Delighted Clough still holds out Hope
NIGEL CLOUGH heaped praise on his side’s fighting qualities as they kept their survival hopes alive.
First-half goals from Hope Akpan and Lucas Akins saw the Brewers make it three wins on the bounce and move above their opponents – although they remain in the bottom three heading into the final day.
Former Blackburn man Akpan drilled home his first of the season in the 26th minutes following excellent hold-up play from Liam Boyce, before teeing up Akins for a close-range effort eight minutes later.
Albion could have won by more but second-half chances for ex-Wanderers striker Marvin Sordell and Luke Murphy went begging.
“That was as good a performance as we have seen at home” said boss Clough.
“We scored two very good but different goals.
“We have given ourselves a chance and we know what we need to do next week now.
“We can’t afford to lose now or else we are down. We have to go with the same sort of attitude that we showed today.
“We have got ourselves to the last day and there are still a few other teams in it now.
“It would have been nice to be out of the bottom three but Barnsley winning means we are still in that third place – but you only need to be out of it on the last day.”
Bolton boss Phil Parkinson felt let down by his side as they slipped to second bottom of the table on the back of a run of one point from seven games.
It leaves their fate out of their own hands heading into the final weekend of the season.
“I thought we started okay,” said Parkinson. “It was pretty even up to the goal but the two goals were soft and Burton grew taller after them.
“They were first to every ball. They were more physical than us and they did all the horrible things better than us.
“I am hugely disappointed with the performance and I feel for our fans because that performance wasn’t good enough.”
STOKE boss Paul Lambert has obviously never walked under a ladder or kicked a black cat.
That is six games unbeaten at Anfield as a manager plus a precious point to take back to the Potteries against all the odds – and Liverpool’s Mo Salah.
The Egyptian failed to score at home in the Premier League for the first time this year and Lambert could not have been more delighted as he ponders the mathematics of relegation over the next few days.
It was touch and go with endless heart-stopping moments for the Scottish boss. Most notable was an 87th-minute appeal for a Liverpool penalty when Erik Pieters seemed to handle a Georginio Wijnaldum cross.
But Lambert soon grew bored of being quizzed on whether it was a spot-kick.
He said: “I have been asked about the penalty appeal for the 50th time.
“If it’s given we should walk away. It was never a penalty.
“We came here and played a fantastic game against a team with one foot in the Champions League Final.
“And also against one of the best players in the world who has been scoring for fun.
“But I have never been beaten here as a player or a manager. Not bad is it? Six times. It’s great. It’s one of those grounds I enjoy coming to.”
While he was upbeat, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was not happy, especially with what he viewed as the rough-house treatment of Salah – although Stoke would strongly argue against that.
Klopp said: “Mo is the most attacked player in the Premier League.
“He always deals with it. He doesn’t have to learn that. Whatever I say causes problems. Whatever you think, write it.
“I’m not responsible for judging the rules. That is the referee. If he thinks that is still okay I cannot change that.”
Klopp was in a brighter mood before the game, urging the faithful to pump up the volume, saying: “We need you and Anfield today more than at any point during the season. You know the impact you have.”
Powerful, tub-thumping words from the Liverpool boss and certainly not lost in translation. But somehow the fans could not respond to his warcry.
They failed to lift the noise level to the satisfaction of the German – ironically on a day Stoke themselves must have been lost for words.
Boss Lambert would have half-expected Liverpool to rest many of their superstars with the Champions League return leg against Roma on Wednesday night.
But all the big guns – apart from the injured Sadio Mane – were there including Salah, who was playing rather than taking a deserved rest.
In fact, you would have put money on the Egypt striker opening the scoring in the first round of combat.
Salah was slipped clean through by Jordan Henderson and suddenly keeper Jack Butland was at his mercy.
But his trademark chip sneaked a foot wide of the post and the whole of Anfield looked to the sky in total amazement.
Stoke could not believe their luck and almost made Liverpool pay in the 20th minute when Moritz Bauer’s cross arrowed to Mame Diouf who headed weakly wide.
Back came Liverpool with Trent Alexander-Arnold who was played in by Salah but Butland saved with his legs.
Then in the 34th minute the Kop held its breath again. Salah lined up a free-kick just outside the box but as the crowd waited for the customary roar of celebration, his effort flew past the post.
Three minutes from the break, the whole of Anfield finally found its voice to cheer what they thought was the opener.
But Danny Ings’ finish was ruled out by an offside flag. There was even less to get excited about in a second half of mediocrity.
Patient home supporters had to wait until the 67th minute for a worthwhile effort with Alberto Moreno flashing a shot wide.
Salah tried to lift spirits and there was the usual huge anticipation when his clever feet danced him into goalscoring areas.
But he just could not get it right. Every time he thought he was clear, defender Pieters was all over him like a rash with strong-arm tactics clearly not to the striker’s liking.
The Kop did not like that.
Nor were they happy when referee Andre Marriner refused them that late penalty before Potters skipper Ryan Shawcross came within a whisker of nudging in a shock late winner.