Adkins admires Saints' resolve

Southampton manager Nigel Adkins is proud of the way his players rose to the challenge against fellow strugglers Reading to move out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 victory.

Saints came into the match a place, and three points, better off than their opponents, who pipped the Hampshire side to the npower Championship title last season. Adkins' side exacted revenge for that on Saturday, with Jason Puncheon's solitary goal enough to secure victory.

"It is a good three points for us," the Saints boss said. "It is important to win our home games, especially against the teams close to us in the league. I thought we thoroughly deserved the victory today and, in fact, I would have liked us to have scored some more goals from the opportunities we created."

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