Advertisement
Lynne Cameron/PA Wire/Press Association Images
Boys in Green

Irish Eye: Another Stokes double as Celtic close the gap

Irish Eye is back after the international break. Here’s how the Boys in Green got on across the water this weekend.

Premier League

Stephen Hunt (Everton 2-1 Wolves) Hunt opened the scoring at Goodison eight minutes before half-time, converting from the spot after Marouane Fellaini fouled David Edwards. International team-mate Stephen Ward was on the wrong end of a similar decision, however, conceding the penalty which allowed Leighton Baines to wrap up all three points for the Toffees.

Jon Walters (Stoke 2-3 Queens Park Rangers) It took Walters just eight minutes to fire Stoke in front on Saturday. Strike partner Peter Crouch rolled the ball into his path and Walters fired past Paddy Kenny from the edge of the box.

Shane Long (West Brom 2-1 Bolton) Long marked his return from injury by wrapping up all three points for the Baggies against Bolton. He headed home the winner from Nicky Shorey’s cross on 56 minutes.

League One

Stephen Gleeson (Colchester United 1-5 MK Dons) Gleeson got in on the act late on as the MK Dons bounced back to win 5-1 having gone a goal behind away to Colchester. The Dubliner got his side’s fourth with a beautifully-struck drive from all of 20 yards out.

Alan Lee (Huddersfield Town 2-1 Notts County) Lee made life difficult for his Huddersfield team-mates as they recorded their 43rd unbeaten game, a new Football League record. The striker was given his marching orders with a half-hour on the clock following a clash with Sam Sodje.

Jon Macken (Walsall 2-4 Bury) Macken made no mistake from the spot in the first half after Shane Byrne upended Jamie Paterson.

John O’Flynn (Yeovil 2-2 Exeter City) O’Flynn put Exeter 2-1 up after 33 minutes, dusting himself off and converting his own penalty after Darren Purse had taken him down inside the area.

Scottish Premier League

Anthony Stokes (Inverness CT 0-2 Celtic) With Rangers only managing a point against St Johnstone, Stokes’s second-half brace helped Celtic narrow the gap at the top of the SPL. The Dubliner finished his first from close range after some good work by Gary Hooper and James Forrest and hammered home his second 11 minutes later when Forrest’s short was blocked in the box.

I’ll stand by you: Kenny throws down Croagh Patrick gauntlet to Trap

Long refuses to blame Hutton for Ireland heartache

WATCH: Robbie’s the architect as LA Galaxy claim MLS Cup