On Saturday afternoon, beleaguered Aston Villa and their Irish duo of Conor Hourihane and Glenn Whelan played host to Championship bottom side Ipswich Town who included Alan Judge and Will Keane in their starting eleven. The ‘Villians’ emerged victorious by two goals to one. Promotion hopefuls Norwich City and Sheffield United played out a two all draw at Carrow Road with the visiting trio of John Egan, Jack O’Connell and Enda Stevens starting while David McGoldrick was a sixtieth minute substitute. Martin O’Neill and his Nottingham Forest charges, who included Daryl Murphy, defeated City Ground visitors Wigan Athletic by three goals to one. Darragh Lenihan started while Derrick Williams was an unused substitute for Blackburn Rovers who defeated visitors Hull City by three goals to nil at Ewood Park. James McClean was a sixty first minute substitute for Stoke City who went down to a two nil home defeat by Preston North End for whom midfielder Alan Browne opened the scoring, his tenth of the season, while Sean Maguire was also in the starting eleven.