SENTINEL SPORT ‘we’ve GOT ENOUGH threat in attack’
O’neill refuses to worry after City fail to have a shot on target in 2-0 defeat
MICHAEL O’neill is not too concerned about a lack of goal threat after seeing his strikers draw a blank in a disappointing home defeat to Bristol City.
Stoke finished without a shot on target in a 2-0 loss when goals came at the end of each half from Nahki Wells and Andi Weimann.
O’neill’s side had been impressive defensively in their two previous fixtures – a 0-0 draw at Millwall and 1-0 win at Wolves – but had been expected to have more control and more threat at the bet365 Stadium.
“It’s not a worry,” said the manager. “When you’re playing this system it can be a little bit more difficult to create. I don’t think they had a lot of shots on target either, it was that kind of game.
“In this system there’s a big responsibility on the front players and also the wing-backs to get balls into the box.
“But it’s the early part of the season, we’ve brought players to the club who are still adapting and still getting up to fitness because of where they were before we brought them to the club.
“But we believe we’ve got enough options in the attacking end of the pitch to be a threat and we have to show that more than we did.”
Stoke’s home form was transformed under O’neill last season and the plan had been to start where they had left off.
O’neill said: “Home form is important to any club but it’s one game and we have to take it for what it is and move on to next week. We’ve a cup game to look forward to (against Gillingham on Wednesday) and then we’re away (at Preston) next weekend.
“In the current climate it’s hard to gauge home form. Playing in an empty stadium we obviously lose the advantage of our fans. I was just disappointed with how we started the game.
“We played against a good team and you have to give credit to the opposition as well but we were lacking possession, we weren’t brave enough in the early part of the game and that’s something that we need to change.”
The Stoke boss wouldn’t be drawn about renewed speculation over the future of Jack Butland, amid new reports of a potential swap deal involving Angus Gunn at Southampton.
“No news on that whatsoever,” he said. “I’ve spoken about Jack already this week and don’t need to go into it again.
“The situation is what it is. Jack’s no different from any other player who’s not in the team at this minute in time.
“When that happens players look at other options and if the option is attractive for the player and for the club that’s the right time to start talking about it to see if it’s the right thing for everyone.”
There was no place in the squad for Tom Ince or James Mcclean either while Joe Allen, Ryan Shawcross, Tom Edwards and Thibaud Verlinden all watched from the stands.
Bristol City manager Dean Holden said: “I think they’re an outstanding group of players and Michael O’neill is a manager I hold in the highest regard.
“He’s a top international manager and with a pre-season we knew it was going to be difficult.
“The way they play they put in proper work, they press you and get the ball forward to players like Vokes and Gregory – who had played on Thursday and we weren’t sure which partnership they were going to go with – Campbell and Brown and Nick Powell.if you give them time and space they can hurt you. Set pieces as well, they are excellent at set pieces. That was the pleasing thing. We defended well.”
JOHN Askey praised his team’s work rate after watching them win 2-0 at one of the promotion favourites, Exeter City.
Port Vale are up to second in the table – albeit after two games – after their victory at St James Park. Vale only lost eight league games last season, but one of them was at Exeter as they were beaten 2-0 last September by a side who would go on to reach the play-off final.
But their progress since then was obvious as they battled to victory. Tom Conlon opened the scoring with a 21st-minute free kick before Conlon set up Devante Rodney to net the second with a composed finish, on 72 minutes.
Askey said: “To come here and get a result is really pleasing. It is a tough place to come, they are always in and around it come the end of the season.
“I wouldn’t say we were great, again, but the players worked really hard and we finished well. “We came here last year and I thought we got bullied a little bit so it was important that didn’t happen.
“But you see the work rate the players are putting in at the end games. In the last two minutes they were chasing everything. You can’t ask for any more than that and that is what gets you results.” Vale were sent on their way to victory when Conlon curled the ball over the wall and into the top corner.
Askey added: “It is something that Tom has been working on, that’s the first free-kick we have scored from since I have been at the football club.
“Hopefully that is one of many for Tom. It was a great freekick, bent into the top corner and I don’t think any keeper could have saved it. It gave us a great lift.”