BERA LUCK NEXT TIME
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PETER CROUCH insists Saido Berahino will get his goal-den touch back.
Veteran Crouch, 36, bagged the winner after replacing Berahino, 24, who missed a penalty.
It was the former West Brom striker’s fourth consecutive miss from the spot and he has now gone 32 games since his last goal on February 27, 2016 – a staggering 583 days ago.
Crouch went 18 matches without scoring after joining Liverpool in July 2005 so knows what Berahino is going through.
“I actually remember grabbing the ball off Steven Gerrard to take a penalty against Portsmouth and missing it,” said Crouch.
“When I first signed for Liverpool, I was doing what STOKE (3-4-3): Butland 7; Cameron 7, Zouma 7, Wimmer 6; Diouf 7 (Johnson 90), Fletcher 7, Allen 7, Pieters 7; SHAQIRI 8 (Affelay 86), Berahino 6 (Crouch 70, 7), Choupo-Moting 8. Subs: Grant, Adam, Tymon, Ramadan. UP NEXT: Man City (a), Premier League, October 14. SOUTHAMPTON (4-5-1): Forster 7; Soares 7, Yoshida, VAN DIJK 8, Bertrand 7; Tadic 7, Lemina 8 (Austin 86), Romeu 6, Davis 7 (Boufal 60, 7), Redmond 6 (Gabbiadini 67, 6); Long 6. Subs: McCarthy, Hoedt, Ward-Prowse, Hojbjerg. UP NEXT: Newcastle (h), Premier League, Sunday October 15. Referee: Mike Jones 7. YOUR TURN: Who was sent off for Stoke in the first half of their goalless home draw with Southampton last season? the manager asked – he wanted me a bit more withdrawn. I was used to playing right up there as the last man and getting on the end of things.
“So I started getting in the box more. It’s not rocket science – the more times you get in the box, the more opportunities you have.
“Saido’s a box player and will score goals. He’s good enough to work things out and I’m sure he’ll start scoring.”
Berahino will continue fighting to score – after wrestling Xherdan Shaqiri out of the way to take the penalty after he had been fouled by Virgil van Dijk.
“Shaqiri wanted to kill me – I had to fight him to take it!” said Berahino, whose spot-kick was saved by Fraser Forster.
“I was fouled so he allowed me to take it. Of course I’d take another one but I don’t want to be greedy.”
Berahino insists he will start finding the net, adding: “I’ve been brought here to score goals and I believe I can do that.”
Glanced
Stoke boss Mark Hughes is convinced Berahino will eventually deliver.
“We feel it is just a matter of time. It will come,” he said.
Mame Diouf glanced Stoke ahead from Shaqiri’s corner five minutes before the break prior to Berahino’s miss.
Maya Yoshida volleyed Saints level on 75 minutes before Crouch, who replaced Berahino, tapped home on 85 minutes after Maxim ChoupoMoting’s shot.
Saints skipper Steven Davis insists Van Dijk is now fully committed to them again after his failed attempt to leave the club in the summer.
Davis said: “Of course he’s put it behind him. He’s going to do his all for the club now.”