The mid-afternoon (3pm) kick-offs in the Championship and League One featured a number of Irish internationals.
The oft touted Ireland eligible Lukas Jutkiewicz scored after two minutes for Birmingham City but Richard Keogh also found the net for visitors Derby County as the contest ended in a two all draw at
St Andrew’s. Aston Villa journied North and secured a two nil victory over beleaguered Bolton Wanderers. Glenn Whelan started for Villa with Conor Hourihane a seventy second minute substitute while teenager Luca Connell completed another ninety minutes for the host ‘Trotters’. Stoke City included centre back Nathan Collins, who reaches 18 at the end of this month, together with James McClean in their starting eleven as they went down to a one nil defeat at Middlesbrough for whom Darren Randolph was in his customary net minding position. Preston North End, who have struggled badly in recent weeks, crushed already relegated Ipswich Town by four goals to nil at Deepdale. Sean Maguire and Callum Robinson were joined in the hosts starting eleven by full back Joe Rafferty while seventeen year old midfielder Adan O’Reilly was named on the substitute bench. Alan Judge started and fit again Will Keane was a fifty ninth minute substitute for the visiting ‘Tractor Boys’. QPR included Ryan Manning in their starting eleven for their two one home defeat by visitors Blackburn Rovers and their duo of Darragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams.
Ronan Curtis was a seventy sixth minute substitute for Portsmouth who maintained their League One promotion challenge with a late winner in a two one success at Burton Albion. The Sunderland duo of Aiden McGeady and Burnley loanee Jimmy Dunne were in action at the Stadium of Light as their side maintained their promotion challenge with a two nil victory over visitors Doncaster Rovers.