In form Ireland international Shane Long today admitted that West Brom must beat Stoke on Sunday to save themselves from a “bad start” to the Premier League season.
The Tipperary born international revealed the Baggies are in high spirits despite two defeats at the start of the season.
But, despite two encouraging performances, Long admitted only victory in Sunday’s Hawthorns clash with the Potters will salvage an acceptable start to the campaign.
He said: “I think we need to get three points against Stoke and then we can look back on the first three games and say ‘three good performances, we’re unlucky to not have more points but we can be proud of our work.’
“But unless we can get those three points it will be a bad start to the season. We have a big week ahead of us and we need to start making all these games count.
“It’s disappointing because we are playing very well and luck is going against us but I think that’s why big teams like Chelsea and Manchester United do so well in the league, because they grind out results and get three points when it matters.
“We need to start learning from the likes of them so, if we do go 1-0 up, we hold onto it and, at least, get one point.
“We need to start punishing them. In the first half on Saturday we could have got maybe two or three goals because they held a very high line and we got in behind them.”
Celtic new recruit Anthony Stokes says he has arrived at the club a more mature player after completing a transfer deadline day move.
Irish international Stokes put pen-to-paper on a four-year deal at the Glasgow giants following a reported £1.2million switch from SPL rivals Hibernian.
The deal has brought the 22-year-old to Parkhead three years after turning down the Old Firm club, who made overtures for the Irishman in 2007.
Stokes opted to join Sunderland instead, but after a punctuated spell in England, has finally made his way to Celtic.
And now he believes the move has come at the right time after returning to Scotland with Hibs last season.
Stokes said: "I went to Sunderland and made a lot of mistakes and I'm glad I didn't do that here because I wouldn't have the opportunity that I have today to come here and hopefully score a lot of goals and try to be here for as long as possible.
"I was probably a bit more immature then. I'm sure I still have a lot more to learn but coming here on the back of the goals I scored last year (23 in all competitions) with Hibs will give me confidence as well."
Stokes endured a frustrating time at Sunderland, scoring just five goals in 38 games in a spell that included loan stints at Sheffield United and Crystal Palace.
His return north of the border to John Hughes' side last August helped him revitalise his career - something the striker is grateful for.
Stokes went on: "I knew I was going to have to start from the bottom again and build myself up. I wasn't playing any games, even reserves.
"I was lucky a club like Hibs came in for me. I was sitting in Sunderland rotting away and as soon as the gaffer was in for me again, I knew it would be a good move for me."
And after finalising terms with Neil Lennon's side, the front man is keen to settle in a Celtic shirt.
He concluded: "Hopefully I can do well and settle here. It's been in the papers for the last few days how many clubs I have had. If it was up to me I would sign a contract for the rest of my career."
Hibernian have agreed a fee with Celtic for Ireland striker Anthony Stokes, according to Sky Sports News.
Neil Lennon admitted he was keen to bring the former Sunderland man to Celtic Park earlier this week and could be getting his man by Monday.
Dublin born Stokes, who scored 23 goals last season, turned out during Hib's 1-0 defeat to St Mirren on Sunday and his manager John Hughes believed the unfolding transfer affected the stikers' performance.
"I felt he was poor, but I can understand it with everything on his mind," said Hughes.
"Sometimes you play on emotions and if it was to be his last game I thought he might go out with a bang, but it didn't materialise."
Stoke City are reported to have made an enquiry to sign Manchester United and Ireland midfielder Darron Gibson on a six-month loan deal.
The Derry born international has been targeted by Potters boss Tony Pulis as he looks to bolster his midfield before the transfer window closes in a couple of weeks.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson views Gibson as a key member of his squad but could be persuaded to let him leave on a temporary basis to ensure he gets more first-team action.
It would be a major coup for Stoke if they were to land the 22-year-old, who scored an impressive five goals in all competitions for United last season.
Ireland 5-0 Estonia
Noel King began his reign as Ireland U-21 manager with an emphatic victory over Estonia in a European Championship qualifier this evening.
Stokes hit struck the opener in the 15th minute, the 22-year-old rifling a right-foot shot past Marko Meerits from 15 yards after turning inside Aleksei Jahhimovits.
Just before the half hour Stokes then cheekily chipped Meerits from the penalty spot after he had been brought down by Marek Kaljumae.
Stokes should have completed his hat-trick in the 55th minute, only to plant a header a yard over in meeting Owen Garvan's right-wing free-kick.
But the man of the match brilliantly played a part in the three goals that followed for Wigan midfielder James McCarthy, Everton defender Seamus Coleman and Crystal Palace midfielder Garvan.
Anthony Stokes scored the only goal in last night's training match, to give Giovanni Trapattoni's senior Ireland training squad victory over the Ireland u23 team.
The Hibernian attacker fired home from 25 yards midway through the first-half after Cillian Sheridan raided down the left flank and cut the ball across the edge of the box into Stokes' path.
The Irish Under-23s were unlucky not to earn a draw as substitute Paddy Madden had the ball in the net 17 minutes from time but he was adjudged to have been offside when Gary McCabe sent him through on goal.
Trapattoni has said that most of the development players will also hang around for the double header of friendly internationals at the RDS next week.
Ireland Seniors: Westwood (Coventry City); McShane (Hull City), Duffy (Everton), O'Dea (Celtic), Cunningham (Manchester City); Stokes (Hibernian), Fahey (Birmingham City), Green (Derby County), Long (Reading); Sheridan (Celtic), Best (Newcastle United) . Subs: J. Murphy (Scunthorpe United) for Westwood (h/t), Lawrence (Stoke City) for Sheridan (58 mins.), Foley (Wolverhampton Wanderers) for Fahey (66 mins.).
Ireland Under-23s: Quigley (Sporting Fingal); Kelly (Dundalk), Browne (Sporting Fingal), Mulcahy (Cork City), Powell (Bohemians); Sheppard (Galway United), O'Donnell (Galway United), Finn (Sporting Fingal), Williams (Sporting Fingal), Dennehy (Shamrock Rovers); Faherty (St. Patrick's Athletic). Subs: Duggan (Shamrock Rovers) for Quigley, Bermingham (Shamrock Rovers) for Powell, Bolger (UCD) for Williams, Chambers (Shamrock Rovers) for Finn, Gaynor (Dundalk) for Sheppard, McCabe (Sligo Rovers) for Dennehy (all at half-time), Amond (Sligo Rovers) for Kelly and Madden (Bohemians) for Faherty (both 60 mins.).
Crystal Palace’s latest signing Anthony Stokes has vowed to put his past reputation behind him and move on with his career.
The Ireland youngster, who is on loan from Sunderland, has had a well documented past where his behaviour off the field has grabbed the headlines instead of his displays on it.
However, Stokes has put his misdemeanours down to immaturity when he first moved north from Arsenal.
He said: “I was only 18 when I went there and now I’m coming up to my 21st birthday, so I just think I have matured with age.
“Some of the decisions I made were stupid, but I have learnt from them and hopefully I can get my head together now.
“I think it is all a learning curve. At 18 I was playing for Ireland and involved in the squad and playing in the Premiership.
“This was all a good experience, so I don’t think it was wasted time and now hopefully I can learn from that and move on with my career.”
The striker has already proved his determination to impress at Selhurst by scoring a wonderful equaliser on his full debut to help the Eagles on their way to a 2-1 victory over play-off hopefuls Preston on Saturday.
He added: “I am delighted with the goal, but more importantly that we got the result.
“I was glad because they either end up in row Z or go into the back of the net and I’m just delighted today it went in. I came here to play games, score a few goals and help Crystal Palace as much as I can.”
One man who will be keeping a close eye on Stokes’ behaviour is Eagles boss Neil Warnock.
The manager is known for his no nonsense approach and although Stokes hasn’t had any run-ins with him so far, he has seen enough to know about his temperament.
He said: “I haven’t really seen him much. I have only spoken to him two or three times and had a few training sessions and games, but he seems like a livewire, so it should be interesting.”
Although only initially joining on loan, Stokes has not ruled out a permanent move in the future.
Asked about his future and the possibility of staying past his loan, he said: “I don’t really know to be honest with you.
“This came up earlier in the week and I just wanted the opportunity to play a few games.
“Reserve football is good, but I wanted to play at a higher level. I’m just glad to have the opportunity and hopefully I can carry on from here.
Despite being unclear about his own future, Stokes is hopeful Crystal Palace’s destination come the end of the season will be in the play-off places.
He added: “There is always a few teams that put a good run together.
“We put in a good performance and a good shift, which I think paid off for us today. “If we keep playing the way we are, and create chances like we did today, then there is no reason why we can’t try and push on.
“I want to keep playing week in week out, scoring goals and do what I can for Crystal Palace while I’m here.”
