Coral’s 11 greatest own goals in English football after Okore’s howler
Published:Jamie Clark, Sports Editor | August 11, 2016
Greatest own goals after Okore blooper
Oh dear Jores Okore. As Championship club Aston Villa succumbed 3-1 to League Two team Luton Town in the EFL Cup on Wednesday evening, it was defender Okore who crowned the comedy of errors with a woeful own goal – failing to clear a cross and instead knocking it into his own net.
Though, to be fair to the Villans centre back, it was an impressively instinctive poacher’s finish…
So, in light of Okore’s embarrassing folly, Coral’s football experts have put their heads together, and come up with our 11 favourites from modern day English football. Enjoy!
But first, watch Okore’s blunder:
Peter Enckelman (Birmingham City v Aston Villa, 2000)
You have to keep gaffes to a minimum on derby day, but that advice was lost on Finnish keeper Enckelman. His control let him down big time when taking a fatal touch to Olof Mellberg’s simple defensive throw in…
Lee Dixon (Arsenal v Coventry City, 1991)
ITV pundit Dixon most famously played right back for the Gunners (13/2 with Coral to win the Premier League) and, under no pressure at all, tried a lofted back-pass that went wrong with results for you to see below…
Alan Smith (Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leeds United, 2003)
Bringing strikers back to defend corners is always a bone of contention. Smith’s near post presence was supposed to clear a left wing corner but, as you can see, he sliced the ball badly…
Richard Dunne (Manchester City v West Bromwich Albion, 2004)
Always be careful taking a touch when running back towards your own goal. Why? Well, Dunne adequately demonstrates it really. Note how Robert Earnshaw tries to spare a fellow professional’s blushes by running after the ball and trying to force it over the line…
Vincent Kompany (Fulham v Manchester City, 2013)
Even Premier League winners like Belgium and Etihad captain Kompany can have bad days. What a cute lob this was…
Tony Popovic (Portsmouth v Crystal Palace, 2004)
The Eagles were not so successful during a previous Premier League stint. Captained then by an Australia international strong in the tackle, Palace skipper Popovic ghosted in to score. Only it was at the wrong end…
Djimi Traore (Burnley v Liverpool, 2005)
Here’s hoping Nathaniel Clyne and Alberto Moreno are watching, as the Reds will visit Turf Moor once again in Premier League action again this season. This FA Cup upset is a bloopers reel favourite, and it’s easy to see why. Such skill from Traore, just in the wrong place at the wrong time…
Lauren (Manchester City v Arsenal, 2007)
The crossfield pass, the romping forward, the fantastic trapping first-touch. You could be forgiven for thinking Lauren was scoring at the right end, but he wasn’t…
Jamie Pollock (Manchester City v QPR, 1998)
Pollock went the extra mile, chipping a teammate before nodding over his own keeper. As own goals go, they cannot get much better…
Chris Brass (Darlington v Bury, 2006)
Just one word. Ouch. Attempting a clearance and getting it in the nose must’ve been doubly painful when Brass realised he had netted an own goal…
Ian Walker (Leicester City v Bolton Wanderers, 2004)
First rule of goalkeeping, don’t drop the ball when you have hold of it. Oh, how it squirmed from Walker’s grasp, maybe his slick hair rubbed off on his gloves; we’ll let you be the judge…
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