Round-Up: Adkins praises Chaplow's tenacity

Sam Allardyce, the West Ham manager, is happy with the way his side are playing (GETTY IMAGES)

Nigel Adkins, the Southampton manager, singled out Richard Chaplow for effusive praise after the midfielder helped his side record a comfortable 3-0 victory over Middlesbrough at St Mary's on Saturday.

"He has unbelievable energy and tenacity," said Adkins of the 26-year-old, who played a pivotal role in the game as two goals from Guly Do Prado and David Connolly's late drive ensured Southampton triumphed. "[Chaplow] gets into goal-scoring positions but his great asset is his flexibility and he is a player with loads of ability. I asked him to play wide on the right for this match and he responded with a great performance," added Adkins, whose side remain unbeaten at home this season and sit three points clear at top of the table.

Sam Allardyce, meanwhile, hailed the "great entertainment" West Ham offered as the Hammers claimed a 3-2 home win over managerless Leicester City. "The quality of all our three goals was very pleasing. All the goals were earned rather than gifted," reflected Allardyce, after Sam Baldock's double sandwiched Julien Faubert's effort, with Andy King scoring twice for Leicester in vain.

Allardyce added: "The whole team are giving everything they've got. It's back-to-back wins, great entertainment and the right result."

Baldock, 22, who has four goals for the club since signing from MK Dons this summer, also received significant praise from his manager. "Baldock is looking like a big, big threat for everybody," said Allardyce. "I am sure the word [Baldock] will reverberate around football. You have to keep your eye on him when he plays at Upton Park."

Ian Holloway rued the opportunities his Blackpool team missed after they were defeated 3-1 at Burnley. The Tangerines found themselves 2-0 down within 30 minutes, conceding goals to Charlie Austin and Ross Wallace, and Holloway said: "The next goal was absolutely vital and we didn't get it.

"We had three or four opportunities to get it, which we didn't look like creating in the first half but did in the second," he added. "It's a shame we didn't turn up with that same sort of approach and positivity after we let a goal in – and that's what our Achilles heel is. The first-half cost us."