Pochettino pleased with Southampton’s efforts

Reading 0 Southampton 2

The Argentinian oversaw his fourth win at the Saints helm and third in succession as he overcame the man he succeeded in January, Nigel Adkins on Saturday.

Reading boss Adkins was unable to exact any revenge for his sacking as Jay Rodriguez and Adam Lallana goals either side of half-time secured Southampton a 2-0 win at the Madejski Stadium.

Pochettino and Adkins shared a bottle of wine after the match, before which the former was keen not to discuss what was different under his reign.

“It is not really important,” he said. “What is important is that we won, have 37 points. I don’t really analyse that. I think I am a pretty relaxed person, I look to work with my players on the training pitch. The club have brought me in to do a job and I am doing it well so I am just pleased overall.”

Such is the job that Pochettino is doing that Saints ended Saturday in 11th place and seven points clear of the drop zone.

Things are not so rosy for the man that paid £6million to bring Rodriguez to St Mary’s, with Adkins now all but certain of relegation with Reading. Seven points adrift with just six games left, relegation seems all but certain for the Royals – not that top scorer Adam Le Fondre will be giving up.

“We’re paid professionals and we’ll give our all for the cause. We’ve got Liverpool here next weekend and we love games like that, so we’ll welcome the challenge and try to make it horrible for them.”