Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SITTING PRETTY
Stoke on the up says Harry as boss O’neill celebrates 1st year in the job
MICHAEL O’NEILL celebrated his first year in charge of Stoke with a ringing endorsement from his players.
The Potters showed i n a comfortable win at Reading yesterday just how much they have improved in 12 months.
Well organised, well drilled, effective and capable of taking their chances. They look a shadow of the side that O’neill inherited.
The Northern Irishman arrived in Staffordshire with Stoke in deep trouble last term. He has now amassed 76 points from his 47 games in charge – form good enough for the play-offs.
And defender Harry Souttar said: “There is just more belief from the players.
“All in all the squad is a lot stronger. Every game that goes by we are just getting more belief.
“He just gives me belief and confidence every game.
“I have had a couple of good conversations with the boss.
“I know what he wants from me and I just want to give him that every game I play.”
Stoke are set up to be difficult to beat but they have goals in their team too, with the experienced Steven Fletcher and Nick Powell, while youngster Tyrese Campbell continues to impress.
And it was Campbell who capitalised on a mistake by Tomas Esteves to put the Potters ahead on 23 minutes.
R e a d i n g ’s d e f e n d i n g w a s abysmal, but Stoke still took their chances as Fl etch er buri ed a second goal 12 minutes later after a dreadful Rafael clearance.
And the Potters added a third in second-half stoppage-time when sub Jacob Brown capitalised on another mistake, this time from Lewis Gibson.
O’neill’s men are just one point off the play-offs and can now start to dream as they get some well-needed rest over the next fortnight.
Souttar said: “We know what we’re capable of, it’s just about getting consistency.
“We want to be in and around the play-offs and that is the aim.
We are not going to get carried away. It was a good result, but we need to build on this performance and put a run together after the international break.
“Now I will sit in front of the TV for the break.”
Reading remain top, but their defence has fallen apart with two straight 3-0 home losses.
It is clear they have missed inspirational leader Liam Moore, but manager Veljko Paunovic hopes he will be back immediately after the international break. He said: “Liam has been a big loss to the team. He is absolutely crucial for us.
“He has helped the team so far in every aspect.”
READING: Rafael 5, Yiadom 6 (Aluko 74), Morrison 5, Gibson 4, Richards 6, Esteves 5 (Olise 62, 6), Rinomhota 6, Laurent 6, Semedo 7, Puscas 5 (Baldock 63, 6), Joao 6
STOKE: Gunn 7, Smith 7, Souttar 7, Batth 7, Fox 7, Campbell 8 (Brown 82), Obi 7, Thompson 7, Mcclean 7, Powell 6 (Oakley-boothe 46, 6), Fletcher 7 (Collins 72, 5)