Mills bemoans poor MInstermen

Mills bemoans poor MInstermen

Published Feb. 10, 2013 6:15 a.m. ET

Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino feels his side's surprise win over Manchester City was the result of hard work and the belief within his squad.

The Saints saw off the defending Premier League champions 3-1 at St Mary's stadium to mark Pochettino's first victory as manager since he replaced the sacked Nigel Adkins last month.

The Argentinian says teams can only win if they have belief and feels it was abundant in his hard-working Southampton side on Saturday.

He told the club's official website: "Victories only come if you believe you can get them. Everyone here at Southampton has belief.

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"The key is all of the work we put into it and the work that we've put in for all of the matches.

"Today we've seen it again, and the result has come to us too.

"I have said before in the other matches against Everton, Manchester United and Wigan that we played well but didn't get the points that we deserved. Today we played well and got those points that we deserved."

Argentinian Pochettino's arrival at St Mary's was met with hostility from some Southampton fans following Adkins' shock dismissal but the boss was full of praise for the home support after the win.

He added: "We're all very happy. I want to thank the supporters for the great support they gave us today.

"I have said many times before that I was very well received here, I have had a great welcome and I am very happy with the supporters, all the staff and the players that are here."

Luke Howell's 56th minute strike proved to be the only goal and ended an impressive five-game unbeaten run for the Robins.

"I'm disappointed because I really thought we deserved something out of the game," reflected Yates.

"We could have done better for their goal but then we had enough chances to get something. I thought we played well in patches but we also needed a bit more quality.

"It was always going to be hard coming here because they're battling hard, but we didn't do the basics well enough."

Second-half goals from Kelvin Langmead and top scorer Adebayo Akinfenwa, his 16th of the campaign coming from the penalty spot, took the Cobblers back into the play-off places after Jason Kennedy had cancelled out Clive Platt's first half opener in Saturday's 3-1 victory over Rochdale.

It was just the response Aidy Boothroyd's side needed after two successive defeats on the road.

"At home the players have a belief they are always going to win and so I always thought we'd get back in front after they equalised," said King.

"But we must start to have that same belief away from home. All we need is that away win, I don't know why we can't do it away but it's all about confidence.

"Rochdale are a good footballing side but I didn't think they caused us too many problems apart from the goal.

"They started well but we contained their threat by not conceding and that was satisfying. We got the goal at the right time and once they equalised we did well to get back in front so quickly."

Second-half goals from Kelvin Langmead and top scorer Adebayo Akinfenwa, his 16th of the campaign coming from the penalty spot, took the Cobblers back into the play-off places after Dale midfielder Jason Kennedy cancelled out Clive Platt's first half opener

"It was a strange game and the defeat was marginal but we're on the right track and I don't want us to get derailed by the result," said hill, who is yet to taste victory in three matches since returning to the Spotland hotseat.

"There are a lot of tell-tale signs that the team is improving and sticking to the plan. There is obviously improvement needed in certain areas of the pitch but what I'm seeing is encouraging and we won't be derailed by the result.

"A lot of what we did in the game is what we're doing in training and that is pleased to see. The manner of the defeat, though, is disappointing.

"We fought hard to get back into the game and they scored immediately after our equaliser, which means we lost concentration and that is a cardinal sin.

"We need to improve on our concentration levels in and out of possession because that was a goal that should not have been conceded."

Dean Morgan netted two first-half penalties for Wycombe - the first in the third minute after being fouled by Scott Kerr and the second before the break following Jamal Fyfield's barge on Joel Grant.

Grant got on the scoresheet himself with a fine solo effort on the hour mark with defender Dave Winfield completing the 4-0 victory with a header 10 minutes from time.

"We're very disappointed from start to finish," said Mills It was a terrible start, we gave away two penalties. We're committing suicide at the moment," said Mills.

"We're giving away goals and we don't look like scoring and, at the end of the day, that's a recipe for disaster. We'll sort it out, that's our job. We'll get ready for the next one and move on.

"Football's about this. It's not all success, when things aren't going right you have to stand up and be counted.

"The players at this football club have got to stand up and start winning matches, start doing their jobs better. We know that, and we will.

"There's no hiding it. There's no excuses. We're giving goals away and not scoring goals. Jamal's told me he hasn't pulled the man, I've got the DVD so I'll see if he's telling the truth.

"It's a very disappointing weekend again for us again. Two weekends running and conceding four goals in both games. That's not good enough, we have to be better."

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