LAMBERT’S HOPE AS JACK REFUSES TO CHUCK THE TOWEL IN
IF STOKE CITY’S time in the Premier League is to expire after a decade, they certainly won’t be going down without one hell of a fight. Their manager Paul Lambert was Antonio Conte-esque in his animated touchline encouragement at St Mary’s, whipping up the vocal travelling support to endlessly chant his name. On the field, his players — and especially goalkeeper Jack Butland — produced a spirited rearguard action against a second-half Southampton onslaught to earn another point for their survival bid. It was a fourth draw in six matches since Lambert took over from Mark Hughes and, though they remain in the relegation zone by a point, there is a defiance about them. Trouble is, Stoke must play four of the top six in their final nine matches — including a Manchester City side who stuffed seven past them in October next week — at a time when draws need to be converted into wins. ‘You just keep playing and hanging in and things will happen,’ said an upbeat Lambert. ‘A few months ago, we might have lost this game and that’s a big thing. We have got players that can turn the game on a switch. If it was at any other point in the season — that we had been beaten once in six — then I’d have snapped your hand off, but because of the position we are in . . . ‘The beauty of it is that from 11th, 12th and 13th down there is nothing in it.’ Though Southampton pressed hard after half-time, it had been Stoke who showed the greater initiative before the break, and Lambert says it will be no different against Man City. ‘I have never sat back
against anyone,’ he said. ‘I know we are up against the best team in the country without a shadow of a doubt next Monday and maybe even in Europe. ‘We have got to find a way where we can make it uncomfortable for them and hurt them. It will be difficult but, on any day, you can win a game. ‘I have never once come away from a game thinking we never turned up. ‘We have always looked like a team that is going to be really difficult to beat, we just need a bit of magic to get us a goal. I have never encountered anybody who isn’t putting their shoulder to the wheel.’ Butland, seeking to make a case to be England’s No 1 at this summer’s World Cup in Russia, made crucial saves from Josh Sims, Cedric Soares and Nathan Redmond as Southampton cranked up the pressure. ‘He is unbelievable,’ said Lambert. ‘He makes saves that I think, “where has that come from?” He is right at the top of his game at the moment.’ SOUTHAMPTON (4-2-3-1): McCarthy 6.5; Soares 6, Stephens 6, Hoedt 6, Bertrand 6; Lemina 6.5, Romeu 6; Sims 7 (Boufal 76min), Tadic 5 (Gabbiadini 64, 6), Redmond 6; Carrillo 5 (Long 80). Subs not used: Forster, Ward-Prowse, Hojbjerg, Bednarek. Manager: Mauricio Pellegrino 6. STOKE CITY (4-3-3): BUTLAND 7.5; Bauer 6, Zouma 6.5, Martins Indi 6.5, Stafylidis 6 (Crouch 46, 6.5); Cameron 6, Allen 6.5, Ndiaye 6; Choupo-Moting 5 (Jese 64, 6), Diouf 5 (Pieters 23, 6), Shaqiri 6.5. Subs not used: Haugaard, Johnson, Shawcross, Fletcher. Booked: Cameron. Manager: Paul Lambert 6. Referee: Anthony Taylor 6. Attendance: 30,335.