Malky not using off-field issues as an excuse

Last updated : 27 December 2013 By Michael Morris

"No I don’t think so" said Malky Mackay. "That’s something I’m not going to use as an excuse. There’s been various games with media hype surrounding them. Myself and the players are focused on the game and focused on the team that we play.

"It’s the usual way we prepare for every game. On the day individual errors have led to goals which left us a mountain to climb."

When asked of he thinks he would be in charge for Saturday's game against Sunderland Mackay continued

"It is something you'll have to ask someone else, if that is the case or not," he said. "But I have belief in my ability to be the manager here and that group of players are working hard for me.

"The staff are working hard and everyone is pulling in that direction right now, so as far as I am concerned that group are competing well in this league. They are not in the bottom three at the moment and they are where they are supposed to be."

Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino told the official Saints website

“It was very important that we won today because it allowed us to get back to winning ways again,” said the Saints manager after the game. 
 
“It cut the run of bad results of the last few games. It is so important to have that winning feeling, and we gained that today in a very good way.
 
“It was an amazing performance. We had quality and were very precise which made it a good display. 
 
“Especially in the first 27 minutes we were amazing but I think, overall, across the ninety minutes we were excellent.
 
“It was very important to regain our confidence by not conceding any goals today,” continued Pochettino. 
 
“It had been nine games since we last went without conceding, so this was great for our confidence to not concede.”