Stoke City: Geoff Cameron eyes West Brom draw as a good result
GEOFF Cameron said Stoke have to view Saturday's goalless draw against West Brom as a good result as it at least stopped a run of three successive defeats.
The Potters have just one win in their last 11 league games, and there were concerns that their morale would be further dented by last week's last-gasp 2-1 defeat at Newcastle.
However, that didn't look the case on Saturday as Stoke produced a battling performance against the Baggies, albeit one in which they created few chances.
Cameron, right, said Stoke will take consolation from the clean sheet and a decent performance.
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He said: "This is a good result. We would have preferred three points, but having lost these last couple of games, getting a point might give us a start to go on a little run. That's what we need."
Manager Tony Pulis has come under fire from some fans for City's poor run, but Cameron says the manager isn't to blame.
He added: "You go through these ups and downs. We were flying through Christmas, beat Liverpool at home and everybody was on Cloud Nine.
"Now we get all these bad bounces and unlucky things. That's especially when we go away and we actually do well, but like at Newcastle give up a goal in the 91st minute.
"That's just stupidity on our part, but also unlucky at the same time.
"We have to get luck our way again; we have to create chances and hopefully the bounces will go our way."
The United States international said there is no question of the players' heads dropping as they search for that elusive victory.
He said: "We have to stay positive; everyone in the locker room is there for one another and we are supporting each other.
"There is no sense in getting negative. Then the negativity runs throughout the locker room and then it relays onto the field.
"As long as we stay positive and have the right attitude, we will be fine."
Cameron praised the Stoke fans who were patient throughout Saturday's game. He added: "They gave us energy and a boost, for sure."
The point lifted City back up a place to tenth by Saturday night, although they dropped back to 11th on Sunday with Fulham's victory at Tottenham. Tenth would be their highest finish since promotion to the Premier League in 2008.
Cameron added: "Eleventh is still pretty good. We could have had a lot more points if we didn't lose through a mental mistake or something like that. But we are still there in the top half of the group.
"A point gives us a little bit of breathing room, but we have to take care of business when the opportunities come."
Cameron had an impressive game at left-back as Tony Pulis reshuffled to accommodate the return of Matthew Etherington after a back injury.
Ryan Shotton dropped from right-midfield to right-back while Cameron switched from right to left-back as Andy Wilkinson lost his place.
The Stoke back four looked solid while City also looked determined to press West Brom high up the pitch rather than let them dominate possession.
Cameron added: "We just tried to get up tight and not give them room to play. They had some time where they were keeping possession and we dropped back a little bit, but we got after them.
"Losing to Newcastle and giving up a goal in the 91st minute was a pretty big dagger to us. Some teams would let their heads down and not come back from that, but we showed we had a positive attitude. "
Stoke are likely to have to step up a notch in their next game though as they travel to an Everton side who defeated defending champions Manchester City at Goodison Park on Saturday.
Cameron added: "Everton are a pretty good team who play pretty good football. We have to go there with a game plan and hopefully wreck it for them."
10 Comments
by meyanaryewth
Monday, March 18 2013, 10:37PM
“i'm just so frustrated with our lack of goals and our total lack of ideas in attack.
we HAD one of the best crossers of a ball (Pennant) and one of the best headers of a ball (Crouch) in the EPL but i do'nt think TP knew how to use them.
oh for the days of Big John Richie and players like Mahoney and Burrows whipping crosses in to put away......ah well we can still dream ca'nt we............”
by Pottersruleok
Monday, March 18 2013, 5:17PM
“As we all hope and pray those below us keep losing to minimalise our poor play, I suppose we can be thankful and hope the next team we play star players are out too so we can get some sort of result against their back up players !
This is like some bizarre episode of the Twighlight Zone where we seem to have gone back in time to our first season in the Prem.”
by jtflint2010
Monday, March 18 2013, 4:47PM
“Best way to look at away games, in my opinion, is to say "If we get anything, it's a bonus". Look at the positives, as StokieKev has and gives us a glimmer of hope. Chances are we'll see the usual result but instead of banging on about why we won't do well for a fortnight, I know I'm looking to why we might just stand a chance. Glass half full sorry!”
by jtflint2010
Monday, March 18 2013, 4:47PM
“Best way to look at away games, in my opinion, is to say "If we get anything, it's a bonus". Look at the positives, as StokieKev has and gives us a glimmer of hope. Chances are we'll see the usual result but instead of banging on about why we won't do well for a fortnight, I know I'm looking to why we might just stand a chance. Glass half full sorry!”
by SCStokieKev
Monday, March 18 2013, 4:01PM
“I wouldn't take Geoffs comments too literally, he's still on cloud nine getting the opportunity to play in the Premier League. I thought he at least 'had a go' on Saturday which is more than can be said about a few others!
Everton! A few sleeps between now and then! Huthys back, thank god. They're missing Fellaini and Pienaar, and as long as we don't 'park the bus', who knows? Huthy scored the winner there last time out!
Well you never know, surely we're due another away win!”
by LiamOSullivan
Monday, March 18 2013, 3:53PM
“They're going to be without Pienaar and Feilliani which probably means they'll lose some of their sophistications with the more limited in terms of skill Neville and Naismith likely to come in instead. That could means that Everton will set upa team dedicated to work with brawn against our brawn. There could be better things to do on Saturday week but we could win a point or three there.”
by SCStokieKev
Monday, March 18 2013, 3:45PM
“You never know!. We will have Huthy back, no Fellaini or Pienaar for them. As long as we don't park the bus we 'might' get something. Who knows Huthy may pop up with the winner as he did last time there. Well you can dream!”
by brinsleymaclagan
Monday, March 18 2013, 1:58PM
“"Everton are a pretty good team who play pretty good football. We have to go there with a game plan and hopefully wreck it for them" That just about says it all about Pulis teams.
No mention of going there and playing better football to get a positive result, just wreck the game and hope for a point. I'm out!”
by Pottersruleok
Monday, March 18 2013, 1:37PM
“Watching Frank Lampard score his 200th goal for Chelsea yesterday, it really showed me how the Clueless One is a million miles away from most teams when it comes to his attacking strategy and lack thereof.
When was the last time we had a midfielder score ? When was the last time we actually saw one of our midfielders even in the opposition penalty area ? I don't think, with Pulis' strategy and the seemingly endless number of midfielders we have had and have under him, that they would score 200 goals between them all if he stayed manager for the rest of his life !
The way Cameron describes our performance against Albion, I thought I had missed something and we had won the game comfortably! I realise that players and management alike don't tell the truth about their performances so why even bother interviewing them ?”
by STHolder
Monday, March 18 2013, 11:22AM
“That was only a decent performance compared to the West Ham game and in the overall context of the season. Lets face it, it was diabolical. And even with dubious Mike Dean decisions going for us, we didnt look like scoring. We need to start with our best team on the pitch to perform. But we don't.”