Stoke City boss Alex Neil says his side needed the optimism from a good performance heading into their midweek clash with Leeds United.
The Potters have had a tough start to the season with injuries, but defeated high flying Sunderland with Neil getting one over his former club. Speaking after the win over the Black Cats, Neil said: “We have all waited with bated breath to get some players back and, now they’re back, there was an expectancy to kick into gear in an important game.
“We needed a massive shot in the arm for the confidence of the players and that is the biggest thing. I am really pleased with how the fans have stuck with us in the last few games when it has been a little bit frustrating for them.
“That is how we would like to play, we played exactly like that against Rotherham at home and beat them 6-1. Not every game will end up that way but I think you can see we have potential and a threat, but we can also defend and dig in.”
“For our lads, the club and for the supporters, we needed a bit of optimism from a good performance and result,” he said. “We’ve got Leeds on Wednesday, so the games don’t get any easier.
“We’ll take a view over the next couple of days and see how our lads come back in terms of who is going to be available and who is not.
“We need to bear in mind that, particularly when you’re coming from a different country, if you play that type of game and put as much in to it as you did, can you go again on Wednesday and then again on the following Saturday?”
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