Category: Latest News

Promoted duo Cardiff City and Wolverhampton Wanderers met in the Premier League on Friday evening with the host ‘Bluebirds’ coming from behind to secure a two one victory. Harry Arter started for  the home side but Greg Cunningham was not in the matchday squad.  Matt Doherty started and scored the opening goal for the visitors after eighteen minutes.

The Championship continued on Wednesday evening with Conor Hourihane starting for Aston Villa who played out a crazy five all draw with visitors Nottingham Forest. Glenn Whelan was a late substitute for Villa while Scott Hogan and Jake Doyle-Hayes remained on the substitute bench. Shaun Williams started for Millwall and Aiden O’Brien was a very late substitute in their two nil defeat by  visitors Birmingham City while James McClean was a seventy fourth minute substitute for Stoke City who defeated visitors Derby County and Richard Keogh by two goals to one at the bet365 Stadium. A hip injury ruled Darragh Lenihan out of the Blackburn Rovers side which went down to a three one defeat by hosts Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium while Derrick Williams was a half time substitute. Wes Hoolihan was unused on the West Bromwich Albion bench at Swansea City, where the ‘Baggies’ came from behind for a two one victory.

The delayed Football League Cup fourth round contest between Leicester City and Southampton took place this Tuesday evening at the King Power Stadium with teenage striker Michael Obafemi starting for the visiting ‘Saints’. Obafemi completed eighty nine minutes before being substituted as the match finished scoreless. Leicester won the penalty shoot-out by six goals to five.
In the Championship, Ireland manager Mick McCarthy was expected to be at Griffin Park for the meeting of Brentford and Sheffield United which the visiting ‘Blades’ won by three goals to two. Alan Judge completed another ninety minutes for Brentford while John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick all started for the visitors with McGoldrick withdrawn on sixty minutes. Alan Browne scored the Preston North End goal in their one all draw with visitors  Middlesbrough and Darren Randolph. The ‘Lilywhites’ were  without Callum Robinson, who suffered a hamstring tear on Saturday and is expected to be side lined for some three months while Sean Maguire is not expected to return from his hamstring injury until the New Year. Rotherham United included Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Richie Towell in their side for their two all draw with visitors QPR, but fellow loanee Ryan Manning was unable to play against his parent club.
In League One, leaders Portsmouth maintained their four point lead at the summit with a two nil victory over visitors Walsall. Ronan Curtis assisted the first and scored the second while Liam Kinsella started and Wolves loanee Conor Ronan was a sixty fifth minute substitute for the ‘Saddlers’. 

Burnley and Newcastle United, who both hover just above the relegation zone, met in the Premier League at Turf Moor on Monday evening with the visiting ‘Magpies’ emerging victorious by two goals to one. The ‘Clarets’ included Robbie Brady and Kevin Long in their starting eleven with Jeff Hendrick on the bench, while Ciaran Clark captained the visiting ‘Magpies’ from the left wing back position. Clark was solid in his defensive role but highlighted his night by his performance in the opposition box as his presence contributed to the own goal which gave his side the early lead and he then scored the second with a fine header. Kevin Long had an excellent game in central defence for Burnley but Robbie Brady, aside from a couple of decent dead ball deliveries, was disappointing. He looked some way off the pace tonight and reluctant to become involved in physical contact, perhaps not entirely surprising given his lengthy injury absence. Brady was replaced with ten minutes remaining by Jeff Hendrick who had little opportunity to impact the match.
New Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy was expected to be in attendance this evening.   

The appointment of Mick McCarthy as manager of the Republic of Ireland senior international team was confirmed this afternoon at the Aviva Stadium. McCarthy joins on a two year contract, at the end of which he is set to be replaced by departing Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny who will take up the reins at U21 level together with overall responsibility for all underage teams from U15 to U19 with immediate effect. McCarthy was presented to the media this afternoon and confirmed that Terry Connor and Robbie Keane will join his management team.

While one fervently hopes that Stephen Kenny proves an absolute success in his U21 role, it does seem to be an enormous gamble to make such public announcement at this time. The logic of succession planning is very valid but offering what seems to be a guarantee does, at this juncture, seem incredibly risky. Stephen Kenny will hold his press conference at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow, when the situation may receive further clarity. 

With the confirmation of the new international manager set for later this Sunday afternoon, Championship players Conor Hourihane and veteran Glenn Whelan started for Aston Villa who defeated local rivals Birmingham City by four goals to two in Villa Park early this afternoon. Striker Scott Hogan was an unused substitute.
Wolverhampton Wanderers went down to a surprise two nil home defeat by visitors Huddersfield Town in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon. Matt Doherty, who missed last week’s international fixtures with a facial injury, started for the hosts and was doubly culpable for the opening goal after just six minutes. 

The FAI has called a press conference for 3pm on Sunday afternoon in the Aviva Stadium at which it is anticipated that Mick McCarthy will be unveiled as the new manager of the Republic of Ireland. Reports suggest that McCarthy has agreed a two year contract at a salary of €1.2 million with a further two year option available to the FAI. It is also believed that long time club assistant Terry Connor will join the management team and further reports suggest that Robbie Keane may also have a role within the new structure.
It has also been intimated that, with an eye to the future, Stephen Kenny is to leave his role as manager of Dundalk to take control of the Under 21 side with a further remit to oversee the development of all the underage sides from Under 15 to Under 19.