O’Neill makes flying start with Stoke win
Michael O’Neill, the newly-appointed Stoke manager, had an instant impact as his side hammered Barnsley 4-2 at Oakwell in the bottom-of-the-table Championship clash.
The Northern Irishman was named as Nathan Jones’s successor on Friday, and he was off to a fine start courtesy of Sam Clucas’s early goal and Lee Gregory’s penalty on the half hour.
Cameron McGeehan gave Barnsley hope in the 47th minute, but further goals from Joe Allen and Clucas left them without a win since the opening day of the season, with Patrick Schmidt grabbing a late consolation.
O’Neill, who is also remaining in charge of Northern Ireland, said: “We had to match their desire. No-one has a God-given right to be in the Championship. I’m obviously delighted with the result. It’s one step in the right direction. It’s very pleasing. It was a good performance.”
The win ended a three-match losing streak for Stoke, who moved off the bottom at the expense of Barnsley and to within three points of safety.
Jake Livermore’s 28th-minute goal preserved West Bromwich’s position at the top of the table with a 1-0 victory over Hull, while second-placed
Preston ended Huddersfield’s seven-game unbeaten run with a 3-1 victory at Deepdale.
Jayden Stockley and Alan Browne scored in the first half before another Paul Gallagher penalty sealed the points, with Juninho Bacuna netting a consolation for Town.
Patrick Bamford ended his goal drought in Leeds’ 2-1 win over Blackburn at Elland Road. The striker
netted from the penalty spot in the 30th minute – his first goal in 11 games – and then set up Jack Harrison for a second. Derrick Williams’ 40thminute header gave Rovers hope, but Leeds held on to stay third.
FA Cup first-round weekend continued with Jarrett Rivers the
Darlington hero, as his injury-time equaliser earned the National League North side a 2-2 draw at League Two strugglers Walsall.
Darlington led for 86 minutes, but conceded two late goals as both sides finished the game with 10 men. Omar Holness, Darlington’s Jamaica international midfielder, scored after 17 minutes and things looked good for the visitors when Walsall’s Dan Scarr was dismissed with eight minutes to go. Four minutes later Caolan Lavery drew Walsall level before Alfie Bates hit a late second.
Darlington’s Ben Hedley was then shown a second yellow card before Rivers pounced seven minutes into stoppage-time.
Crewe won 2-0 at Accrington in a game which finished late because of a delay caused by two match officials being injured. Referee Neil Hair limped off in the 22nd minute and was replaced in the middle by fourth official Alan Clayton.
Clayton was injured at half-time and the interval lasted over an hour while both sides discussed how to proceed. Assistant referee Danny Gratton eventually took charge, with just one assistant, Conor Brown.