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Post by daverichards on Dec 17, 2005 19:48:42 GMT
From SportingLife.com Stoke celebrate one of Gallagher's two goals. Luton 2 Stoke 3 Chris Coyne's own goal gifted Stoke the points at Kenilworth Road as the Potters completed a smash-and-grab raid on Luton. It seemed the game was destined to end honours even following a pulsating finish in which Kevin Nicholls sent Steve Simonsen the wrong way from the penalty spot two minutes from time. That levelled matters at 2-2 after Paul Gallagher's double had overturned Ahmet Brkovic's 20th-minute strike but in one last twist Coyne sliced horribly into his own net to leave Luton lamenting their luck. The Hatters, who were once again without goalkeeper Marlon Beresford with a back problem, started at a high tempo with Nicholls and Carlos Edwards probing from midfield. After nine minutes Edwards' through ball ran away from Steve Robinson before he could gather, while soon after Nicholls had appeals for a penalty rightly turned down as he tussled with a defender in the box. Despite that bright start, however, it was quarter of an hour before either keeper had a save to make. Rowan Vine fired in the first shot as he cut in from the right but Simonsen was equal to the test. Stoke responded with a chance of their own as Mamady Sidibe crossed dangerously into the area where Gallagher contrived to scuff his shot straight at defender Markus Heikkinen. But in truth, it was far from inspiring and it took some sloppy defending from the Potters to gift Luton their lead after 20 minutes. The visitors stood static as the ball drifted into the box from out wide and Brkovic had time to pick his spot as he ghosted in at the back to thump home from 12 yards. Stoke seemed to be missing the influence of top scorer Sambegou Bangoura - who along with Marlon Broomes and John Halls missed out through suspension - as they struggled to break Luton down. But in first-half injury time Gallagher put them back on level terms with a simple goal as keeper Dean Brill was beaten to the ball by Sidibe on the edge of the box and, when he rolled it goalwards, the on-loan Blackburn striker won the race to tap it home. That could not hide the fact that Stoke had been well below par and at the break Kevin Harper was sent on to replace Luke Chadwick. Within eight minutes, however, it was Luton who were again forcing the pace as Edwards - a reported target for West Brom in the January transfer window - flung in a cross and Vine headed close. Brkovic was beginning to pull the strings from midfield and when he teed up Nicholls after 61 minutes the midfielder blazed over the crossbar, only for play to be hauled back for a free-kick as Vine was crumpled on the edge of the area. From the resulting set piece Simonsen leapt across his line to turn Nicholls' curler away before Aussie ace Brkovic tormented the Potters again with 20 minutes left when he rose unmarked only to head against the crossbar. With seven minutes left, it seemed as though Gallagher had nicked it for the Potters when he latched onto a cross flashed across the area to strike home from six yards. But then the game burst into life. First a surging run from Steve Howard into the area saw him tumbled over by Karl Henry, allowing Nicholls to step up and send Simonsen the wrong way. But there was still time for one last decisive twist as the ball was squared across the box and Coyne made his unwanted intervention. Teams: Luton Brill, Underwood, Coyne, Heikkinen, Foley, Brkovic, Robinson (Showunmi 88), Nicholls, Edwards, Howard, Vine (Feeney 75). Subs Not Used: Holmes, Barnett, Beckwith. Booked: Robinson, Coyne. Goals: Brkovic 21, Nicholls 88 pen. Stoke Simonsen, Buxton, Hoefkens, Duberry, Henry, Sigurdsson (Sweeney 76), Brammer, Russell, Chadwick (Harper 45), Gallagher, Sidibe. Subs Not Used: de Goey, Junior, Dickinson. Booked: Brammer, Gallagher, Sweeney. Goals: Gallagher 45, 83, Coyne 90 og. Att: 8,296 Ref: T Kettle (Berkshire).
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Post by daverichards on Dec 17, 2005 19:49:21 GMT
Post Match Comments from same source
BOSKAMP HOPING TO KEEP TWO-GOAL HERO Stoke boss Johan Boskamp spoke of his hopes of keeping striker Paul Gallagher permanently with the Potters as his two goals helped sink Luton 3-2 at Kenilworth Road.
Gallagher, on a season-long loan from Blackburn, struck in first-half stoppage time and seven minutes from full-time to take his tally to seven for the season.
And Boskamp said: "Gallagher is staying for the season but as for signing him I don't think we can afford to pay him - we're Stoke not Chelsea.
"Blackburn are already helping us pay part of his wages but I don't know whether he will stay here.
"He wants to stay here and everybody at Stoke wants him to stay here but it will come down to the decision of Blackburn."
The win, a seventh victory in 12 matches away from home so far this term came without suspended leading goalscorer Sam Bangoura.
And Boskamp added: "You need to have deep strikers who can hold the ball up and you also need to have players who can score and we have that in Paul Gallagher and Sam Bangoura.
"Our secret away from home is that we just keep scoring one more goal than the other team!"
Gallagher's double had looked liked being cancelled out by Kevin Nicholls' 87th-minute penalty for Luton after Ahmet Brkovic's 21st-minute opener for the hosts.
But a dramatic own goal from Chris Coyne gave Stoke their second injury-time win over the Hatters this season after Dave Brammer's late strike in the 2-1 win at the Britannia Stadium in August.
"It's our speciality to beat Luton in injury time this season," joked Boskamp.
Luton's second home defeat of the season means they have lost seven of their last nine.
But manager Mike Newell said: "It was a travesty. We played some decent stuff in the first half and tried to force the game in the second period. But got hit on the break.
"The own goal was a sickener but things haven't been going for us.
"That's the second time Stoke have beaten us and I think we've deserved more from each game.
"I'd like to come out after a game and be able to say we were lucky to win or that we didn't deserve the three points, but that hasn't happened to us yet."
Newell also defended 20-year-old goalkeeper Dean Brill, who was at fault for Stoke's own goal.
"I was disappointed with all the goals particularly the first goal but Dean's only a young goalkeeper and that is to be expected," he said.
"He made a similar mistake against Southampton last week but unless you put the youngsters in they will never learn or gain experience."
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Post by Vadiation_Ribe on Dec 17, 2005 23:37:39 GMT
Thanks.
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Post by daverichards on Dec 18, 2005 10:02:08 GMT
fornside Posted on 18/12 8:52 Email this Message | Edit | Reply re: Match Reports from Papers
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Independent.
By Norman Fox at Kenilworth Road Published: 18 December 2005
In the tight, worrying chase for Championship play-off places one mistake can be highly damaging. An own goal by Chris Coyne in the third minute of time added on here severely damaged Luton's hopes but they made too many other errors to complain.
Stoke had established a run of five wins in eight games but had been without a match for eight days. The game was played at pace but with little control. For a while, only Stoke's Luke Chadwick seemed to have the fundamental ability to conjure anything promising at speed.
There was little between the teams until the 21st minute when Luton's Steve Howard knocked the ball into the penalty area, Rowan Vine played it on to Ahmet Brkovic who cracked in a short-range shot.
Until then chances had been rare and shared. The goal did little to alter the pattern, with perhaps Luton slightly the more productive in midfield. However, they had a habit of losing possession when not under pressure. So it was not all that surprising when Luton relinquished their advantage by carelessness that culminated in goalkeeper Dean Brill moving many yards out of his goal in a hopeless attempt to intercept Mamady Sidibe, who was sprinting in on the left otherwise unopposed.
Sidibe sensibly turned the ball across the penalty area before Brill could do anything about it, and Paul Gallagher had no difficulty in putting in the 45th-minute equaliser.
Stoke's ability to counterattack off the back of Luton's errors was something that ought to have brought them more rewards, but their commitment was not altogether convincing. In addition, generally speaking, the Luton defence held their line well, with right back Kevin Foley particularly impressive, neat, quick to go forward and sharp in his passing, which was more than can be said of most of his colleagues ahead of him.
Stoke's defence became increasingly fragile. Mistakes and confusion made it seem more than likely that Luton would snatch back the lead but luck held. A free-kick by Kevin Nicholls brought a fine tip-over save from Steve Simonsen, and Brkovic hit the crossbar with a long header.
Luton regretted their faults when the Stoke substitute Kevin Harper turned the ball inside to Sidibe at the near post and he placed it into the goal area from where Gallagher scored. Luton recovered only by way of a penalty when Karl Henry brought down Howard. Nichols scored from the spot, but in added time the unfortunate Coyne gave Stoke the winning points when he sliced an attempted clearance into this own net.
--- Post edited by fornside on 18/12 9:50 ---
Link : Independent IP: Logged IlfordDave Posted on 18/12 8:55 Email this Message | Edit | Reply re: Match Reports from Papers
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The People
18 December 2005 STOKE HAVE SIX APPEAL Luton 2 3 Stoke: Paul's double sends them Potty Ian Gibb STOKE soared into the top six with their fourth successive away win, thanks to an own goal by Chris Coyne after 92 minutes.
A double from Paul Gallagher had looked to clinch at least a point for the Potteries men as they shrugged off the absence of eight- goal suspended striker Sammy Bangoura.
But then they got a massive boost in time added on as Luton defender Coyne got confused and side-footed past his own keeper.
That came just seven minutes after Luton had been given a lifeline by Kevin Nicholls' penalty.
Stoke badly missed Bangoura and were forced to dig in for most of the first half. But Luton let them off the hook several times.
Stoke had to bring in Lewis Buxton for the suspended Marlon Broomes in central defence, with Karl Henry replacing banned full-back John Hills.
Stoke keeper Steve Simonsen was soon warming his hands as he did well to save, holding the ball at the second attempt from Rowan Vine's hefty shot after the Luton striker had been teed up by Steve Howard.
But Stoke could and should have gone ahead after 17 minutes. The big, awkward Mamady Sidibe turned Coyne as though he wasn't there before centering low from the right.
But Gallagher couldn't get a good connection on the bouncing ball and in the end it was a simple pick-up for reserve keeper Dean Brill.
Stoke paid for their miss on 20 minutes when Luton took the lead.
Stoke's defenders didn't react well enough to a Carlos Edwards throw-in from the right, as Howard and then Vine helped the ball into the danger area.It fell perfectly for Croatian Ahmet Brkovic to lash a volley high inside the left post.
Another throw on the right, this time from Kevin Foley, had Stoke in trouble again as Edwards centred and Howard headed down, only for Steve Robinson to fire high and wide from 16 yards.
Simonsen had to be alert again on 42 minutes to prevent a clever back- heel by Howard from going in, the keeper flicking the ball away from the danger area.
The busy Howard, who hasn't scored for four games, turned on a shooting chance and the ball took a deflection but Simonsen held on.
And Stoke levelled seconds from half-time when Luton went to sleep.
Dave Brammer sent a long ball out towards Sidibe on the left.
The big striker easily evaded the ill-judged charge out of his goal from Brill, sending the ball over towards Gallagher as he came in at the far post.
Luton's defenders still had a chance to clear but allowed the Stoke striker to get the first touch and he tucked the ball inside the far left post.
Luton pressed on in the second half, only for Vine to head powerfully straight at Simonsen after nice work by their classy wide man Edwards. Then the Stoke keeper excelled himself, diving to flick a curling free-kick from Nicholls over the bar.
And Luton got even closer when Brkovic's header looped against the bar and Michael Duberry was glad to head over.
Stoke took a shock lead on 82 minutes when Sidibe played the ball in from the right and the ever-sharp Gallagher pounced at the near post to side foot in.
Luton roared back to level within three minutes when Henry was judged to have brought down Howard for a penalty. Nicholls stepped up to hammer the spot kick straight down the middle as keeper Simonsen dived to his left.
But Stoke had one last trick as Coyne could only push the ball into his own net as Sidibe threatened in time added on.
LUTON: Brill 5 - Foley 6, Heikkinen 6, Coyne 5, Underwood 6 - *EDWARDS 8, Robinson 6 (Showunmi, 87mins), Nicholls 7, Brkovic 7 - Vine 7 (Feeney, 75mins), Howard 7.
STOKE: Simonsen 7 - Henry 6, Hoefkens 6, Duberry 7, Buxton 7 - Chadwick 6 (Harper, 45mins, 6), Russell 7, Brammer 7, Sigurdsson 6 (Sweeney, 75mins) - Sidibe 7, Gallagher 7.
Ref: T Kettle 6.
IP: Logged HuddysPlace Posted on 18/12 8:57 Email this Message | Edit | Reply re: Match Reports from Papers
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks Dave...for all us exiles this is a great service...cheers
IP: Logged fornside Posted on 18/12 8:59 Email this Message | Edit | Reply re: Match Reports from Papers
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Obviously MY report from the Independent left you cold, HP?
IP: Logged stokie_brit Posted on 18/12 9:03 Email this Message | Edit | Reply re: Match Reports from Papers
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the sun there is a quote from Bossie that says summat like "we are so good away from home because the home teams pusshes forwards more at home and it gives us more space" Good flippin timing to tell every one with an away match at Burnley, who want to win this as much as us.
IP: Logged HuddysPlace Posted on 18/12 9:03 Email this Message | Edit | Reply re: Match Reports from Papers
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi Forny.....well The Independant has too many big words for me to understand! Sporting life and People I can just about cope with!
IP: Logged IlfordDave Posted on 18/12 9:08 Email this Message | Edit | Reply re: Match Reports from Papers
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday Mirror
18 December 2005 POTTERS TOP THE HATTERS LUTON..............2 Brkovic 21, Nicholls 88 (pen) STOKE..............3 Gallagher 45, 83, Coyne 90 (og) By John Gubba STOKE manager Johan Boskamp acknowledged his good fortune after a freak own-goal in added-time gave the Potters victory.
A delighted Boskamp said: "It's our speciality - beating Luton in the last minute. We did the same thing to them at home."
But the Dutchman accepted that his side had the rub of the green in a match dominated by Luton but won at the last gasp when Chris Coyne, under pressure from Michael Duberry and Mamady Sidibe, panicked and lobbed the ball over stranded goalkeeper Dean Brill.
The City boss paid tribute to his own key men, keeper Steve Simonsen and striker Paul Gallagher, on a season long loan from Blackburn.
But he conceded that there was little chance of his club finding the cash to keep two-goal Gallagher long term.
Boskamp said: "We can't sign Gallagher because we are Stoke not Chelsea."
But while Gallagher is in the side Boskamp knows he is on to a winner.
"We find it easier away because home teams go forward and give space and in Gallagher we know we have a player who will score goals," added Boskamp.
There was no hint of what was to come as Luton took control after Ahmet Brkovic broke the deadlock in the 21st minute.
It was a well-taken strike by the midfielder restored to the side on the left flank. Brkovic expertly drilled home with his first touch when Rowan Vine inadvertently let the ball run.
Luton grew in confidence and began to create chances. Steve Howard was the danger man with a menacing display before the break.
Howard cleverly teed-up Steve Robinson for a fierce volley over the bar and then went close himself with a cheeky back heel before testing Simonsen with a stinging drive from the edge of the box.
But Stoke stunned the Hatters seconds before the break when Brill was caught out of his goal by Sidibe, who rounded the keeper before squaring the ball to Gallagher who scored at the far post.
Simonsen came to Stoke's rescue in the second half with a string of stubborn saves.
He magnificently palmed over a superb free-kick by Luton skipper Kevin Nicholls that was dipping into the top corner, and minutes later turned a smart header from Brkovic on to the bar before again denying Howard.
With seven minutes left Gallagher thought he had landed the winner when he swept in a tantalising cross from Sidibe to complete his double.
But that was only the start of a dramatic final flurry
Karl Henry brought down Howard in the box two minutes from time and Nicholls stepped up to equalise by sending Simonsen the wrong way with his spot-kick.
Then came the final twist when Coyne's last-gasp blunder handed the match to Stoke.
Luton manager Mike Newell could not hide his anguish.
"The result was a travesty," he complained. "We did more than enough to win the game. My team did everything I asked of them and we were done."
On Brill's blunder for Stoke's equaliser, Newell said: "He's a young keeper and he made a similar mistake last week at Southampton.
"But young players will make mistakes and if you don't give them a chance they won't learn."
MAN OF THE MATCH
STEVE SIMONSEN
Saves kept Stoke in it.
LUTON: Brill 5, Foley 6, Coyne 5, Heikkinen 6, Underwood 6, Edwards 7, Robinson 7 (Showunmi 5), Nicholls 7, Brkovic 7, Vine 6 (Feeney 5), Howard 7.
STOKE: SIMONSEN 8, Henry 6, Hoefkens 6, Duberry 6, Buxton 6, Chadwick 6 (Harper 6), Brammer 7, Russell 7, Sigurdsson 6 (Sweeney 5), Gallagher 7, Sidibe 7.
MANAGERS: Newell 6; Boskamp 7
REFEREE: T Kettle 6
IP: Logged Moorlander Posted on 18/12 9:11 Email this Message | Edit | Reply re: Match Reports from Papers
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Independat ,What a joke.
IP: Logged fornside Posted on 18/12 9:14 Email this Message | Edit | Reply re: Match Reports from Papers
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Come off it Moorlander. Your spelling isn't THAT funny.
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Post by Time4aPINT on Dec 18, 2005 11:52:22 GMT
Nice one ID. Saves me having to buy the Sunday Papers now .
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