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WE NEED TO MAINTAIN DOMINANCE - SCHARNER

Posted on: Wed 10 Feb 2010

Goalscorer stresses importance of keeping up performance for 90 minutes

After taking an early lead and dominating the majority of Tuesday night's encounter with Stoke City Paul Scharner explained how the focus for the remainder of the season has to be on sustaining performances and getting the points the team deserve.

The Austrian had put Latics ahead after a quarter-of-an-hour with a lovely glancing header from Charles N'Zogbia's free-kick, but he was disappointed the goal didn't lead to all three points:

"This is the second time in a row we've lost a one-goal lead, and it's starting to get disappointing," said Scharner.

"We're in the middle of a relegation battle and in these types of games we should be looking to come away with all three points.

"Tony Pulis risked everything in putting two strikers on, and you know with Stoke they're going to be playing a lot of long balls and getting to their forwards as quick as possible.

"As the game went on it became more difficult to cope with, and it was tough to try and get on the ball and win back possession.

"On a personal note I was very satisfied with my goal, the movement and it was a perfect cross from Charles that led to the goal.

"We tried really hard to add a second goal, particularly in the first-half. But it's in the second-half where our problems lie, we can't seem to sustain the performance over 90 minutes.

"We have to keep our opponents under pressure for the whole game, and I think that should be our focus now for the rest of the season."

Now all eyes are on next Wednesday's league encounter with nearby rivals Bolton Wanderers, a game Scharner is desperate to get three points from:

"It's Bolton next, a very important game and we have to give everything to come away with all three points.

"Whatever is happening is irrelevant we have to stay focused on our own performances and concentrate on picking up points for ourselves."