Irish in Easter Monday action…22/04/2019

Premier League
Burnley travelled to Chelsea in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge this Easter Monday evening and came away with a hard fought two all draw. Jeff Hendrick started and scored the opening goal after eight minutes for the visiting ‘Clarets’ while Robbie Brady, Kevin Long and Stephen Ward all remained on the substitute bench.

Championship
The Championship marathon continued on Easter Monday afternoon with Blackburn Rovers duo Darragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams playing their part in a two nil victory over local rivals Bolton Wanderers and Luca Connell at Ewood Park this afternoon. Derby County, led by Richard Keogh, scored twice deep into added time to secure victory over visitors Queens Park Rangers and Ryan Manning at Pride Park. Sheffield United included their Irish quartet of John Egan, Enda Stevens, David McGoldrick and loanee Scott Hogan in their starting eleven as they consolidated second place with an emphatic three nil success at Hull City where McGoldrick scored twice inside twenty two minutes with Stevens adding the third on forty two minutes. Already  relegated Ipswich Town included Alan Judge and Will Keane in their starting eleven with Corrie Ndaba named on the substitute bench as lost to the only goal from visitors Swansea City. Nottingham Forest dealt promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough and Darren Randolph a severe blow with an emphatic three nil victory at the City Ground. Stoke City included James McClean in their starting eleven with teenage defender Nathan Collins a late substitute as they twice came from behind to secure a draw with current leaders Norwich City. Preston North End included Joe Rafferty, Sean Maguire and Callum Robinson) in their starting eleven as they went down to a two nil defeat at Wigan Athletic. Seventeen year old midfielder Adam O’Reilly was an unused substitute for North End.

League One
Charlton Athletic had West Ham United loanee Josh Cullen pulling the strings in midfield as they recovered from their Friday night defeat at Oxford United with an emphatic four nil victory over visitors Scunthorpe United at the Valley. Fellow promotion candidates Sunderland included Aiden McGeady and Burnley loanee Jimmy Dunne in their starting eleven at Peterborough United where they took the lead very late on only to concede an equaliser in added time against the side currently sitting just outside the play-off positions in seventh place.