Aaron Connolly may have appeared to be an overnight sensation when he marked his first Premier League start last weekend with two goals to sink Spurs, but Brighton have worked long and hard to nurture one of Ireland’s best young players, who could make his debut for Mick McCarthy’s side in Georgia tomorrow.

Darren Randolph is making no apologies for the Republic of Ireland being difficult to beat as they attempt to secure a trip to a third successive European Championships finals.

Unlike John Egan and Enda Stevens, who both made it to Croker on Sunday, Darren Randolph watched proceedings on television and, as one goalkeeper observing another, was much taken with the performance of the Dublin netminder Stephen Cluxton.

Wayne Routledge scored a last-minute winner as Swansea edged their top-of-the-table clash with Leeds at Elland Road.

Sheffield Wednesday moved top of the SkyBet Championship after a 1-0 victory over Luton.

Keane will continue his duties with the Republic of Ireland as assistant to Mick McCarthy.

With Robbie Keane weighing up an offer to come in as Jonathan Woodgate’s assistant at Middlesbrough — a move which, of crucial importance, he stresses, would allow him to continue in his role as a coach on Mick McCarthy’s Ireland staff — the 38-year-old Dubliner is on the brink of taking another step along the road he has long intended to follow, from playing to coaching and, ultimately, to management.

Ireland's record goalscorer and striker would be able to continue to work under Mick McCarthy if he took the role.

Chelsea interim manager Rafa Benitez has dismissed reports of a bust-up with his players — insisting it was business as usual ahead of tonight’s FA Cup fifth-round tie at Middlesbrough.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis is still hopeful a deal can be done to sign striker Michael Owen in spite of increased competition from Premier League rivals.

Jonathan Woodgate is poised for a return to Middlesbrough subject to a medical.

Stoke have striker Ricardo Fuller available again for tomorrow’s Premier League clash with Wigan at the DW Stadium.

Stoke will be without defender Matthew Upson for tomorrow’s home clash with Valencia in the last 32 of the Europa League.

Stoke 0 Sunderland 1

Stoke 1 West Brom 2

Stoke manager Tony Pulis has concerns over a number of players ahead of tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Liverpool at Anfield.

Gillingham 1 Stoke 3

STEVE KEAN praised the Blackburn fans for getting behind their team at Ewood Park yesterday and felt they should have been rewarded with at least a point against Stoke.

Blackburn 1 Stoke 2

Man City 3 Stoke 0

MICK McCARTHY believes Wolves winger Matt Jarvis has regained the form which won him an England cap ahead of this evening’s home Premier League clash with Norwich.

AS signings go, few if any better that of Kevin Doyle in Mick McCarthy’s time at Wolves.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis admitted defender Jonathan Woodgate was fortunate not to be sent off after his side registered a fourth successive Barclays Premier League success away to Wolves.

Wolves 1 Stoke 2

Fulham fired two goals in under a minute to secure a 2-0 interval lead over bottom-of-the-table Bolton in this afternoon’s Barclays Premier League clash at Craven Cottage.

ONE is a four-time Olympic champion and a face of the 2012 Games and the other a Premier League referee — but it appears some football fans are having trouble telling them apart.

FEW grounds have provided a better benchmark for a team’s title credentials than the Britannia Stadium this season.

Stoke City 2 Tottenham 1

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp insists he will not let Roman Pavlyuchenko leave the club next month unless he has already lined up a suitable replacement for the Russia striker.

STOKE gained some welcome relief from their Europa League hangovers with a hard-fought win over Everton at Goodison Park.

Everton 0 Stoke 1

Stoke boss Tony Pulis will shuffle his pack again for the Barclays Premier League trip to Everton on Sunday.

Bolton 5 Stoke 0

Stoke boss Tony Pulis is keeping his fingers crossed that a number of his key players will have recovered from injury in time for Sunday’s Barclays Premier League trip to Bolton.

Swansea 2 Stoke 0

Stoke winger Matthew Etherington will undergo a fitness test ahead of the Potters’ Barclays Premier League trip to Swansea on Sunday.

Stoke 1 Man Utd 1

Stoke boss Tony Pulis has no fresh injury problems ahead of tomorrow night’s Carling Cup third-round clash with Tottenham.

SUNDERLAND assistant boss Eric Black launched a stout defence of manager Steve Bruce after seeing his side cruise past Stoke to claim their first win of the season yesterday.

Sunderland 4 Stoke 0

LEDLEY KING is confident this season will not be his last at Tottenham.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis will check on the condition of a host of players ahead of Sunday’s Barclays Premier League clash at Sunderland.

Stoke’s record signing Peter Crouch will miss tomorrow night’s Europa League Group E clash with Dynamo Kiev having stayed at home as a precaution.