Pochettino happy with stalemate

21 April 2013 07:47

Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino admitted his side's goalless draw at Swansea had been low-quality fare but he was happy to secure a point and edge nearer to Barclays Premier League safety.

The Liberty Stadium contest was a lacklustre affair, although Saints may feel aggrieved they did not come away with all three points after Adam Lallana's first-half effort was ruled out for handball following an error by Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm. Pochettino's side are now eight points clear of the drop zone, and well-placed to secure Premier League survival.

The Argentinian said: "It was not a very good game but we are unbeaten in six games and I am happy with the clean sheet."

Nathan Dyer went closest for the hosts as Maya Yoshida cleared his effort off the line after the break, but in truth neither side showed sufficient quality in the final third to craft a winner in what was, for large parts, a tepid game. Not that Southampton will mind too much after extending their unbeaten run to six matches.

Pochettino added: "Maybe we should have won because we created the best chances but their goalkeeper made two outstanding saves.

"I don't think that we lacked impetus, but we did not have the fluency we normally have. I don't know if 39 points will be enough for us to stay in the Premier League, we just have to go on and try and win the next game, that is always our goal."

Swansea are all but guaranteed another season in the top flight, but their campaign is tailing off as they equalled their previous longest winless run in the Premier League of five games, but manager Michael Laudrup was keen to focus on the positives.

He said: "We did so well on occasions until the last pass.

"The last pass is so important and it is an area we could have done better in.

"I think we should have won but when you don't you have to accept a draw and look on the positive side. We had conceded two goals in each of our last four games and we have now kept a clean sheet."

Source: PA