Potter: I don’t fear axe
BRIGHTON boss Graham Potter has a simple motto for football management: Don’t worry about the sack.
With his Seagulls in freefall after three losses in a row – and only clear of the drop zone coming into the weekend on goal difference – the heat is on.
Potter, though, in his second season at the Amex Stadium, refuses to panic about his situation. That approach is in part down to a superb relationship with owner Tony Bloom and the club’s hierarchy.
But in the main, it stems from his long-held philosophy regarding the rollercoaster life of a manager in a volatile sport.
Fearing the bullet, according to Potter, is the last thing you need while trying to retain a clear mind in the dug-out.
The Albion manager (below) was handed a new six-and-a-half year deal early in the season.
He said: “I made a promise to myself and my family not to fear the sack.
“You accept at any point in football you can lose your job, but you can’t go into it worrying about it.
“You can’t be fearful because I don’t think you make the right decisions if you approach it that way.”
SUNDERLAND sensation Charlie Wyke has got the seal of approval from North East royalty – with Kevin Phillips backing the striker to bring both silverware and promotion to the club this season.
Black Cats legend Phillips (above) said: “It used to annoy me when people said that Quinny (Niall Quinn) put all my goals on a plate because the hardest part of football is putting the ball in the back of the net.
“A lot of the goals this season have been set up by Aiden McGeady but it still takes concentration and skill to be able to score.
“It would be interesting to see how Wyke goes in the Championship. But he’s a big guy who puts himself in dangerous positions.”
By at the Riverside Stadium
NEIL WARNOCK’S dream of a ninth promotion is still alive after watching his Middlesbrough side sink Stoke.
First-half goals by Grant Hall and Paddy McNair and a late breakaway by Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (above) saw Boro keep on the tail of the top six.
And while the odds are still stacked against them making the play-offs, Warnock isn’t throwing in the towel yet.
“We had to win today and we’re capable of winning our remaining games,” he said. “Once we sorted ourselves out after the opening 10 minutes, we were really on our game.
“Everyone contributed and I’m delighted.”
Warnock had joked he’d make Stoke change in a camper-van after claiming Boro’s facilities at the bet365 Stadium in December were ‘like a pigsty”.
But it was on the pitch that it turned messy for Michael O’Neill’s men.
“I’m extremely disappointed with the result,” said O’Neill. “I felt we controlled the game for long periods particularly before they scored.
“But we defended the corner poorly for their first goal and suddenly it became a difficult game for us.”
Boro’s opener came against the run of play but once Hall stabbed in after Chuba Akpom backheeled a Marc Bola corner into his path, they came alive.
The hosts pinned Stoke back and stretched their lead on 40 minutes.
Yannick Bolasie’s pass found McNair and the Northern Irishman rolled the ball through the legs of Harry Souttar and past Angus Gunn.
Late on Sam Morsy fed MendezLaing for his first Boro goal.