Defensive Discipline Pleases Tim

Blues' keeper content with consecutive shut-outs.

Tim Howard believes Monday's point at St Mary’s will prove a good result as an increasingly improving Southampton side continue their ascent of the Premier League table.

The 15th-placed Saints have been in fine fettle of late and could have been out of sight at the break but for the performance of the Blues’ American custodian.

The visitors responded after the interval and while Howard insists Everton were unfortunate not to pick up all three points, the draw, he feels, is a respectable result.

“The two halves were like night and day,” he told evertontv. “It was virtually quiet in the second half. In the first half we had to weather the storm, but we were away from home against a good footballing side.

“They have been playing well and they have always been a good footballing side. They looked a little tighter at the back and they are going to cause some problems. I know they are 15th in the league but they give you a right good game."

“We had to do our jobs and we did," he added. "It’s a second clean sheet on the bounce, so we’ll take the positives out of it.”

While a second successive shut-out is a big plus point for David Moyes’ men, goals are beginning to become hard to come by in the league.

The Blues were also held to a goalless draw by Swansea last weekend. Howard, however, is unperturbed.
 
“I think it balances out,” he added. “There were times in the first half of the season where we weren’t earning clean sheets and we got bailed out with goals and won games.
 
“So we all have our jobs to do, like I say, and we did it well against Southampton. The goals will come.”

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