Premier League
The first Premier League action of 2020 was enacted at the Amex Stadium and Turf Moor where Brighton & Hove Albion played host to Chelsea and Burnley entertained Aston Villa. Aaron Connolly was a half-time substitute for the ‘Seagulls’ as they came from behind to secure a one all draw while Shane Duffy was an unused substitute. Robbie Brady started for Burnley but was withdrawn at half-time as they suffered a two one defeat. Jeff Hendrick and Kevin Long were unused substitutes while Conor Hourihane was a 78th minutes substitute for the visitors. Shane Long and Michael Obafemi were both introduced from the Southampton bench during the second half of their one nil victory over visitors Tottenham Hotspur at St Mary’s Stadium. Matt Doherty returned to the Wolverhampton Wanderers starting eleven for their two one defeat at re-vitalised Watford while Seamus Coleman was also a starter for Everton who went down to a two one defeat by Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. James McCarthy retained his starting position for Crystal Palace who came from behind to earn a one all draw with Norwich City at Carrow Road. Teenage striker Adan Idah made his Premier League debut for the ‘Canaries’ in the closing minutes.
Championship
Millwall, with their Irish quartet of Jayson Molumby, Alex Pearce, Shaun Williams and Aiden O’Brien, all starting, came from behind to defeat visitors Luton Town by three goals to one at the New Den. James Collins and Alan Sheehan both started for the ‘Hatters’. Stoke City, with James McClean in their starting eleven, crushed their hosts Huddersfield Town by five goals to two. Stephen Ward and Nathan Collins were unused substitutes. Blackburn Rovers and Daragh Lenihan went down to a three two defeat at Nottingham Forest while Alan Browne and Sean Maguire started for Preston North End who lost to visitors Middlesbrough by two goals to nil. Ryan Manning was an unused substitute for QPR who crushed visitors Cardiff City by six goals to one at Loftus Road.
League One
Manchester United loanee Kieran O’Hara and his Burton Albion colleagues secured a four three victory at Bolton Wanderers in League One while Southampton loanee Thomas O’Connor and his Gillingham colleagues played out a one all draw with visitors Portsmouth and Ronan Curtis. Chiedoze Ogbene started with Trevor Clarke an unused substitute for Rotherham United who defeated visitors Blackpool by two goals to one while Alan Judge and Ipswich Town played out a one all draw at leaders Wycombe Wanderers.