Paul Lambert holds no Stoke 'trepidation' despite Premier League relegation battle
Thursday 1 March 2018 16:36, UK
Paul Lambert insists he holds no "trepidation" going into games despite Stoke's fight to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
Stoke have suffered one defeat in Lambert's opening five games and are inside the relegation zone ahead of their trip to St Mary's to face 16th-placed Southampton on Saturday.
Lambert has seen his side made to pay for individual errors in their past two league fixtures but is buoyed by the manner of his side's performances, which he believes "merited" a better points return.
"I don't have any trepidation, any fear going into games. I think we are going to go in and win," Lambert said.
"I think the way the lads are playing shows that they are more than capable. In my opinion, we should at least have six more points than we have.
"Our form is really good. I can't fault the lads. We are playing ever so well. The last two games we have had individual errors. We should have picked up six points but that happens.
"I don't have a problem with the way we are playing. We are playing really well at the minute. The results haven't given us what I think our performances have merited."
Stoke have managed to score only six goals from their past nine games and the Potters' top scorer this term is forward Xherdan Shaqiri, with seven goals.
When asked whether Stoke's lack of goals was a concern, Lambert said: "Obviously you need more goals but Shaqiri is playing at the top of his game at the moment.
"He is a world class footballer. Played with huge football clubs around the world."
With 10 league games remaining Lambert is keen to focus on the form his side have shown since his arrival, rather than the accumulation of only one victory from the past 10 fixtures in all competitions.
Lambert, who describes his side's form as of a "mid-table" team, said: "I have not been here for the last nine games - I have only been here for five games. If you look at our form at this time it would be mid-table.
"That's what the points would suggest. I can only comment on the five games I have been here. We are playing well in games. It needs a bit of luck to go our way.
"Performances-wise, which is the main thing, [we are there] and we now need to just top it off with a result."
