---
title: "Koeman – Stoke will be tough to break down"
canonical: "https://readsouthampton.com/2015/11/20/koeman-stoke-will-tough-break/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Daniel Emery"
section: "News"
published: "2015-11-20T14:42:49Z"
modified: "2015-11-20T14:42:49Z"
---

# Koeman – Stoke will be tough to break down

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has [spoken](https://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/20151119-ronald-koeman-pre-southampton-stoke-city-2808456.aspx) about how hard it will be to break down Stoke tomorrow afternoon at St.Mary’s.

Stoke come in to the game having lost just once in their last six away matches and have conceded just five goals in that time. This means that Southampton are likely to find a very defensive, resilient Stoke side when it comes to 3pm tomorrow.

Koeman knows exactly how to maintain consistent away form; Southampton are unbeaten on the road in all competitions this season. This includes visits to Liverpool and Chelsea, in which they accumulated four points.

However, Saints are at home against Stoke and the onus will be on Koeman’s men to press forward and attack; trying to break down the Potter’s defence. Players like Sadio Mane, Dusan Tadic and Graziano Pelle are going to have to be on top form if they are to find a way past Jack Butland.

![Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readsouthampton.com/readsouthampton/2015/11/494530360.jpg)

Speaking in the build-up to the match, Koeman said this:

> They are tough to beat.

> It’s a strong team and they have good away performances this season.

> They played six away games, they lost only one and they conceded only five goals, and that’s very good and that means it will be difficult for us to beat them.

> But we know we have a good competition with them, because I think finally on the end of the season it will be close between Southampton and Stoke City.

Koeman is also wary of the threat Stoke pose going forward with the skilful players they have in their arsenal.

> I think how he (Mark Hughes) was as a player and how he is as a coach, his team play always with a high intensity.

> They give you really the battles on the midfield and it’s sometimes a physical part of football, but they also signed some new players, some technical good players like \[Xherdan\] Shaqiri, like \[Marco\] van Ginkel, \[Ibrahim\] Afellay, and that’s a little bit different than Stoke was last season.