Sunday
Following their respective League Cup semi-final involvements in midweek, Aston Villa and Manchester City faced each other in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon with Conor Hourihane starting for the hosts who suffered a crushing six one defeat. Twenty year old goalkeeper Mark Travers started for AFC Bournemouth who went down to a three nil home defeat by Watford which sees them drop into the relegation zone.
Saturday
The Premier League programme on Saturday afternoon kicked off at 12.30pm with Crystal Palace and James McCarthy playing out a one all draw with Arsenal at Selhurst Park. Later in the afternoon, Chelsea secured a comfortable three nil victory over visitors Burnley who included Jeff Hendrick in their starting eleven with Kevin Long an unused substitute. Everton scored the only goal to defeat visitors Brighton & Hove Albion for whom Shane Duffy started while Seamus Coleman was a 74th minute substitute for the ‘Toffees’. High flying Leicester City went down to a two one home defeat by revitalised visitors Southampton who included Shane Long in their starting eleven while Michael Obafemi was an unused substitute. Also in action were Wolverhampton Wanderers and Matt Doherty who were held to a one all draw by visitors Newcastle United for whom Ciaran Clark returned to the starting eleven following his injury lay-off. Young Adam Idah started for struggling Norwich City who went down to a four nil defeat at Manchester United.
There was a 12.30pm kick-off for the Championship meeting of West London rivals Brentford and QPR who included Ryan Manning in their starting eleven with Conor Masterson a half-time substitute while Olamide Shodipo was introduced on 81 minutes of their three one defeat. The Lancashire Derby meeting of Blackburn Rovers and Preston North End at Ewood Park featured Daragh Lenihan in opposition to Alan Browne and Sean Maguire as the sides played out a one all draw. Derrick Williams was an unused substitute for the hosts. Cyrus Christie started for Fulham while Harry Arter was a very late substitute as the visiting ‘Cottagers’ secured a one nil success at Hull City. James Collins scored from the penalty spot for Luton Town but to no avail as visitors Birmingham City secured a two one victory at Kenilworth Road. The Riverside Stadium meeting of Middlesbrough and Derby County ended in a two all draw with Jason Knight scoring the first goal for the visitors. Stoke City included James McClean in their starting eleven while Nathan Collins was an unused substitute in their scoreless draw with visitors Millwall for whom Jayson Molumby, Shaun Williams and Alex Pearce all started. Williams received a red card for a bad tackle with five minutes remaining. Callum O’Dowda was an unused substitute for Bristol City who secured a two nil victory at Wigan Athletic.
Burton Albion and loanee Kieran O’Hara defeated visitors Fleetwood Town by one goal to nil in League One while Ipswich Town crushed visitors Accrington Stanley by four goals to one at Portman Road with Alan Judge scoring the third goal. Loan signing Liam Kelly was an unused substitute for Oxford United who went down to a three one home defeat by Rotherham United for whom Chiedoze Ogbene started with Trevor Clarke an added time substitute. New signing Jack Taylor made his Peterborough United debut in their scoreless draw with visitors Gillingham who included Southampton loanee Thomas O’Connor in their starting eleven. Ronan Curtis has been in fine form for Portsmouth and was again in action in their two one victory over visitors AFC Wimbledon. Goalkeeper Max O’Leary, on loan from Bristol City, was in fine form for Shrewsbury Town who played out a one all draw with visitors Lincoln City who included recent loan signing Conor Coventry in their starting eleven with new full signing Zack Elbouzedi introduced from the bench on 44 minutes.
Friday
The Sheffield United trio of John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick started this evening’s Premier League contest with Bramall Lane visitors West Ham United which ended in a one nil victory for the hosts. Callum Robinson was unused on the ‘Blades’ substitute bench.