Eagles ignores doubters

Owen Coyle's struggling side made a dramatic return to form on Sunday as they thrashed Stoke 5-0 at the Reebok Stadium. It was only their third Barclays Premier League win of the season and their first points on their home ground.

The Trotters had been handed a daunting fixture list in the opening two months of the season - they lost to five of the current top seven - but disappointing defeats by Sunderland, Swansea and Norwich brought criticism. Eagles, the Trotters' outstanding performer with two goals against the Potters, said: "None of us really pay attention to what people say."

He added: "Anyone can put you down, any job you do.

"We don't listen, we just go out there and do our job. We stick together.

"People can comment on everything, people think they can have a view on you.

"But with Owen, he keeps it close-knit. We don't listen to anyone outside.

"We are fit, happy and hopefully everyone can see that.

"I don't think anyone could have predicted 5-0 but it just shows what character we have got.

"I think we are getting our defence sorted and we are looking solid as a team."

Source: PA

Source: PA