Mame Biram Diouf’s miss was huge, says Stoke boss Paul Lambert

Posted Monday, April 23, 2018 by PA

Paul Lambert pinpointed Mame Biram Diouf’s miss as the key moment of Stoke’s 1-1 draw with Burnley, which dealt another huge blow to the Potters’ survival hopes.

Having targeted three wins from their final four games, Lambert now believes nothing less than victories over Liverpool, Crystal Palace and Swansea will prolong their decade-long stay in the Premier League.

As in recent games, Stoke had plenty of bright moments and went ahead in the 11th minute through Badou Ndiaye’s first goal for the club.

They should have been two up at half-time but Diouf contrived to make no meaningful contact on Moritz Bauer’s cross while unmarked less than 10 yards from goal and Ashley Barnes bundled in the equaliser in the 62nd minute.

Lambert said: “We have to go to Anfield and get a result, then play Palace and get a result and then go to Swansea and get a result. We have to win.

“We got off to the perfect start and looked great and then the big moment – Mame’s chance – was huge for us. He hasn’t taken the chance but I can’t fault him for effort and commitment and giving us everything.

“It probably looked as bad from where you were sitting as it did from where I was standing. He had a decision but he never made any decision about whether to go for a shot or whether to control it and he got caught in between.”

Stoke were grateful to Jack Butland for a number of good saves and were cursing their luck two minutes from time when Stephen Ireland’s curling shot hit the outside of the post.

The Potters have improved since Lambert took over in January but their only win came in his first match 12 games ago, and their problems have been at both ends.

Stoke have managed just six goals in the last 10 games while their goal difference of minus 33 makes a four-point gap to safety effectively five.

Lambert said of their goal shortage: “That’s well documented that that’s been an issue and the conceding goals column doesn’t make great reading either. When you have those two at either end it makes things difficult.

“But I can’t fault the team for the way we play, the way we try to do things right and try to get in amongst people with great energy. And it’s evident that the supporters are behind us. Until somebody tells us that mathematically we can’t do it then we never give up.”

The point, coupled with Chelsea’s victory over Southampton in the FA Cup semi-finals, nudged Burnley closer to European football, and Sean Dyche was pleased with his side’s improvement in the second half.

He said: “They’re fighting for everything, we knew that. The first half we weren’t sure of the feel in the stadium, the feel of the team, and I thought they gave a good account, we were slightly off.

“I reminded the players at half-time of how tight it was, that we just had to raise a few things, and I thought second half we gave a good performance and I thought we were worthy of at least a draw.”