'Positive energy' around relegation fight
Millenic Alli says there is a lot of "positive energy" among the Luton Town squad to channel into their relegation battle after his last-gasp goal earned them a point at Stoke City.Former Exeter City forward Alli was pressed into service as a wing-back when Alfie Doughty had to go off 17 minutes into the first half.And the 25-year-old popped up in added time with his first goal for the club, which left The Hatters two points from safety with five games to play."We've been playing very well in recent games, we've picked up a lot of form and would like to carry on and keep pushing, there's a very positive energy," Alli told BBC Three Counties Radio."Every game is always big, especially in the position we are now, and we have to be even better and push the performances to the next level."
Luton are at home to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, to be followed by a crunch trip to Derby County, the team currently just above the bottom three, on Friday 18 April.After that, they have a tough finish with games against Bristol City and Coventry City at Kenilworth Road and a concluding away fixture at West Bromwich Albion, all teams in or around the play-off places.Alli has taken time to adjust to life in the Championship and 10 of his 11 league appearances so far have been made from the bench."Getting to score a goal in the last minute when we need as many points as we can get was very important for me and the club," he said."It was unfortunate to see Alfie come off injured but the gaffer called upon me and I did a job when it needed to be done."Alli scored 12 goals for Exeter earlier in the campaign, including four in his final three games for the League One club and he added: "I was very grateful to be able to score and celebrate in front of the fans, it was a dream come true."I could hear them all singing and cheering and I had some friends and family in the crowd too, so it was a great feeling."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scotsman
25 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Edinburgh Monarchs outsprint Cheetahs to pick up precious points
Sam Masters (white) gets the drop on Michael Palm Toft (red) in heat one. Lasse Fredriksen (yellow) and Victor Palovaara (blue) battle in the inside. Picture: Jack Cupido The Edinburgh Monarchs picked up their first Championship victory of 2025 with a 50-40 triumph over a depleted Oxford Cheetahs. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Having lost their opening two league fixtures to reigning champions Poole and Plymouth last month, the Capital outfit were under pressure to deliver on home shale against a Cheetahs side - hit by injury and rider unavailability - spearheaded by former Monarch, and legend, Sam Masters. Co-promoter Alex Harkess had spoken prior to the meeting about getting the job done in the early part of the match. However, Monarchs' advantage was a slender two points with just four heats remaining and that was largely down to some exemplary riding by Masters. The 34-year-old Australian, who made 233 appearances in Blue and Gold and a double league winner in 2014 and 2015, went through the card unbeaten scoring an 18-point maximum. Former Monarchs and guests Lasse Fredriksen and Jacob Hook also contributed well, but that was about it for the visitors. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As for the hosts, who were without skipper Paco Castagna, Victor Palovaara scored 20 for the third consecutive home meeting in what was his final outing at reserve - only Masters getting the better of the Swede in the first race of the evening. Palovaara will move into the main body of the team and take the No.1 berth for Monarchs' next fixture which is away at Oxford on Wednesday, June 18. "I'm going to have to step it up if I'm going to score these high points later in the season," Palovaara said afterwards. "It's good. It just shows how much I love this track and how much fun I'm having coming here. I really enjoy it and it's looking good so far. I'm hoping I can keep it going. I want to be higher up in the the team and now I've scored enough points to be there, so I just need to keep winning heats and stay there." New signing Michael Palm Toft made his debut and scored five including a heat six win when he teamed up with Kye Thomson to deliver a 5-1. This was Palm Toft's first fixture of 2025 so the former Scunthorpe star can be satisfied with his night's work. Thomson, meanwhile, scored handsomely, 12 paid 14 from his six outings and looked on the pace. The victory takes Monarchs off the foot of the Championship and up four places to fifth. Their next home fixture isn't until Friday, June 27 when the Redcar Bears make the trip north from Teesside.
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Ex-Arsenal and Man Utd stars to go head-to-head for League One manager job
Plymouth Argyle are considering two former Premier League stars for their managerial vacancies after Wayne Rooney's replacement, Miron Muslic departed the club for Schalke. Jack Wilshere and Tom Cleverley are among the candidates to be interviewed for the vacant Plymouth Argyle job. Both the former Arsenal midfielder and ex-Manchester United ace are out of work having managed in the Championship last season Plymouth are in need of a new boss having seen Miron Muslic depart for Schalke after less than a year in the job. Muslic oversaw the side's relegation after replacing Wayne Rooney at Home Park. Rooney was sacked by the club in December after lasting 221 days of his three-year contract. The ex-Derby and Birmingham City boss managed just four wins and was relieved of his duties after a nine-game winless run put the team four points from safety. Muslic was expected to continue at Plymouth having given chairman Simon Hallett assurances he would lead the side's campaign to earn promotion from the Championship. The club had already moved to put personnel and structures in place that Muslic insisted upon. But Argyle have been forced into the managerial market and could go for a high-profile name once again with Wilshere and Cleverley in the frame. The former took charge of Norwich's final two games of the season as interim-boss after the Canaries parted ways with Johannes Hoff Thorup. Wilshere arrived at Carrow Road in October 2024 as a member of coaching staff. The ex-England international was previously in charge of Arsenal under-18s and parted ways with Norwich via mutual agreement after the team decided they wouldn't consider him for the permanent job. Cleverley meanwhile saw his playing career end with Watford where he moved into coaching. The 35-year-old was working with the Hornets academy before being named as interim head coach when Valerien Ismael was dismissed. Cleverly impressed enough to be handed the role on a permanent basis but lasted little over 12 months before being sacked last month. The United academy product remained proud of his efforts. "After the sadness wears off, I will forever have a feeling of gratitude and happiness towards the club and the place and people of Watford," he said. "To have built a connection with the players and supporters over the last 14 months has been special and the achievement I'm most proud about. "To see the development of our key players, young players and academy players, has been an incredibly rewarding part of my job and their progress in the game will always be something I look out for. We have used 11 players aged 21 and under this year and both they and the club will benefit hugely for this experience. "To maintain league position and points after selling key players last summer is something we should be proud of, as well as reflecting on why we couldn't sustain our play-off challenge will be something we should all review." Wilshere and Cleverley will also see competition from Des Buckingham. The 40-year-old was surprisingly sacked by Oxford United in December.
Metro
12 hours ago
- Metro
Reece James reacts to Chelsea's signing of in-demand striker Liam Delap
Reece James is 'delighted' that Chelsea saw off competition from Manchester United to secure the signing of in-demand striker Liam Delap. Enzo Maresca's side had made signing a new striker a priority for the start of the transfer window, and quickly earmarked Delap after his promising first season in the Premier League. The Ipswich Town striker scored 12 goals in 37 league games, but was available for just £30million following his side's relegation back to the Championship. Chelsea moved quickly to sign the 22-year-old, seeing off interest from United who also held one-to-one talks with the England U21 international. Delap spoke of his desire to win trophies as a key motivator for his move to Stamford Bridge, with James confident that the striker has what it takes to deliver the goods for his new club. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. 'He's had a great season at Ipswich and I'm very happy he's going to be joining us for next season,' James said ahead of England's World Cup qualifier with Andorra. 'He's a great player and I'm delighted he's with us.' James, meanwhile, finds himself back in England's squad for a second successive time under Thomas Tuchel as the full-back continues to put the worst of his injury woes behind him. The Chelsea skipper has plenty of competition for the coveted right-back spot in the starting eleven, but believes his performances over recent months should speak for themselves. 'For sure, I'm moving in the right direction. I finished off the season strong and I feel like I'm in a good place,' he added. 'It's something I'm used to – playing and competing with world-class players. 'They (Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kyle Walker) are two phenomenal players in my position so of course it's going to be tough but we all have different capabilities and strengths, so it's whichever the manager wants to decide to play.' Tuchel, meanwhile, expressed his sympathies with recently sacked Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou. It was only last month that Postecoglou carried Spurs to Europa League glory, but Daniel Levy has now chosen to part ways with the Australian, who paid the price for a disastrous league campaign which saw his side lose 22 of their 38 games. More Trending 'It just shows you that it is not only about titles, you can survive seasons without titles if your connection, the support and the belief and the trust between the coach and the club is strong then you can overcome seasons without titles,' Tuchel said. 'If there is slight disbelief, if there are concerns, if the trust is not there anymore, obviously then it is sometimes not even enough to win a trophy after so many years. 'I have biggest respect for him. He's a huge character, he brought a trophy, he said he will deliver in the second year and he did. 'But this is part of the job, we are responsible for the results and we are responsible for the development of the team so, whether we like it or not, sometimes it is us who has to take the full responsibility.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Thierry Henry's warning to Arsenal and Chelsea over signing 'amazing' £60m striker MORE: Man Utd legend backed to replace Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham MORE: 'I love that club so much' – Lille star wants Man Utd transfer
