MX23RW : Thursday, July 23 11:56:31| >> :120:45323:45323:
Jul 12, 2020 at 1.30pm UK at Bet365 Stadium
StokeStoke City
2-0
BirminghamBirmingham City
Batth (12'), Clucas (45')
McClean (62')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Gordon (5'), Gardner (29'), Bellingham (33'), Burke (85')

Michael O'Neill: 'Stoke not safe from relegation yet'

Michael O'Neill: 'Stoke not safe from relegation yet'
© Reuters
Danny Batth and Sam Clucas scored the Stoke goals.

Stoke City boss Michael O'Neill insists his side are not safe yet despite their 2-0 win over Birmingham.

Danny Batth bundled home from close range to give the Potters a 12th-minute lead.

Sam Clucas doubled the advantage on the stroke of half-time as Stoke opened up a four-point gap on the relegation zone.

But O'Neill was quick to warn that his players cannot relax just yet.

"I don't feel we are there yet," he said. "We have to get as much as we can out of the final three games, but it's nice to get to a point where you think another result will be enough.

"It is about trying to win the next game and if we do that we will put even more distance between us and the other teams and that is our objective.

"Today was a good performance and we hope for that in the remaining three games.

"It was a good home win, it is never routine. We played well in the first half and should have been more than two ahead.

"We created some very good chances. In the second half we were deeper which is natural.

"We played on Thursday and Birmingham had nothing to lose.

"It was a good defensive effort from the team. A lot has been made about Thursday, but we were beaten by the best team in the league.

"We have worked hard on set-pieces and it was good to get another goal from one today.

"We still have to work on it and improve on them, but we always look a threat at corners."

Caretaker Birmingham boss Steve Spooner admitted his side had not been good enough.

"I am disappointed with our response to the goals in the way they developed," he said.

"If we are serious about what we want to do we can't give those opportunities away.

"We started to control the game more after the goals and had more possession, but we did not create enough to score goals.

"We had possession, but possession without creating anything isn't good enough that is something we need to work on

"The atmosphere in the changing room is not delightful, there are players in there who care.

"They are bitterly disappointed in the way we conceded the goals and it is as you would expect.

"It is not about three points to stay up, that is not acceptable. We have been in this position too often and we do not want to go into the last game needing something.

"The quicker we get that win the better.

"Everyone will be in training tomorrow and we will reassess from there. We need to look at creating chances.

"We (Steve Spooner and fellow caretaker boss Craig Gardner) are taking one game at a time, but that is just us being professional. If it is not to be us then everything will be in place for the next game."

ID:406247:

Click here for more stories about Michael O'Neill

Click here for more stories about Stoke City

Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Leeds United players celebrate during their victory over Stoke on July 9, 2020
Read Next:
Sunday's Championship predictions including Swansea City vs. Leeds United
>
Latest Sports Video
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.

rhs 2.0
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeeds UnitedLeeds46289977354293
3Fulham4623121164481681
4Cardiff CityCardiff4619161168581073
5Swansea CitySwansea461816126253970
6Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest461816125850870
7Millwall461717125751668
8Preston North EndPreston461812165954566
9Derby CountyDerby461713166264-264
10Blackburn RoversBlackburn461712176663363
11Bristol City461712176065-563
12Queens Park RangersQPR461610206776-958
13Reading461511205958156
14Stoke CityStoke46168226268-656
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds461511205866-856
16Middlesbrough461314194861-1353
17Huddersfield TownHuddersfield461312215270-1851
18Luton TownLuton46149235482-2851
19Birmingham CityBirmingham461214205475-2150
20Barnsley461213214969-2049
RCharlton AthleticCharlton461212225065-1548
RWigan AthleticWigan461514175756147
RHull City46129255787-3045

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!