Adkins not blaming Bialkowski

Bartosz Bialkowski: Endured a disastrous afternoon against Blackpool

Southampton manager Nigel Adkins voiced his support for goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski after his catastrophic error almost led to defeat against Blackpool before Rickie Lambert saved the day.

The Polish keeper, making his first Championship start for the Saints, spilled a Callum McManaman shot early in the second half at St Mary's to allow the visitors to go 2-1 ahead after earlier goals from Lambert and Chris Basham.

The crucial error capped a nightmare afternoon for the 24-year-old after he had already produced an unconvincing first-half display.

He was spared when Lambert salvaged a point for the hosts, nodding home a stoppage-time effort.

Manager Adkins refused to give Bialkowski a hard time for his performance, telling Sky Sports: "It happens, I've been in the situation myself, these things happen.

"It's always going to be challenging. Bart is fantastic in training all the time but it's whether you can perform in the arena.

Confidence

"I've got a lot of confidence in the lad and what we'll do is we'll pick him up. But until you play in these situations you don't know whether you can deal with it or not.

"He'll be stronger for the situation that's happened. The good thing is we went behind but we didn't lose the game from it."

Adkins was impressed by Championship leaders Southampton's character after they kept pushing until the very end for an equaliser and were eventually rewarded.

"We've remained strong, we kept going all the way to the end. It shows the character we've got in the team," he added.

"Unfortunately we went behind after being in front. I thought we did ok for a period of time.

"(It showed) great character from our players because we kept going all the way until the end and then Rickie Lambert pops up with an equalising goal at the end and everyone's emotions are different from if the scoreline had been 2-1.

"It's 2-2, it's a good point for us. It's another game undefeated at St Mary's if you like. It's not a win but it's not a defeat.

"What we'll do is analyse the game afterwards, take all that from it, but for now it's a good point."

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