Europa League review: Shamrock Rovers got a whiff of their first Europa League point at the Toumba Stadium in the Thessaloniki but their hosts PAOK Salonika proved too strong in the end to win by the odd goal in three.
Rovers manager Michael O’Neill has become accustomed to seeing his side put in big European performances and tonight was no different, though he may lament the defending that led to both Salonika's goals.
Dan Murray’s poor clearance from a Salonika corner led to the first when it was picked up by Costin Lazar who rifled his shot past Ryan Thompson for a 12th minute lead.
The homeside were well worth their lead but Rovers’ response was commendable as they kept possession better and looked to attack, primarily through the lively Billy Dennehy on the right wing.
The half ended with a nervy scramble in their box but after the break they got off to a flyer when Dennehy’s free was headed home by Karl Sheppard.
Salonika looked rattled and their crowd grew agitated but just when it looked like the tie might have swung in Rovers’ favour, Vierinha burst through a gaping hole left by Murray in the 63rd minute and fired another rocket past Thompson.
Ciaran Kilduff and Ronan Finn were introduced by O’Neill as Rovers sought to reclaim parity but they failed to create a clearcut chance, threateningly only through a couple of late Dennehy corners that came to nothing.
In the same group, Roman Pavlyuchenko gave Harry Redknapp a timely reminder of his talents by firing in a brilliant 20-yard free-kick to hand Tottenhaman important 1-0 win over Rubin Kazanat White Hart Lane.
Pavlyuchenko blasted home an early contender for goal of the season with a powerful strike that flew in off the bar, just 24 hours after Redknapp admitted he would consider selling the striker in the January transfer window.
Surprise starter Heurelho Gomes did well to deny Gokdeniz Karadeniz in the first half, and Tottenham were second best for most of the second half, but they held on to register the win which deposed Rubin at the top of Group A.
Joe Ledley's second-half header gave Celtica deserved 1-1 draw against Rennesat the Route de Lorient, but they remain bottom of Group I on goal difference.
Once again the Hoops were left to count the cost of defensive woes.
On the half-hour mark, with the game evenly-matched, a long punt by home goalkeeper Benoit Costil was making its way harmlessly through to Fraser Forster, but Cha Du-ri helped it on then watched in horror as the ball slipped past the Hoops goalkeeper and trundled into the net.
But Celtic fought back and in the 70th minute Ledley flicked a Charlie Mulgrew free-kick over Costil to give the visitors a draw.
Chris Wood scored a stunning winner in the 10th minute of stoppage time to secure Birminghama thrilling 2-1 win against Club Bruggein Group H.
The npower Championship side had trailed to Joseph Akpala's third-minute opener but roared on by more than 5,400 travelling fans they equalised through David Murphy's slick finish in the 26th minute.
Then, following more than six minutes of treatment for defender Pablo Ibanez after he was knocked unconscious in worrying fashion, Wood stole in at the near post to score a dramatic winner.
Moussa Dembele's red card capped a disappointing night for Fulhamas they lost 1-0 at Wisla Krakow.
The Cottagers spent the majority of the first period on the back foot after Ivica Iliev avoided an early red card for a high challenge on Brede Hangeland.
Fulham's feeling of injustice was strengthened just before the half-hour mark when Dembele was harshly sent off for a push on Gervasio Nunez.
The White Star continued to press and got their reward when David Biton fired them in front, before Osman Chavez was sent off late on in the clash.
Cameron Jerome was controversially sent off as Stokestrolled to a comfortable 3-0 win over Maccabi Tel Avivat the Britannia Stadium to consolidate their position at the top of Group E.
It seemed little could go wrong for the Potters after first-half headers from Kenwyne Jones and Jerome and a finish from Ryan Shotton had put them firmly in the driving seat.
They were reduced to 10 men in the 43rd minute as Jerome collected a second yellow card having been - somewhat harshly - adjudged to have elbowed Yoav Ziv, but the Maccabi player was then shown red in a bizarre incident early in the second half that saw him kick a water bottle towards the assistant referee and the hosts had little trouble seeing out the victory from there.
