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Potter: We hung in there and got our reward

Head coach's thoughts after Neal Maupay's stoppage-time goal rescues a point against Southampton.

By Bruce Talbot • 04 December 2021

By Paul Hazlewood
Graham Potter applauds the fans at the final whistle.

Graham Potter praised his side's resilience after Albion produced another late show, this time against Southampton.

For the second game in four days, Neal Maupay grabbed a late equaliser when he scored his sixth goal of the season in the ninth minute of stoppage time as it finished 1-1 at St Mary's after Armando Broja had put Saints ahead in the first half.

As they had done against West Ham, Albion finished with ten men when Leandro Trossard was stretchered off with an elbow injury while Joel Veltman had to come off in the second half after taking a blow to the nose. 

Potter said, "We had to readjust because of injuries after the West Ham game so there wasn’t a lot of time to prepare. It was quite a scrappy second half, we probably weren’t at our best but they are an honest bunch of guys. The character of the team was fantastic and it was an incredible effort to come away with a point.

"We pushed and pushed and to score so late on again was fantastic."

Albion are ninth in the table after their eighth draw in their last ten games.

"You can look at our run two ways," added Potter. "We’re obviously looking to pick up three points more but we’re still picking up points. The league is so competitive, nobody gives you anything so for us to have only lost three games this season is something for us to be happy about."

Potter was delighted for Maupay, who scored his sixth goal of the season. "We know what he’s about and I’m delighted for them," said the head coach. "We kept going, created some pressure and in the end it was a great goal from Neal to get us a point. He doesn't give up, he believes that another chance will come. He's always waiting for the next opportunity.

"In terms of the injuries, they are part of the challenge of the season but we will have to re-set and go again," added Potter.