Potters boss has praise for Max
DERBY County’s Max Bird received high praise from Stoke City manager Michael O’Neill for his “brilliant strike” on Saturday.
Max Bird scored the opener from around 30 yards out in the Rams’ 2-1 win at Pride Park and O’Neill said: “We threw the ball out for the first goal when we shouldn’t, it’s a poor clearance, but a fantastic strike and you can’t take that away from him. It’s a brilliant strike from Bird, fantastic technique.
“The second goal (scored by Curtis Davies) is obviously a poor decision by Joe (Bursik) to come and get involved in that situation. Then suddenly you’re 2-0 down and you’re looking around thinking how.”
Wayne Rooney’s Rams side appeared fortunate not to concede a penalty in the second half when substitute Kamil Jozwiak came into contact with Sam Clucas.
O’Neill was adamant the incident should have led to a spot kick, saying: “I think it’s a penalty, to be honest.
“I’ve watched it back. Sam’s in the box, he’s on his left foot and he’s not going to go over.
“I don’t think it was intended. Jozwiak tries to pull out of the challenge but there is contact from the angle I’ve seen it and, in my view, it’s a penalty.”
He added: “Sam is around the penalty spot and he’s going to hit it because he’ll think he can score. I don’t think he’ll go down unless there’s contact.
“He gets there and the lad, when you watch it back, tries to pull out but there’s contact, his left leg and Sam’s left leg.”