Sunday
There was one Premier League contest played on Sunday afternoon with West Ham United defeating visitors Wolverhampton Wanderers with the only goal at the London Stadium. Armstrong Oko-Flex was included on the ‘Hammers’ substitute bench.
Current Scottish Premiership leaders Glasgow Celtic were held to a scoreless draw by Hibernian in the early kick-off at Easter Road. Jake Doyle-Hayes was in midfield action for the hosts with James McCarthy unused on the visitors substitute bench. Later in the afternoon, Glasgow Rangers missed the opportunity to close the gap at the top when they were held to a two all draw by Motherwell at Ibrox Park. The visitors, who trailed by two goals at half-time, included Jake Carroll and Ross Tierney in their starting eleven.
The English Football League Cup Final took place at Wembley Stadium between Chelsea and Liverpool with Caoimhin Kelleher starting for the ‘Reds’. A match of high quality and intensity finished scoreless after extra-time and went to a penalty shoot-out. All twenty outfield players converted their spot kicks and it came down to a duel between the goalkeepers. Kelleher converted his kick while his opposite number failed from the spot enabling Liverpool to lift the trophy for the ninth time.
Saturday
Two hugely unpredictable sides, Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur, were in Premier League action at 12.30pm on Saturday afternoon in Elland Road where Matt Doherty started for the visitors and scored the opening goal in their four nil victory. Shane Duffy and Evan Ferguson were unused substitutes for Brighton & Hove Albion who went down to a two nil defeat by visitors Aston Villa. Crystal Palace played out a one all draw with visitors Burnley for whom Nathan Collins and Kevin Long were unused substitutes. Troubled Everton included Seamus Coleman in their side for their challenging engagement with defending champions Manchester City in the late kick-off at Goodison Park. The visitors scored very late on for a one nil victory while there was much contention and debate surrounding a clear handball in the dying seconds which was not given and denied the ‘Toffees’ an opportunity to equalise.
New Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin saw his home introduction end in a one all draw with visitors Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership‘. Ross County defeated visitors St Johnstone by three goals to one. Dan Cleary started and John Mahon was an unused substitute for the ‘Saints’. St Mirren saw Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Connor Ronan dismissed after just 22 minutes of their two nil defeat by visitors Heart of Midlothian for whom Aaron McEneff was an unused substitute while Joe Shaughnessy, Alan Power and Charles Dunne started with Connor McCarthy an unused substitute for the hosts.
Championship promotion chasers Blackburn Rovers and QPR locked horns in Ewood Park at 12.30pm on Saturday afternoon where the hosts were captained by Darragh Lenihan while Jimmy Dunne and Newcastle United loanee Jeff Hendrick started for the visitors who went down to a late goal. Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Aaron Connolly was a half-time substitute for Middlesbrough who suffered a surprise three two defeat at Barnsley. Mark Travers and AFC Bournemouth came from behind to defeat visitors Stoke City while Cardiff City included Mark McGuinness and James Collins in their starting eleven with Joel Bagan a 67th minute substitute as they lost to the only goal from visitors Fulham. Captain Alan Browne led Preston North End who earned a one all draw at Coventry City. Peter Kioso was an unused substitute for Luton Town who defeated Derby County with the only goal at Kenilworth Road. Jason Knight and Eiran Cashin started for the ‘Rams’ with Festy Ebosele a 66th minute substitute. Millwall and Danny McNamara defeated Sheffield United and their duo John Egan and Aston Villa loanee Conor Hourihane with the only goal at the New Den. Peterborough United included Sam Szmodics in their side for the visit of Hull City and Sean McLoughlin which the ‘Tigers’ won by three goals to nil.
In League One, Accrington Stanley defeated visitors Wycombe Wanderers by three goals to two with Daryl Horgan unused on the losing bench West Ham United loanee Ademipo Odubeko was a half time substitute for Doncaster Rovers who came from behind to earn a two all draw at AFC Wimbledon. Anthony Scully and Lincoln City went down to a two nil defeat by visitors Gillingham. Promotion chasing MK Dons included Warren O’Hora together with loanees Conor Coventry and Troy Parrott in their side for their two nil victory over visitors Bolton Wanderers and 72nd minute substitute Kieran Sadlier. Oxford United included Mark Sykes and Luke McNally in their side for the visit of Cambridge United and the veteran Wes Hoolihan. The hosts emerged victorious by four goals to two. Leaders Rotherham United named Chiedoze Ogbene in their starting eleven with Joshua Kayode an unused substitute for their one nil success at Plymouth Argyle. Portsmouth included Manchester City loanee Gavin Bazunu, Ronan Curtis, Marcus Harness and Sean Raggett in their starting eleven for the visit of Fleetwood Town who secured a three goal lead in the first half. ‘Pompey’ responded and a penalty converted by Curtis was followed by a Harness goal and in the fifth minute of added time, Sunderland loanee Aiden O’Brien, a 69th minute substitute scored the equaliser. Second place Wigan Athletic included Will Keane and James McClean in their starting eleven for the visit of Sunderland and Dennis Cirkin. The visiting ‘Makems’ stunned their hosts with a three nil victory.
In League Two, Newport County defeated their visitors Tranmere Rovers and Lee O’Connor by four goals to two while Swindon Town and Crystal Palace loanee Jake O’Brien went down to a two one defeat by Salford City at the County Ground.
There was Belgian First Division action this evening with Josh Cullen and RSC Anderlecht travelling to face Oud-Heverlee Leuven where the sides played out a scoreless draw in a fractious encounter.