Jones: Bullies won’t stop me scoring
Feb 9 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal
KENWYNE Jones admits he has become a target for Premier League defenders this season – but they are still failing to stop the Sunderland striker from scoring.
Jones (left) took his tally to nine goals in 19 appearances with a powerful header in the 2-0 win over Stoke City on Saturday, despite failing to train before the match because of the clattering he had taken in the derby draw with Newcastle United.
The Trinidad and Tobago international was also given plenty of physical attention against Stoke, but refused to be bullied or intimidated as his burgeoning reputation as one of English football’s most dangerous front men continues to gather pace.
“I’m getting different treatment this season from defenders,” said Jones, who had actually looked a little out-of-sorts against the Potters before his crucial second-half header. “In the first season, they didn’t know much about me and I got a free ride I suppose. But this season they are more aware of what I can do and they try to target me in different ways.
“I’ve had to adapt to be prepared for whatever comes at me. Physically, especially, it is a lot more demanding but that’s football. I can handle myself out there. I keep on top of my strength and play to my strengths. Hopefully that is doing the job.
“People were talking about me last season as a good target man, but I wasn’t
scoring enough goals. It’s been nice this season to combine the two things.
”I’ve missed a big chunk of the season and it’s great to be back in. Whether or not I’m playing brilliantly or not, just to be playing again is the most important thing. I’m relaxed about my performances.”
Sunderland’s win lifted them seven points clear of the relegation places and, although Jones admitted their position looked a lot healthier, he insisted their main priority this season would remain securing top-flight safety.
He said: “The league table looks a lot nicer than it did. It was most important we got the three points against Stoke. We do have a little breathing space now and we feel a lot better being where we are. We’re not looking up or down.
“We’re just concentrating on what we have to do to make sure we stay out of any trouble. If you spend all your time concentrating on what is ahead of you, or below you, it’s easy to lose your focus.
“We want to keep climbing the table, but they only way to do that is to keep picking up points.
“Our basic objective this season was maintain our Premier League status. That was the most important thing for us. But we also wanted to try and finish higher up the table than last season, because we want to maintain the progress this club has made in the last few years.
“That is something we are trying to do and the points we have picked up in the last few games have given us a stronger position in the league.”
Despite the satisfaction which followed a vital win, however, Jones was just one of the thousands inside the Stadium of Light who were incensed by referee Rob Styles’ failure to spot Stoke defender Danny Pugh blocking a header with his hands on the line in the first half.
He explained: “The penalty decision? I don’t want to say we have been cheated, but those sorts of things seem to happen to this football club, and at this ground, a lot.
“Thankfully we’ve won the game 2-0. If we hadn’t it would have been a major talking point.
“It still is, but at least it hasn’t cost us the three points or anything like that.
“I couldn’t believe it when he gave a goalkick rather than a penalty, but it was still early in the game and there was a lot of football still to be played.
“You have to get on with it, you can’t spend the rest of the game thinking what might have been.
“Nonetheless, it was unbelievable really, it was a blatant handball on the line which would have meant a sending off as well.”
