SAM: TASH IN GOOD TRIM TO REPLACE JOE
BOWEN BEGS FOR CLINICAL HAMMERS
STOKE
HULL CITY 5 1
SAM CLUCAS says Tashan Oakley-Boothe can fill the void left at Stoke by Joe Allen’s season-ending injury.
Two-goal hero Clucas shone as the Potters tore Hull to shreds with a five-star showing.
Fellow midfielder Nick Powell also starred with a double against his old club and Tyrese Campbell scored from the penalty spot.
But Stoke’s win was clouded by the news that skipper Allen is now out for the season. The Wales star was carried off at half-time with a ruptured Achilles tendon, an injury which also crushes his hopes of playing at Euro 2020 this summer.
“I spoke to him and he’s devastated,” said Clucas (celebrating his second goal, above). “All the players are. A guy with that much experience and quality is going to be a massive loss.
“But when somebody gets injured it’s always a chance to give somebody else a game and Tashan did well in the second half when he came on. He’s got some big boots to fill, but he’s more than capable.”
Victory lifted Stoke three points clear of the drop zone, but Hull are now one place above the bottom three. Leonardo Da Silva Lopes got a consolation goal for the Tigers, who are now 11 games without a win.
And under-fire boss Grant McCann said: “The run of results has been concerning. It feels like we haven’t won in years. We’re really low on confidence.”
JARROD BOWEN warned West Ham to rediscover their killer instinct if they want to beat the drop.
The Hammers peppered Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno with shots and had enough chances to win this game twice over.
But it’s now six defeats in a row on the road for the Hammers, who entertain Wolves on Sunday before travelling to Tottenham and hosting Chelsea.
Newboy Bowen said: “We need to be ruthless in front of goal, but again the performance levels and the work ethic were there.
“It’s just that final bit which is crucial.
“We know the quality we have got and we know that we need to keep on performing as we have done – but being ruthless.
”The performances over the last three or four games have been promising. The work-rate is there, the quality is there, so we’ll go into those games with confidence.
“We’ll focus on ourselves to pick up the points to drag ourselves away from where we are at the minute.”