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The draw for the quarter-finals of the 2021 Caribou Cup took place this evening and produced the following ties:-
Arsenal v Manchester City
Brentford v Newcastle United
Everton v Manchester United
Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspur

The three remaining Round Four Caribou Cup contests took place on Thursday evening with Brentford defeating Fulham by three goals to nil while Aston Villa lost to the only goal from visitors Stoke City for whom Nathan Collins was in defence while Conor Hourihane remained on the Villa  substitute bench. Arsenal completed the quarter-final line-up with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out victory following a scoreless draw with Liverpool at Anfield with Caoimhin Kelleher an unused substitute for the hosts.

There were four Caribou Cup contests played this Wednesday evening with League One side Newport County and their Irish duo of Padraig Amond and Alan Sheehan exiting the competition following a 5-4 penalty shoot-out defeat by visitors Newcastle United after a one all draw. Jeff Hendrick was an unused substitute for the ‘Magpies’. Kevin Long started for Burnley with Jimmy Dunne an unused substitute as they went down to a three nil defeat by Manchester City at Turf Moor. Jason Molumby started for Brighton & Hove Albion who suffered a three nil defeat by Manchester United in the Amex Stadium. Everton introduced Seamus Coleman from the substitute bench on 42 minutes as they progressed to the quarter-finals with a four one victory over  Goodison Park visitors West Ham United for whom Darren Randolph was in the starting eleven.

The fourth round of the 2021 EFL(Caribou)Cup commenced on Tuesday evening with Tottenham Hotspur, for whom Matt Doherty was an unused substitute, progressing to the quarter-final stage with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out victory over visitors Chelsea following a one all draw in normal time.

Monday
Fulham went down to a three nil defeat by visitors Aston Villa at Craven Cottage in the Premier League this Monday evening. Conor Hourihane started and scored the second Villa on 15 minutes while also providing the free kick assist for the third goal. He was withdrawn on 77 minutes.

Sunday
The Premier League meeting of Sheffield United and Leeds United at Bramall Lane on Sunday afternoon ended in a one nil defeat for the hosts. Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick started for the ‘Blades’  but John Egan missed out through suspension. Tottenham Hotspur and Matt Doherty played host to Newcastle United and Jeff Hendrick at 2pm while Ciaran Clark was again absent through injury as the visiting Magpies’ stunned their hosts with an added time equaliser following another contentious penalty decision. The one all draw was scant reward for the hosts who had been totally dominant throughout but the failure to score a second goal proved crucial. In the late kick-off, Darren Randolph was again on the substitute bench for West Ham United who defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers by four goals to nil at the London Stadium.

Goalkeeper Max O’Leary was on the Bristol City substitute bench for the two nil Championship victory over visitors Sheffield Wednesday while Callum O’Dowda remains an injury absentee. Relegated duo, AFC Bournemouth and Norwich City met at 4pm with Mark Travers unused on the substitute bench as the host ‘Cherries’ secured  a one nil victory. Adam Idah was a 74th minute substitute for the visiting ‘Canaries’.

Following their midweek Caribou Cup disaster Lincoln City resumed League One action with a two nil victory over visitors Charlton Athletic. Sean Roughan started for the hosts and Anthony Scully was a 79th minute substitute but Zak Elbouzedi remained on the bench.  

There was Scottish Premiership action for Shane Duffy when Glasgow Celtic defeated visitors Hibernian by three goals to nil while Jonny Hayes and Tommie Hoban were in the Aberdeen side which defeated their hosts Ross County by three goals to nil. Hayes was named ‘man of the match’.

Saturday
Aaron Connolly and his Brighton & Hove Albion colleagues suffered bitter Premier League disappointment when they lost to visitors  Manchester United by three goals to two in the Amex Stadium early on Saturday afternoon. The ‘Hosts’ were excellent for much of the contest and hit the woodwork three times but lady luck was not smiling on them today. James McCarthy and Crystal Palace welcomed Seamus Coleman and Everton to Selhurst Park where the visiting ‘Toffees’ emerged victorious by two goals to one. West Bromwich Albion and their Irish duo of Dara O’Shea and Callum Robinson were seeking to recover from their disappointing start to the season when Chelsea visited the Hawthorns this afternoon. In the first half they certainly were buoyant and raced to a three goal lead with Robinson scoring twice but the second half was bitterly disappointing as they conceded three goals to end up with just one point. Turf Moor hosted the meeting of Burnley and Southampton at 8pm where young Jimmy Dunne and Kevin Long were in central defence for the hosts who went down to a one nil defeat. Michael Obafemi was a 77th minute substitute while Shane Long and Will Smallbone were unused on the  substitute bench for the visiting ‘Saints’.

In the early kick-off, James Collins and Luton Town went down to a one nil defeat at Watford in the Championship on Saturday afternoon. At the same time Daryl Horgan and his Wycombe Wanderers colleagues  host to visitors Swansea City by two goals to nil. Permanent signing Scott Hogan started for Birmingham City but he was withdrawn on 66 minutes of their one all draw with visitors Rotherham United for whom Chiedoze Ogbene started while 69th minute substitute Kieran Sadlier scored their goal from the penalty spot. Derby County and Jason Knight suffered a crushing four nil home defeat by Blackburn Rovers for whom Daragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams completed 90 minutes at Pride Park. Millwall included Alex Pearce in their side while Shaun Williams was an unused substitute for the one all draw with visitors Brentford. Alan Browne and Sean Maguire started for  Preston North End who lost to the only from visitors Stoke City for whom James McClean started but was withdrawn on 65 minutes. Conor Masterson was again an unused substitute for QPR but there was no sign of Ronan Manning and Olamide Shodipo as they played out a one all draw with visitors Middlesbrough at Loftus Road.

Accrington Stanley loanee Ryan Cassidy scored from the penalty spot in their League One encounter with visitors Oxford United but to ni avail as the visitors scored four for a comfortable victory. Liam Kelly and Anthony Forde both completed the full match at the Wham Stadium. Loanee Warren O’Hora was in the MK Dons side which went down to a two nil defeat at Crewe Alexandra while Glenn Whelan was in action with Fleetwood Town who lost to the only goal from visitors AFC Wimbledon. Stephen Ward started while Aaron Drinan was a 67th minute substitute for Ipswich Town who defeated visitors Rochdale by two goals to nil at Portman Road. Manager Brian Barry Murphy included the quintet of Gavin Bazunu, Eoghan O’Connell, Paul McShane, Jimmy Keohane and Jimmy Ryan in his starting eleven. The Portsmouth trio of Ronan Curtis, Marcus Harness and Sean Raggett all started the two one defeat by visitors Wigan Athletic and new manager John Sheridan at Fratton Park. Aiden O’Brien was an early substitute for Sunderland as they defeated visitors Peterborough United and Jack Taylor by one goal to nil. 

Glasgow Celtic loanee Lee O’Connor was in the Tranmere Rovers side which played out a scoreless League Two draw at Cambridge United. 

Millwall loanee Danny McNamara was in the St Johnstone side which went down to a two nil Scottish Premiership defeat at Livingston while Jim Goodwin and his St Mirren quintet of Conor McCarthy, Joe Shaughnessy, Jamie McGrath, Sam Foley and Dylan Connolly lost to the only goal from visitors Kilmarnock for whom goalkeeper Danny Rogers started with Colin Doyle on the substitute bench.

Friday
There was disappointment for new signings Harry Arter and Cyrus Christie (Loan) who made their Championship debuts for Nottingham Forest on Friday evening when they went down to a one nil defeat at Huddersfield Town.

  

The Airtricity League Premier Division continued this weekend with
Bohemian welcoming Derry City to Dalymount Park at 7.45pm on Friday evening. The visiting ‘Candystripes’ scored inside two minutes and held that lead until the 90th minute when the hosts scored twice in rapid succession to claim victory.  

Waterford United scored the only goal to defeat visitors Sligo Rovers in the RSC at 5pm on Saturday afternoon while at 7.30pm, St Patrick’s Athletic defeated Shelbourne by two goals to nil in Richmond Park.

Basement sides Finn Harps and Cork City played out a one all draw in Finn Park at 5pm on Sunday afternoon. Later in the evening, Oriel Park hosted the clash of defending champions Dundalk and champions elect Shamrock Rovers which saw the visitors secure a comfortable four nil success.

                        P  W  D  L   F  A   G/D  Pts
Shamrock Rovers        13 11  2  0  34  7   27   35
Bohemian               13  9  0  4  15  8    7   27
Waterford              13  6  2  5  16 18   -2   20
Dundalk                11  5  2  4  20 18    2   17
St Patrick’s Athletic  13  4  4  5   8 10   -2   16
Sligo Rovers           13  5  1  7  14 17   -3   16
Derry City             12  3  4  5  12 12    –   13
Shelbourne             13  3  4  6  10 15   -5   13
Finn Harps             13  2  4  7   9 20  -11   10
Cork City              12  2  3  7   7 20  -13    9

There were four Airtricity League First Division fixtures played on Friday evening with the top two, Bray Wanderers and Drogheda United, locking horns in the Carlisle Grounds where the visitors emerged victorious with the only goal to supersede their hosts at the summit of the League table. Third place Longford Town made the short trip to Midlands rivals Athlone Town and secured a four nil success. Fourth place Cabinteely suffered a shock five one home defeat by basement side Wexford at Stradbrook. Galway United also came a cropper with a one nil defeat at home to Cobh Ramblers in Eamonn Deacy Park.

Tallaght Stadium hosted the South Dublin meeting of Shamrock Rovers II and UCD at 3pm on Saturday afternoon which saw the ‘Students’ secure a five two victory.

                     P  W  D  L   F  A  G/D  Pts
Drogheda United     14  9  3  2  32 14  18   30
Bray Wanderers      14  9  2  3  24 11  13   29
Longford Town       14  8  2  4  20 14   6   26
UCD                 14  7  2  5  32 21  11   23
Cabinteely          14  7  2  5  19 22  -3   23
Galway United       14  5  5  4  16 12   4   20
Cobh Ramblers       14  6  2  6  16 18  -2   20
Athlone Town        14  2  3  9  16 35 -19    9
Wexford             14  2  3  9  11 30 -19    9
Shamrock Rovers II  14  2  2 10  16 25  -9    8

The third qualifying round of the 2021 Europa League took place this Thursday evening with all six survivors from these Western Islands in action away from home.

Dundalk made the lengthy journey to face Sheriff in Moldova and recovered from the concession of an 8th minute goal to draw level on the stroke of half-time through Sean Murray. The contest remained scoreless through the second half and the 30 minutes of extra-time resulting in a penalty shoot-out which the ‘Lilywhites’ won on a 5-3 scoreline. They will now take on KI Klaksvik of the Faroe Islands in the play-off round at 7.30pm on Thursday next in the Aviva Stadium.

Tottenham Hotspur and Matt Doherty are also through to the play-off stage following their three one victory over Shkendija of Macedonia and will have home advantage against Maccabi Haifa of Israel.

Scottish clubs Glasgow Celtic and Glasgow Rangers are also through to the play-off stage following following away victories over Riga FC of Latvia (0-1) and Willem II of Holland (0-4) respectively. Celtic and Shane Duffy will travel to face Sarajevo of Bosnia & Herzegovina while Rangers have a home date with Galatasary of Turkey. Both Aberdeen and Motherwell exited the competition following defeats by Sporting CP in Portugal (1-0) and Hapoel Beer-Sheva in Israel (3-0). 

On Thursday evening, Bristol City included goalkeeper Max O’Leary in their side as they went down to a three nil home defeat by Aston Villa for whom Conor Hourihane was a 78th minute substitute. Lincoln City suffered a crushing seven two home defeat by Liverpool who had Caoimhin Kelleher on the substitute bench while Anthony Scully was in action with the hosts. AFC Bournemouth included Mark Travers in their starting eleven with Gavin Kilkenny a 76th minute substitute as they went down to a two one defeat at Manchester City.

The Caribou Cup continued on Wednesday evening with League One side Fleetwood Town and Glenn Whelan going down to a five two defeat by visitors Everton for whom Seamus Coleman was an unused substitute. The New Den hosted the meeting of Millwall, for whom loanee Troy Parrott made his competitive debut alongside Shaun Williams with Alex Pearce unused on the substitute bench, and Burnley who included Jimmy Dunne in their starting eleven with Kevin Long unused on the substitute bench. The visiting ‘Clarets’ progressed with a two nil victory while Parrott was withdrawn at half-time. Newcastle United included Ciaran Clark in their starting eleven but he was withdrawn at half-time while Jeff Hendrick remained on the substitute bench at Morecambe whom the ‘Magpies’ crushed by seven goals to nil. Deepdale hosted the meeting of Preston North End and Brighton & Hove Albion who prevailed by two goals to nil. Sean Maguire was a 71st minute substitute for the ‘Lilywhites’ while Adam O’Reilly was unused on the substitute bench.  James McClean and Nathan Collins completed 90 minutes for Stoke City who scored the only goal to defeat visitors  Gillingham. Championship side Sheffield Wednesday included defender Ciaran Brennan in their starting eleven for their two nil defeat at Fulham.

The third round in the EFL (Caribou) Cup kicked-off at 7pm on Tuesday evening with Padraig Amond and Alan Sheehan in action for Newport County who defeated visitors Watford by three goals to one with Amond scoring the third. West Bromwich Albion included Dara O’Shea on the substitute bench for the visit of Championship side Brentford and he entered the fray on 59 minutes as the sides played out a two all draw. The penalty shoot-out went the way of Brentford on a 5-4 scoreline. Darren Randolph started but Josh Cullen, who was named in the initial starting eleven, was withdrawn following his positive Covid 19 test while Conor Coventry remained on the West Ham United substitute bench for the five one defeat of visitors Hull City. The remaining contest featured Luton Town who went down to a three nil defeat by visitors Manchester United at Kenilworth Road.  James Collins was an unused while Dublin born right back Peter Kioso started for the ‘Hatters’.

 

The draw for the quarter-finals of the 2020 Extra.IE FAI Cup took place this Friday evening and produced the following pairings:-

Athlone Town v Shelbourne
Bohemian v Dundalk
Finn Harps v Shamrock Rovers
Sligo Rovers v Derry City

The ties are scheduled to take place during the week ending Sunday the 15th November 2020.

Premier League
Club captain Seamus Coleman and his Everton colleagues welcomed newly promoted West Bromwich Albion and their duo of Dara O’Shea and Callum Robinson to Goodison Park at 12.30pm on Saturday afternoon. The ‘Toffees’ emerged as five two victors after a bright start by the visiting ‘Baggies’ which saw them take an early lead. James McCarthy and his Crystal Palace colleagues made the trip to Old Trafford where they reprised their victory of last season with a three one success over Manchester United. Despite their midweek Carabao Cup efforts, the West Ham United duo of Josh Cullen and Conor Coventry did not make the squad for the ‘Hammers’ visit to Arsenal which ended in a two one defeat. Darren Randolph resumed his usual substitute role.

Southampton saw their disappointing start to the season continue as they went down to a crushing five two defeat by visitors Tottenham Hotspur in St Mary’s Stadium at noon on Sunday. The hosts introduced Will Smallbone from the substitute bench on 55 minutes and Shane Long on 80 minutes with Michael Obafemi remaining unused while Matt Doherty started for the victorious visitors. Jeff Hendrick started with Ciaran Clark unused on the Newcastle United substitute bench as they went down to a comprehensive three nil defeat by St James Park visitors Brighton & Hove Albion for whom Aaron Connolly started and scored the third goal. The Burnley trio of Robbie Brady, Kevin Long and Jimmy Dunne were all in the starting eleven that went down to a four two defeat by Leicester City in the King Power Stadium. Centre back Dunne, making his Premier League debut, had a reasonably fine match and capped it with the second goal for the ‘Clarets’. There was disappointment for Brady who suffered injury and was substituted on 40 minutes.

The two sides promoted in the season before last, Aston Villa and Sheffield United, met in Villa Park on Monday evening with the hosts prevailing with the only goal in an eventful encounter. Conor Hourihane started for the victors but was withdrawn on 62 minutes while John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick all started for the visiting ‘Blades’. The evening however was short lived for Egan and McGoldrick with the former dismissed after just 12 minutes and the latter withdrawn on 31 minutes for tactical reasons.    

Championship
Newly promoted Coventry City earned three Championship points with a three two victory over visitors QPR at their temporary St Andrew’s home on Friday evening. Conor Masterson was an unused substitute for the visitors.

Daragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams, who scored, were both in the starting eleven for Blackburn Rovers who crushed newly promoted Wycombe Wanderers and Daryl Horgan by five goals to nil at Ewood Park this Saturday afternoon. Luton Town and James Collins welcomed Derby County and Jason Knight to Kenilworth Road and collected three points with a two one victory. AFC Bournemouth, had Mark Travers on the substitute bench for their one all draw at Middlesbrough. Adam Idah was a 63rd minute substitute for Norwich City who played out a two all draw with visitors Preston North End and their Irish duo of Alan Browne and Sean Maguire. Newly promoted Rotherham United included Kieran Sadlier and Chiedoze Ogbene in their starting eleven for the visit of Millwall for whom Alex Pearce started with Shaun Williams a 74th minute substitute in their one nil victory.

League One
On Saturday afternoon, Bristol Rovers went down to a two nil defeat by visitors Ipswich Town who included Stephen Ward in their starting eleven with Aaron Drinan a 68th minute substitute. Burton Albion defeated visitors Accrington Stanley and their loanee Ryan Cassidy by two goals to one. Lincoln City included Sean Roughan in their starting eleven with Anthony Scully unused on the substitute bench for their two one victory at MK Dons for whom loanee Warren O’Hora was in the starting eleven. Oxford United duo Mark Sykes and Liam Kelly started the two nil defeat by visitors Sunderland and Aiden O’Brien. The seemingly indefatigable Glenn Whelan was in action for Fleetwood Town with Paddy Madden a 60th minute substitute as they went down to a two one defeat at Peterborough United for whom Jack Taylor was on the scoresheet.

Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, on loan at Rochdale from Manchester City, was in action on Sunday afternoon when Portsmouth and their Ireland qualified trio of Ronan Curtis, Marcus Harness and Sean Raggett visit Spotland Stadium. The match finished scoreless with the hosts also including Eoghan O’Connell, Paul McShane, Jimmy Keohane and Jimmy Ryan in their starting eleven. 

League Two
Glasgow Celtic loanee Lee O’Connor was in Saturday afternoon action with Tranmere Rovers who went down to a three nil home defeat by  Cheltenham Town in Prenton Park.

Scottish Premiership
Shane Duffy made his third competitive appearance for Glasgow Celtic when they defeated visitors Livingston by three goals to two at Celtic Park on Saturday afternoon. Ireland U21 defender Danny McNamara, on loan at St Johnstone from Millwall, was in action when visitors Ross County scored the only goal at McDiarmid Park. The St Mirren quartet of Sam Foley, Conor McCarthy, Jamie McGrath and Joe Shaughnessy started the two one defeat by Dundee United at Tannadice while 56th minute substitute Dylan Connolly scored their goal eight minutes after his introduction.