Stubbs: Positives To Be Taken

Reserve team coach praises Iain Turner and Shane Duffy

Everton reserve team coach Alan Stubbs has believes there were some real positives to be taken from the 0-0 draw with Manchester City.

The Blues fielded a young side and held City to a 0-0 stalemate at Halton Stadium against this week.

Amongst the Everton ranks was Iain Turner, the Scottish goalkeeper who is returning to regular action after a frustrating 18 months.

Stubbs said: "What he had to deal with, he coped fine. I don't think that there was an awful lot of pressure on him at times, but for a goalkeeper it's one of those situations where you have to be able to concentrate at all times.

"Sometimes you have spells throughout games where you're not busy at all and then suddenly you're called upon to make saves or decisions in the game. He did that a lot better tonight."

Turner was not the only player that the former Toffees defender had praise for. Teenage centre-back Shane Duffy was given the captain's armband for the fixture and Stubbs has been pleased with the Irishman’s progress this season.

"The one thing about Shane is that he competes very well," said Stubbs.

"We're still trying to get that little bit of sloppiness out of his game from time to time, but that comes with being a young defender. The coaches are trying to make him understand the consequences of any decision-making and hopefully he will learn from that.

"He was one player who stood up against the test and he led by example."