Manning: Win most important
Picking up a first Sky Bet Championship win of the season with a late victory over Stoke at St Mary’s, Ryan Manning hailed the importance of the three points over the performance.
Cyle Larin continued his record of scoring in every goal this season with an early opener, before Ethan Galbraith levelled midway through the half.
Heading for a draw, former Potters loanee Divin Mubama marked his home debut off the bench with a late goal, before Manning converted a stoppage time penalty to secure the three points in style.
Commenting on the win, Manning said: “I think everyone’s relieved in the changing rooms and the stands to just get that first win of the season. I think last week's performance was pretty hit and miss.
“We were sort of huffing and a puffing towards the end of the half but we couldn't get that equaliser. So I think today, to sort of get it over the line when it was one-all and get the two goals, I think it was one of them games today where it was about getting results more than performance, so to get the three points was most important.
“We dominated and created lots of chances and we could have easily been two or three up before that. But I think that's a sort of sign of the side we are now. We've got players coming off the bench that can impact the game like the two boys who came on and one scored, one wins the pen. So I think it shows how important our squad depth is this season. And yeah, I think it was a good result in the end.
Opening his own account for the campaign, Manning was relieved to find the back of the net with parents watching on in the crowd.
“I looked over at the bench just trying to help out and see how to sort out the boys arguing for it. I thought me and skip might get involved and say, "alright, he's taking it," and they said it was me!
“I've taken a few, so it's been a few years since I've taken one, but my mum and dad are over so I had to pick out the bottom corner otherwise I'd have heard all evening from the old man about missing pens.”
