SAINTS have adopted a winning mentality, according to boss Nigel Adkins.

His side had to weather late pressure at Barnsley to make it a club record four away wins in a row – despite having looked totally superior to their opponents for much of the game.

That came about partly because of an inability to score a second goal to kill the game off and Richard Chaplow’s late red card which gave the Tykes a renewed sense of belief.

However, despite a few hairy moments, Saints did cling on to make it eight league wins in a row in total and nine in all competitions.

“We knew all the way through we needed to get that second goal,” reflected Adkins. “It was just a fraction with that final pass, but some of the passing was outstanding.

“We could have scored more, there were half chances where the ball just went away.

“It was very exciting towards the end when Richard Chaplow got sent off and we had to handle that for the last five or six minutes and the referee adding whatever.

“What great desire from our players to make sure we didn’t concede.

“We threw bodies in the way, the adrenaline was flowing and we saw out a very well deserved victory.”

Adkins refused to condemn Chaplow for his red card, reserving judgement until he has reviewed the footage.

Either way, Chaplow is now facing a three game ban that will rule him out of tomorrow’s game at Ipswich, the match against Millwall at St Mary’s this Saturday and the trip to Leicester on August 27.

“I want to look at the DVD, but it looks as though he’s cleared the ball and the player is right in front of him,” said Adkins.

“It’s hard for me to turn round and make a judgement because I always like to see something before I make a comment.

“The fact of the matter is that the referee is right on the spot, the referee has deemed it a red card and you have to accept that.”

The manager added: “All the players are well aware we have great competition for places.

“It’s been demonstrated with some fantastic football and some fantastic spirit.

“There’s a winning mentality about the players, we want to do ever so well and work hard to keep clean sheets and score goals.

“This was a well deserved, excellent three points away from home.

“We’ve had a good pre-season and we have a group of players who are all working very hard to improve and be the best that they can be.

“We played some superb football and showed that grit and determination to make sure we got the victory.

“It’s all about that spirit and camaraderie that we’ve got, aided by the ability that we’ve got, and a really enthusiastic staff that try to prove an environment for the players to do well.

“The players want to be the best they can be and everyone is working very hard for each other.

“That is great, and again we had a good following away from home, a long distance, and the supporters got behind the players.

“I think they enjoyed the afternoon as it was a gripping game.”

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