Category: Latest News

Thursday
The hectic Premier League schedule continued on Thursday evening for Everton and Southampton who met at 6pm in Goodison Park where Seamus Coleman started for the hosts in a contest that ended in a one all draw. Shane Long, Michael Obafemi, Will Ferry and Will Smallbone were named on the ‘Saints’ substitute bench with Long on 70 minutes and Smallbone on 88 minutes gaining some match time. Relegation threatened Aston Villa went down to a three nil defeat by visitors Manchester United at Villa Park where Conor Hourihane was a 58th minute substitute for the hosts.

Wednesday
Bramall Lane hosted the Premier League meeting of Sheffield United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at 6pm on Wednesday evening. The hosts  included John Egan and Enda Stevens in their starting eleven but David McGoldrick missed out through injury. Matt Doherty was in his regular wing back position for the visitors. A fairly even encounter was decided in the third minute of added time when Egan powered home a header following a corner kick, his second goal in four days following his equaliser at Burnley on Sunday. Kevin Long was again in the starting eleven for Burnley who scored the only goal to defeat their hosts West Ham United at the London Stadium. Jimmy Dunne and Robbie Brady were unused substitutes for the ‘Clarets’ while Darren Randolph was unused on the ‘Hammers’ substitute bench.  Aaron Connelly was a 71st minute substitute while Shane Duffy remained on the Brighton & Hove Albion substitute bench for the  visit of champions Liverpool who prevailed by three goals to one.

Tuesday
Selhurst Park hosted the meeting of Crystal Palace and Chelsea in the Premier League at 6pm on Tuesday evening which ended in a three two victory for the visitors. James McCarthy was an 80th minute substitute for the hosts. At Vicarage Road, Adam Idah was a 76th minute substitute for Norwich City who went down to a two one defeat by their hosts and fellow strugglers Watford.

Monday
Club captain Seamus Coleman and his Everton colleagues journied to face unpredictable Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League at 8pm on Monday evening with both sides still harbouring hopes of European involvement next season. The hosts prevailed with the only goal, an own goal, in a dull encounter which saw Coleman withdrawn on 77 minutes.

Sunday
Burnley included Kevin Long in their starting eleven with Robbie Brady and Jimmy Dunne on their substitute bench for the Premier League visit of Sheffield United and their Irish trio of John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick at noon on Sunday. The contest ended in a one all draw with Egan scoring a fine equaliser for the ‘Blades’.  Newcastle United played out a two all draw with visitors  West Ham United at St James Park where Darren Randolph was again on the ‘Hammers’ substitute bench. Conor Hourihane was an unused substitute for Aston Villa who went down to a two nil defeat at champions Liverpool. Shane Long was a 70th minute substitute for Southampton who defeated Manchester City with the only goal at St Mary’s Stadium. Will Smallbone was introduced for the final few seconds while Michael Obafemi and Will Ferry were unused on the Southampton substitute bench.

Saturday
The Premier League continued at 12.30pm on Saturday afternoon with Norwich City playing host to Brighton & Hove Albion. The visitors eased their relegation worries with a one nil victory and almost certainly condemned their hosts to relegation. Adam Idah was a 67th minute substitute for the ‘Canaries’ while Aaron Connelly started and Shane Duffy was a 94th minute substitute for the visiting ‘Seagulls’. James McCarthy was a 69th minute substitute for Crystal Palace who went down to a three nil defeat by Leicester City at the King Power Stadium while Matt Doherty was withdrawn on 72 minutes by Wolverhampton Wanderers who went down to a two nil defeat by visitors Arsenal at Molineaux. 

 

Friday
The Championship continued on Friday evening with promotion play-off candidates Fulham and Cardiff City locking horns at 8.15pm in Craven Cottage. Harry Arter and Cyrus Christie both started for the hosts who consolidated their position with a two nil victory.  Earlier at 6pm James Collins and his Luton Town colleagues continued their relegation battle with a two nil success at Huddersfield Town.

Thursday
Championship promotion candidates Leeds United returned to the summit of the League Table with a crushing five nil victory over Elland Road visitors Stoke City. Nathan Collins and James McClean started for the visitors with Collins withdrawn at half-time while  Stephen Ward remained unused on the substitute bench. 

Wednesday
Alex Pearce and Shaun Williams started for Millwall with Jayson Molumby a 63rd minute substitute for Williams as the ‘Lions’ suffered a two nil defeat by visitors Middlesbrough at the New Den in the Championship on Wednesday afternoon. Dara O’Shea started and scored the second goal for West Bromwich Albion who maintained their promotion push with a two nil success over visitors Derby County. Loanee Callum Robinson was a 51st minute substitute for the ‘Baggies’ while young Jason Knight was introduced from the ‘Rams’ substitute bench on 65 minutes. Loanee Scott Hogan started for  Birmingham City but was withdrawn at half-time as they went down to a three one defeat by visitors Swansea City at St Andrews. Ryan Manning started for QPR while Olamide Shodipo was a 57th minute substitute as they went down to a one nil defeat at Wigan Athletic. Defender Conor Masterson was an unused substitute for the ‘Rs’. Callum O’Dowda was an unused substitute for Bristol City who defeated visitors Hull City by two goals to one at Ashton Gate. In the late kick-off, Alan Browne and Seamus Maguire both started for Preston North End in their three one success at Sheffield Wednesday.

Tuesday
Championship promotion chasing Nottingham Forest and Fulham met at the City Ground at 5pm on Tuesday afternoon where Harry Arter scored the only goal in the fourth minute of added time at the end of the first half. Arter was replaced on 71 minutes while Cyrus Christie was an unused substitute for the victorious visitors. Loanee Josh Cullen was in the Charlton Athletic side which went down to a two one defeat at promotion chasing Brentford. Aiden McGeady remained unused on the ‘Addicks’ substitute bench. Daragh Lenihan started for Blackburn Rovers who journied to face Cardiff City where they came from behind to secure a three two success and keep alive their promotion play-off hopes. Luton Town and James Collins played out a one all draw with fellow relegation strugglers Barnsley at Kenilworth Road.

Sunday
QPR included Ryan Manning in their starting eleven while Conor Masterson and Olamide Shodipo remained unused on the substitute bench for their one nil victory over hosts Middlesbrough on Sunday afternoon. Dara O’Shea was in the West Bromwich Albion side which secured a four two success over Hull City at the Hawthorns where loanee Callum Robinson was an unused substitute. 

Saturday
Pride Park hosted the Championship meeting of bitter rivals Derby County and Nottingham Forest at 12.30pm on Saturday afternoon where young Jason Knight started the host ‘Rams’. The visitors took an early lead and looked set to collect three points when Knight‘s replacement was dismissed in the fourth minute of added time but a scrambled equaliser seven minutes into added time earned the hosts a valuable point. Daragh Lenihan and his Blackburn Rovers colleagues went down to a three one defeat by current leaders Leeds United at Ewood Park while Bristol City and Callum O’Dowda suffered a one nil defeat by Cardiff City at Ashton Gate. Midweek goalscoring duo, Harry Arter and Cyrus Christie both started for Fulham who scored an added time winner to defeat visitors Birmingham City and Scott Hogan at Craven Cottage. Alan Browne started with Seamus Maguire a 72nd minute substitute for Preston North End who played out a scoreless draw at Huddersfield Town while James Collins started for Luton Town who suffered a crushing five nil defeat by visitors Reading. At the BET 365 Stadium, troubled Stoke City defeated fellow relegation candidates Barnsley by four goals to nil with James McClean in their starting eleven while Nathan Collins and Stephen Ward were unused on the substitute bench.

 

The first legs in the League One play-off semi-finals took place this Friday evening with Portsmouth playing out a one all draw with Fratton Park visitors Oxford United in the 5.30pm kick-off. Ronan Curtis started and scored the opening goal for the hosts on 32 minutes. Ireland eligible duo, Marcus Harness and Norwich City loanee Sean Raggett were both in the ‘Pompey starting eleven while former U21 international Anthony Forde was an 81st minute substitute for the visitors. The second leg is set for the Kassan Stadium on Monday evening.

The second semi-final between Fleetwood Town and Wycombe Wanderers kicked off at 7.30pm and saw Glenn Whelan start for the hosts with Paddy Madden named on the substitute bench. The match proved to be a disaster for the hosts as they crashed to a four one defeat having incurred two red cards, one of them Madden who was dismissed for a second bookable offence less than 20 minutes after his 65th minute introduction. The second leg at Adams Park on Monday evening would appear to be something of a formality but one never can be sure.

Thursday
Sheffield United and their Irish trio of John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick scored a well merited three one success over visitors Tottenham Hotspur at Bramall Lane in the Premier League this Thursday evening. Egan was particularly impressive in central defence while McGoldrick provided an excellent outlet during his industrious 63 minutes on the pitch. Stevens also showed much improvement from his last two lack lustre performances and was instrumental in the creation of the second goal.

Wednesday
Teenage striker Adam Idah was a half-time substitute for Norwich City who went down to a four nil defeat at Arsenal in the Premier League early this Wednesday evening. Seamus Coleman was again in fine form for Everton who defeated visitors Leicester City by two goals to one at Goodison Park.

Tuesday
Brighton & Hove Albion included Aaron Connolly and Shane Duffy in their starting eleven for the Premier League visit of Manchester United to the AMEX Stadium at 8.15pm on Tuesday evening. The visitors dominated throughout and secured a comfortable three nil victory.

Friday
There was further Championship action on Friday evening with the South London ‘Derby’ meeting of Charlton Athletic and  Millwall taking place at the Valley. Loanees Josh Cullen and Aiden McGeady were in the home starting eleven while fellow loanee Jayson Molumby and Alex Pearce started for the visitors. The visiting ‘Lions’ secured the points with a late winner.

Wednesday
The battle to earn a Championship play-off position continued at 5pm on Wednesday afternoon with Derby County scoring the only goal to defeat their hosts Preston North end at Deepdale. Young Jason Knight completed another ninety minutes for the victors while Alan Browne started and Sean Maguire was a 60th minute for the home side. Callum O’Dowda and his Bristol City colleagues have rather fallen off the promotion play-off pace and this evening’s visit to face Nottingham Forest, who are very much in the play-off mix, was likely to be their last opportunity to re-enter the equation. It was a test they failed, losing by the only goal to their hosts. Dara O’Shea returned to the starting eleven for West Bromwich Albion who journied to face Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough and secured a three nil victory. Sheffield United loanee Callum Robinson  was introduced from the ‘Baggies’ substitute bench on 55 minutes.

Tuesday
The Championship continued at 5pm on Tuesday afternoon with Millwall playing out a one all draw with visitors Swansea City at the New Den. Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Jayson Molumby has extended his loan arrangement with the ‘Lions’ until the completion of the current Championship but was an unused substitute today. Shaun Williams did complete 90 minutes for the ‘Lions’. Move forward one hour and a half to Loftus Road where QPR played host to local rivals Fulham. Ryan Manning started with Olamide Shodipo an 80th minute substitute while Conor Masterson was an unused substitute. Harry Arter and Cyrus Christie both started for the ‘Cottagers’. QPR took a first minute lead but Arter equalised for the visitors 20 minutes later and Christie celebrated his return to action with the winner on 75 minutes. Cardiff City were held to a scoreless draw by visitors Charlton Athletic for whom loanee Josh Cullen started while Aiden McGeady was an unused substitute. Luton Town, surprise winners at Swansea City on Saturday, travelled to current leaders Leeds United with goalscorer James Collins named on the substitute bench. The visiting ‘Hatters’ took a surprise lead but the hosts equalised to secure a point. Saturday’s home defeat had increased the pressure on Stoke City who included Nathan Collins, James McClean and Stephen Ward in their starting eleven at Wigan Athletic. The situation worsened this evening as they crashed to a three nil defeat. Collins and Ward were withdrawn on 70 minutes.

UEFA has made some alterations to the International Fixture Calendar.

Revised Schedule

September
Thursday 3 – Nations League B – Bulgaria v Republic of Ireland 7.45pm
Sunday 6 – Nations League B  – Republic of Ireland v Finland 5pm

October
Thursday 8 – EURO 2020 play-off s/f – Slovakia v Republic of Ireland 7.45pm
Sunday 11 – Nations League B – Republic of Ireland v Wales 2pm
Wednesday 14 – Nations League B – Finland v Republic of Ireland 5pm

November
Thursday 12 – EURO 2020 play-off Final – Bosnia/NI v Slovakia/RoI
Sunday 15 – Nations League B – Wales v Republic of Ireland 5pm
Wednesday 18 – Republic of Ireland v Bulgaria 7.45pm

Monday
Mid table sides Crystal Palace and Burnley were in Premier League action at Selhurst Park this Monday evening. James McCarthy was a half-time substitute for the hosts while central defender Kevin Long was a 70th minute substitute for the visiting ‘Clarets’ who collected all three points with the only goal on 62 minutes. Young defender Jimmy Dunne was an unused substitute for the victors.

Sunday
Relegation threatened Watford went down to a three one defeat by visitors Southampton on Sunday afternoon. Shane Long and Will Smallbone started for the victorious ‘Saints’ while Michael Obafemi was an unused substitute.

Saturday
Midland rivals Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers met in the Premier League in Villa Park at 12.30pm on Saturday afternoon. Conor Hourihane for the hosts and Matt Doherty for the visitors both started for their respective sides. The visitors scored the only goal to consolidate their challenge for a European place while the hosts drift further into the potential relegation nightmare.