City manager hoping to keep all bases covered in run-in
CHRIS HUGHTON says there are both positives and negatives to take from the weekendâs 0-0 draw against Southampton⊠as he once again emphasised the premium on finding a balance in the Canariesâ starting eleven.Saturdayâs stalemate was the sixth Premier League game in Cityâs last eight where they had failed to find the net, but it also kept intact their impressive top flight record of having lost only three times at Carrow Road this season.
The manager insists that the Club are working hard on trying to make the best of everything, and believes the back four can take pride when they keep a clean sheet.
âFrom a defensive point of view, if youâre one of the four defenders or the goalkeeper, then youâre delighted with the clean sheet,â commented Hughton after the match.
âIf youâre an offensive player, then itâs a little bit frustrating that you havenât managed to get a goal. Itâs the balances that we have to work on week-in, week-out.â
He highlighted the performance of Mark Bunn as one particular high point to take from the match, with the Cityâs âkeeper making a string of saves to keep out Mauricio Pochettinoâs Saints.
âHeâs done ever so well. Heâs got that little bit of composure about him, plus because heâs not one of the really tall goalkeepers he has got that agility,â he added.
âWhen they pressed quite well, he had to kick a few balls and he showed good quality in his kicking, and I think certainly overall heâs done very well since coming into the team.â
Hughton recognises the intensity of battle to stay in the Premier League as he sees potential in all of the teams competing in the bottom half of the table.
âAt the moment weâre seeing Queens Park Rangers winning games, so every team in that bottom group as such, probably up to ourselves, are capable of winning games,â said the 54-year-old.
âYouâre never close enough to survival until itâs impossible, and itâs certainly going to be tense in these final nine games for everyone involved.â