick a few off of the higher clubs
Look at West Ham this year .........
SaintMax says...
10:01am Mon 10 Dec 12
We used to struggle against the poor sides and beat the top ones, but I will take this approach.
Great win on saturday, gave me a great weekend thanks Nigel!