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Goodison Park hosted the opening Premier League fixture of 2019 when Everton went down to a one nil defeat by visitors Leicester City at 12.30pm on Tuesday afternoon. Seamus Coleman was dropped to the substitute bench where he remained throughout a dismal affair. Later in the afternoon, Cyrus Christie and his Fulham colleagues made the short journey to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium where they suffered a four one defeat with Christie substituted on fifty six minutes. The Premier League programme for the day was wrapped up with the 5.30pm meeting of Cardiff City and visitors Tottenham Hotspur with Harry Arter and Greg Cunningham starting for the ‘Bluebirds’ who went down to a comprehensive three nil defeat.  

The Championship entered 2019 with a full opening day programme in a very competitive competition. Unpredictable Aston Villa, with Conor Hourihane starting and Glenn Whelan and Scott Hogan on their bench, were held to a two all draw by revitalised visitors QPR who included Ryan Manning on their substitute bench. Blackburn Rovers had Darragh Lenihan in their starting eleven for the their two one victory over visitors West Bromwich Albion for whom international retiree Wes Hoolihan was a seventy eight minute substitute. Brentford introduced Alan Judge from their substitute bench on seventy five minutes of their one all draw with visitors Norwich City while Richard Keogh and Derby County were held to a one all Pride Park draw by visitors  Darren Randolph and Middlesbrough. James McClean and Callum O’Dowda were in opposition at the bet365 Stadium where Stoke City played host to Bristol City who emerged victorious by two goals to nil with O’Dowda scoring the second. The Sheffield United quartet of John Egan, Jack O’Connell, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick all started their three nil victory at Wigan Athletic with McGoldrick opening the scoring on forty minutes. Defender Sean Raggett was restored to the Rotherham United defence following his injury absence for the two one defeat of visitors Preston North End for whom Graham Burke started while seventeen year old Adam O’Reilly was an unused substitute. Keiren Westwood having recovered from injury resumed in goal for Sheffield Wednesday who played out a one all draw with   Birmingham City and Lukas Jutkiewicz at Hillsborough. Leaders Leeds United went down to a four two defeat by Nottingham Forest at the City Ground where another international retiree Daryl Murphy, scored the third goal and was also named ‘Man of the Match’.
In League One, current leaders Portsmouth returned to winning ways with a two one victory over Fratton Park visitors AFC Wimbledon with Ronan Curtis scoring the winning goal.

Following his Saturday afternoon visit to watch Seamus Coleman and Shane Duffy at the Amex Stadium, Ireland manager Mick McCarthy was expected to just journey a few miles West on Sunday afternoon and take in the Premier League contest between Southampton and Manchester City at St Mary’s Stadium. Shane Long was introduced from the bench on sixty eight minutes but, despite his usual optimum effort, could do little to change the outcome as his side went down to a three one defeat. The ‘Saints’ were without Michael Obafemi, who picked up an injury in training last week. Relegation threatened Burnley defeated visitors West Ham United by two goals to nil at  Turf Moor where Terry Connor was expected to be in attendance. With  Robbie Brady still absent through injury and both Jeff Hendrick and Kevin Long confined to the substitute bench, there was just current hot topic Declan Rice in the visitors midfield to be the recipients of his attention. Young visiting midfielder Conor Coventry was another confined to the bench for the duration.

Shane Duffy and his Brighton & Hove Albion colleagues welcomed Seamus Coleman and Everton to the Amex Stadium in the Premier League this Saturday afternoon where the hosts scored the only goal for victory. The fit again James McCarthy was not included in the  visiting ‘Toffees’ matchday squad amid rumours of a loan move during the upcoming January transfer window. Cyrus Christie retained his starting position for Fulham who scored the only and very late goal to defeat fellow strugglers Huddersfield Town at Craven Cottage while Harry Arter and Greg Cunningham both started for Cardiff City who shocked their hosts Leicester City with the only goal at the King Power Stadium. Matt Doherty got a Wembley Stadium outing for Wolverhampton Wanderers who recovered from a one nil half-time deficit to defeat hosts Tottenham Hotspur by three goals to one. 

There was a full Championship programme this Saturday afternoon with the Irish management team and their scouts in attendance at a number of venues. Birmingham City striker Lukas Jutkiewicz is believed to be on the review list and the goalless draw with visitors Brentford for whom Alan Judge was an eighty second minute substitute at St Andrews was expected to receive some attention. Bristol City and Callum O’Dowda  welcomed Rotherham United to Ashton Gate where Richie Towell started for the visiting ‘Millars’ but was red carded on seventy two minutes as his side lost to the only goal. Anthony Forde and Ryan Manning, who may at this juncture be outside the Irish management viewing circle, were introduced from the bench late in the second half as was defender Sean Raggett, who has just recovered from a lengthy injury absence. Midfielder Alan Browne has scored eight goals this season for Preston North End but missed out today through injury when Aston Villa and fellow midfielders Conor Hourihane and Glenn Whelan visited Deepdale. Striker Scott Hogan disappointingly remained on the substitute bench for the ‘Villians’, but Graham Burke started for the hosts with seventeen year old Cork born midfielder Adam O’Reilly replacing him for the final five minutes as the sides played out a one all draw. The Bramall Lane contest between Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers provided a host of Irish hopefuls, with John Egan, Jack O’Connell, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick in the ‘Blades’ starting eleven as they secured a three nil victory over their visitors who included Darragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams in their starting eleven. McGoldrick was again on target with the third goal on eighty two minutes.   

Eighteen year old striker Michael Obafemi was not in the Southampton squad for the visit of West Ham United and fellow teenager Declan Rice to St Mary’s Stadium in the Premier League this Thursday evening. The visiting ‘Hammers’ came from behind to secure a deserved two one victory with Rice again excellent in his midfield holding role. Shane Long was introduced from the ‘Saints’ substitute bench on sixty two minutes but could make little impact while teenage midfielder Conor Coventry was unused on the visiting bench. Ireland manager Mick McCarthy was also expected to be in attendance.  

Right (wing) backs Cyrus Christie and Matt Doherty were in opposition as Fulham played out a one all draw with Craven Cottage visitors Wolverhampton Wanderers in this afternoon’s early kick-off in the Premier League. Burnley, with Jeff Hendrick in their starting eleven, crashed to an alarming five one defeat at home to Everton for whom Seamus Coleman was again in action. Kevin Long remained unused on the ‘Clarets’ substitute bench while injury again ruled out Robbie Brady. The fit again James McCarthy did not make the ‘Toffees’ match day squad amid rumours that he may be loaned out in the impending transfer window. Mick McCarthy may have had a wasted journey to Selhurst Park where substitute Harry Arter received only the final two minutes of Cardiff City’s scoreless draw with Crystal Palace, while Greg Cunningham remained on the bench. Shane Duffy returned to the Brighton & Hove Albion starting eleven following his three match suspension, as his side played out a one all draw with visitors Arsenal.