Walters hails Potters resilience

Walters hails Potters resilience

Published Sep. 11, 2011 3:15 p.m. ET

The Wirral-born 27-year-old smashed home the 20th-minute penalty which gave the Potters back-to-back home league wins over the Reds for the first time since 1968. Having missed from the spot at Norwich late last month, the Republic of Ireland international took no chances as he drilled his shot straight down the middle after referee Mark Clattenburg ruled Jamie Carragher had pulled him over. "I said to myself if I win another one I'll get up and take it and there was no putting it in the corner, it was blast it straight down the middle," he said. Inflicting Liverpool's first defeat of the campaign was particularly sweet for a player from an Evertonian family. "It's a Blue family so they are all happy," added Walters, who was born in Moreton. "The majority of my family are Evertonians, although my wife's father is a Red. I'm a bit happier because I'm a Blue. "A goal's a goal but it is always sweet to score against Liverpool really. "My brother was here - he's a Blue and he was made up." From the moment the home side went ahead they found themselves on the back foot, particularly in the final 20 minutes, but their resilience held to make it eight matches unbeaten this season in all competitions. That was partly due to the determination of goalkeeper Asmir Begovic and centre-backs Ryan Shawcross and Matthew Upson, who between them in one crazy 15-second spell midway through the second half blocked three shots from Jordan Henderson and two from Charlie Adam. More desperate defending followed and it was not without controversy - a late Luis Suarez cross hit Upson's arm but Liverpool won only a corner - but Kenny Dalglish's side could not find a way through. "They made it difficult for us. We soaked up a lot of pressure and got a bit of luck along the way," said Walters. "How Ryan's not getting called into the England squad I don't know. "He played against Suarez and Andy Carroll and coped with everything they threw at him. "The spirit within the camp is first class, we're all there for each other. "We've won six and drawn two and it's been first class all the way through and yesterday epitomised us in the way we defended. "We put bodies on the line and there was some great defending to keep a clean sheet. "That is what we are all about and the new boys (Peter Crouch and Wilson Palacios both made their debuts while Cameron Jerome was an unused substitute) who have come in have taken that on board and carried it through."

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