O’Neill the man with the magic touch as Mame maims Cook

TWO out of two. One hundred per cent.

And the goalscoring reintroduction of forgotten man Mame Diouf, who had the final say on an afternoon where it could have gone horribly wrong for new manager Michael O’Neill.

At one point his agenda was all about a Jack Butland blunder and the real threat of a home defeat at the hands of the worst travellers in the Championship.

By the third minute of added time, Sam Morsy’s opener for Wigan had been consigned to history, cancelled out by Danny Batth and substitute Diouf.

‘Magic touch’ Michael O’Neill they will be calling him in the pubs and clubs round the Potteries and he will settle for that, for now.

After watching

Stoke win at home for only the second time this season, the Northern Ireland boss was quick to praise Diouf.

He said: “Since the minute I came into the club Mame has come in with a smile on his face.

“He’s very popular and has a lot to offer and he can play in any of the front positions.

“I’m delighted with the start.

“At half-time I told them I would learn more about them in the next 45 minutes then all season and not to let me down.”

O’Neill’s reception could not have been more low key. Old favourite Delilah was in mid-bellow when he took his seat for his first home match in charge with no announcement, no fanfare.

Apparently this is a ‘thing’ now at the bet365. Four managers in 22 months since

Mark Hughes’ departure has meant a rethink in terms of welcome mats.

There were plenty of positives yesterday, not to mention several negatives – in particular conceding after a mix-up of monumental proportions.

Jamal Lowe’s jet-propelled sprint the length of the pitch required a text-book clearance from Butland. Instead he thwacked the ball against team-mate Tom Edwards, the rebound dropped to Morsy. David Marshall then made a string of saves from James McClean, Stephen Ward and Tom Ince but even he could do nothing when Batth got the faintest of touches to a free-kick by Ryan Woods.

Stoke had opportunities to win it and in the third minute of added time, Diouf had the simplest of tap-ins from Ince’s initial shot.

Under-pressure Latics boss Paul Cook said: “It’s football, it is a brutal industry.

“I could sit here until 7pm about how cruel a game it is.

“Do you get what you deserve? I don’t know.

“The biggest pain is when you feel you can’t help your team and that is the saddest thing. I feel for the players and I feel sorry for the supporters.”

BRENDAN RODGERS says he won’t shy away from questions about winning the title after his team produced another stunning display to win at Brighton.

Goals from Ayoze Perez and Jamie Vardy kept the Foxes in second place in the Premier League, eight points behind Liverpool and they were good value for their fifth victory in a row.

Now Rodgers knows he’s likely to be asked about his team’s title ambitions week-in, week-out – especially with highly winnable matches against Everton, Villa, Watford and Norwich next on the agenda.

“I know it’s coming and, hey, that’s okay – as long as you’re still asking me in April,” he said.

“We’re happy, we’re not shying away from anything. “But also there are only 13 games gone, so what is most pleasing is the consistency of my side. That’s 16 goals in our last five games and we’ve only conceded one. That shows the mentality and hunger we have.”

In fact, Leicester showed all their qualities to win at the Amex, dominating the first half with attractive football, defending when Brighton woke up in the second half – and ruthlessly putting them to the sword on the break after that.

Striker Vardy was almost unplayable on the counterattack, setting up Perez for the opener after 64 minutes and adding a twice-taken penalty with 12 minutes to go.

That was his 12th of the season, so no wonder Rodgers is happy with the way his team is performing.

“What’s great is that our supporters are singing about winning the league – and it’s the most competitive league in the world,” he said. “So, that tells you the dreams they have, which is absolutely brilliant.”

For Brighton, this was their first home defeat since August but even boss Graham Potter had to admit it was the right outcome.

“I’m disappointed to lose but over the course of the game it’s probably a fair result,” he said.

“We showed real good courage to stay in the game but Vardy, especially on the transition and turnover, is very dangerous.

“Leicester’s quality was high throughout the game. So we have to dust ourselves down and go again.” Leicester were not so much dominant in the first half as operating on a different planet.

Perez hit the woodwork in the first minute while livewire Harvey Barnes missed a series of chances to put the Foxes ahead as Brighton simply looked on.

Vardy had a header tipped over the bar, while Albion managed only one glimpse of goal, a header from a corner which

Shane Duffy nodded wide.

But just as Brighton got on top in the second period, the visitors switched tactics and stepped up their counter attacks.

Perez wasted one excellent chance from a lightning Vardy break but didn’t miss the second.

This time the former England striker raced on to a James Maddison pass and drive all the way into the area before setting up his team-mate.

Vardy himself almost made it 2-0, denied by keeper Mat Ryan, but the game was wrapped up when substitute Demarai Gray won a penalty under a challenge from Adam Webster.

Vardy’s first kick was saved before Maddison headed home the rebound

– only for VAR to show players from both sides had encroached into the area.

As a result, the kick had to be retaken – and this time Vardy made no mistake.

No wonder their fans are dreaming of another unlikely title.