Stunning Elliott volley knocks out Wigan!

Stuart Elliott scored a stunning 20-yard volley to hand Hull a 1-0 victory over Premiership Wigan at the JJB stadium tonight in the second round of the Carling Cup.
Earlier today it was announced that Elliott and Sean Webb had managed to keep their place in Nigel Worthington’s Northern Ireland panel. The 24-man squad to face Latvia and Iceland in September includes the returning Hughesy, Damo and Evans:
NORTHERN IRELAND: Taylor (Birmingham City), Carroll (Rangers), Mannus (Linfield), Duff (Burnley), Baird (Fulham), McAuley (Leicester City), Craigan (Motherwell), Hughes (Fulham), Evans (Manchester United), Capaldi (Cardiff City), McCartney (West Ham), Webb (Ross County), Johnson (Birmingham City), Gillespie (Sheffield United), Davis (Fulham), Clingan (Nottingham Forest), Elliott (Hull City), Brunt (Sheffield Wednesday), Jones (Burnley), McCann (Barnsley), Feeney (Cardiff City), Healy (Fulham), Lafferty (Burnley), Sproule (Bristol City).

Northern Ireland 3 – 1 Liechtenstein

Northern Ireland did what they had to do tonight, taking all 3 points from a must-win encounter with a country with 30,000 people to go second in Euro 2008 qualifying group F.

Nigel Worthington’s side almost took the lead in the first minute as Healy fired narrowly wide, but 5 minutes into the game Lafferty played the ball back out to Gillespie who crossed for Healy to head home his 30th international goal. It seemed like a rendition of ‘You might as well go home’, directed at any Liechenstein fans present, would have been in order.

However while we were threatening going forwards, our defence was a shamblés. It took a wonder tackle from Chris Baird to keep the scores level following a Liechenstein free kick, and then from a similar set piece 5 minutes later, a Liechenstein player was prevented with a free header from 5 yards out, but Taylor somehow got down to save the tame header on the line.

Kyle Lafferty should have doubled the scoreline on the half hour mark, somehow heading a great Chris Brunt cross wide from a few yards out.
A few minutes later it was 2-0 however as Healy picked up on some poor defending to score. On the replays it looks a lot more impressive than it did at the time, with Sir David’s curling shot actually coming from about 20 yards out. Then – if people had had any imagination – it would have been ‘You might as well go home’. (On the subject of songs, Chris Baird needs one).

In the second half Laffs did get on the scoresheet, chesting down a McCartney cross and firing in under the keeper in front of the Kop, his first goal at Windsor Park.

Worthy wasn’t in any rush with his substitutes. Elliott came on after 5 minutes of 3-0 for Brunt. Seeing he was initially left out of the squad, he must have impressed in training or something to mean that Nige wanted a look at him.
Nigel didn’t seem to want a look at Sproule or his slower, ginger alternative Jones however. We all know what Keith Gillespie can do, and how easily he can get in trouble with referees, but Ivan didn’t make an appearance at all and Jones was only thrown on with a few minutes left and hardly had a touch. What’s the point of having a healthy lead if you can’t start tinkering?! (specially seeing Gillespie’s not getting any younger). Feeney replaced Laffs on 75, and did a bit of running.
On 81 minutes, their keeper messed up, and Davis took his time before firing over. With a few minutes left, Liechtenstein scored as someone (sounds like McCartney according to Nige’s interview!) gave the ball away. Frick had a shot cleared off the line by Craigan, but scored at the second attempt.
Most disappointingly, Healy, with an hour to do it, failed to become the first person ever to score 3 hattricks at any stage of the European Championships. We shoulda went for it more.

McCartney, it has to be said, played very well. Looked better running with the ball and attacking than Evans, and got a few good crosses in. Not as good at the defending part though, not that Liechy really even tested us. All the talk on Radio Ulster after was about the headaches tonight’s individual performances give Worthy, but I’m not so sure. I think all 3 can march back in easily enough. You couldn’t drop either Clingan or Davis, so put Johnson (or one of them) on the left wing, as has happened before. Duff is a good enough replacement for Baird, but he’s not good enough for us to be able to afford to put Baird in midfield (unless we put Evans at right back…). The only real challenge is between Evans and McCartney, with some pointing out that Evans will only be coming back from injury for out next coupla matches – and even then will probably not be playing first team football for Man Utd. I’d stick him back in though. Keeping McCartney at LB and putting Evans in instead of Craigan would look good on paper but (1) would be harsh and (2) would disrupt the impregnable (give or take the odd goal) Craigan – Hughes partnership.

BBC Highlights | Nige Interview
NORTHERN IRELAND: Taylor, Duff, Baird (c), Craigan, McCartney, Gillespie (Jones 85), Clingan, Davis, Brunt (Elliott 62) Lafferty (Feeney 75), Healy.
Subs Not Used: Carroll, McAuley, McCann, Sproule.
PS: As it doesn’t say it in the programme anymore, I’ll have to do it – ONWARDS AND UPWARDS!
PPS: The Lawrie Sanchez lookalike is still wandering about pitchside.

McCartney starts

Somewhat inevitable after the withdrawals of both Evans and Capaldi.
NORTHERN IRELAND: Taylor, Duff, Baird (c), Craigan, McCartney, Gillespie, Clingan, Davis, Brunt, Healy, Lafferty.
Can’t really argue with any of that.

Elliott & Webb called up, Baird captain

Stuart Elliott and Sean Webb have been called up to replace injured pair Damien Johnson and Jonny Evans for Wednesday’s match, while Chris Baird has been named captain in the absence of Aaron Hughes. Under Lawrie, the honour would normally have gone to Maik Taylor.

Healy denied 3 in 3

A linesman has denied David Healy his third goal in three games for Fulham. Fulham were trailing 2-1 to Middlesborough when Healy appeared to have given them the equaliser, but despite the ball being ‘clearly over the line’, even in the words of to the BBC interviewer talking to LS, it was ruled out. It is sure to make frustrating viewing on MOTD later on.
Last Saturday, Healy took just 50 seconds of his Premiership debut to score his first goal, chasing down Lehmann as Sanchez had advised him to and putting the ball in the net when the Arsenal keeper duly blundered:

Edit: Video removed – you can see it here



However, 2 goals in the last 6 minutes gave the home side the win.
Then, on Wednesday, Fulham beat Bolton 2-1 at the Cottage, with Healy scoring after 23 minutes.


Baird and Davis have also started all Fulham’s games so far, while Aaron Hughes is, of course, still injured.
FulhamFC.com
- Healy’s Road to SW6
- Striking Start

Brunt moves to WBA for £3 Million

Christ Brunt moved from Sheffield Wednesday to their Championship rivals West Bromwich Albion this week for £3 million pounds – a lot of money for someone who has never been a Northern Ireland regular!

WBA boss Tony Mowbray: “Chris is a player whose ambitions match our own. He wants to play at the top level and we’re delighted he’s chosen our club as a vehicle to hopefully take him there.”
“Chris has undoubted, proven quality at this level and brings a cultured left foot to the squad. He will hopefully supply plenty of ammunition for our strikers and chip in with a few goals himself. He’s a welcome addition to the squad and will increase competition for places in an area where we feel we already have a lot of quality.”
Wednesday boss Brian Laws: “As a manager you have to be tough and I’ll pick myself up and get on with it. Chris has played his last game for Sheffield Wednesday and I’m very disappointed to lose a player of his ability. He’s one of the best left-sided players outside the Premier League and he’s gone to one of our rivals. But money talks. We’re not in the strongest financial position and debts have to be paid. It’s a football decision, but we’ll get on with it.”
Brunt missed WBA’s game today, and will have to sit out one more until he has completed a 3-match suspension which he picked up in pre-season.

Squad for Liechenstein

3 keepers but no place for Stuart Elliott.
Taylor (Birmingham), Carroll (Rangers), Mannus (Linfield); Duff (Burnley), Baird (Fulham), McAuley (Leicester), Craigan (Motherwell), Evans (Manchester United), Capaldi (Cardiff City), McCartney (West Ham); Johnson (Birmingham), Gillespie (Sheffield United), Davis (Fulham), Clingan (Nottingham Forest), Brunt (Sheffield Wednesday), Jones (Burnley), McCann (Barnsley); Feeney (Cardiff), Healy (Fulham), Lafferty (Burnley), Sproule (Bristol City).

Hughes injured as LS chases Laffs

Crocked
NI captain Aaron Hughes will the miss Liechenstein match with an ankle injury which could keep him out of action for up to 6 weeks and therefore makes him a doubt for the away double header in Latvia and Iceland.
His absence leaves us with 2 options, assuming Jonny Evans recovers from the knock he’s currently carrying:
Evans – Craigan – Baird – Duff
or – and if Nige is looking an excuse to bring in McCartney this is it:
McCartney – Craigan – Evans – Baird

Laffs is now sporting some ridiculous facial hair
And in an entirely unrelated incident, just in case the title is a bit ambiguous, Fulham have had a bid for Kyle Lafferty rejected. Steve Cotterilll took the opportunity to talk about cherrys:
“I had a conversation last week to say that the offer Fulham had made for Kyle wasn’t acceptable, but it was made and it’s still not acceptable. We don’t want to sell Kyle come what may, but there would obviously come a time if it ever got to a certain figure that the club would have to look at it.
“Having said that we don’t want to sell him, so we turned down Fulham’s offer and are not anticipating another one. I have put Kyle in the picture and he has said he is more than happy here, so we are happy with that. Some of the prices that players are going for are unbelievable so if anyone, and I don’t just mean Fulham, thinks we are going to be cherry picked they only need to look at our recent history. We don’t get cherry picked, we are actually the cherry pickers!”

Hughes injured as LS chases Laffs

Crocked
NI captain Aaron Hughes will the miss Liechenstein match with an ankle injury which could keep him out of action for up to 6 weeks and therefore makes him a doubt for the away double header in Latvia and Iceland.
His absence leaves us with 2 options, assuming Jonny Evans recovers from the knock he’s currently carrying:
Evans – Craigan – Baird – Duff
or – and if Nige is looking an excuse to bring in McCartney this is it:
McCartney – Craigan – Evans – Baird

Laffs is now sporting some ridiculous facial hair
And in an entirely unrelated incident, just in case the title is a bit ambiguous, Fulham have had a bid for Kyle Lafferty rejected. Steve Cotterilll took the opportunity to talk about cherrys:
“I had a conversation last week to say that the offer Fulham had made for Kyle wasn’t acceptable, but it was made and it’s still not acceptable. We don’t want to sell Kyle come what may, but there would obviously come a time if it ever got to a certain figure that the club would have to look at it.
“Having said that we don’t want to sell him, so we turned down Fulham’s offer and are not anticipating another one. I have put Kyle in the picture and he has said he is more than happy here, so we are happy with that. Some of the prices that players are going for are unbelievable so if anyone, and I don’t just mean Fulham, thinks we are going to be cherry picked they only need to look at our recent history. We don’t get cherry picked, we are actually the cherry pickers!”

DJ a doubt for Liechers

“That’s torn it”
Damien Johnson may miss our upcoming Euro 2008 qualifier with a suspected torn hamstring. The BBC report says that Worthless Big Nige may turn to Grant McCann, which would be fine, Lomas or Michael Hughes – rock like it’s 1995!!