Friday
The scheduled Premier League meeting of Newcastle United and Aston Villa has been postponed following a Covid-19 outbreak in the host ranks.
The Championship contest featuring Barnsley and visitors AFC Bournemouth took place at Oakwell on Friday afternoon and ended in a comprehensive four nil victory for the visiting ‘Cherries’. Young midfielder Gavin Kilkenny saw a few minutes of action at the end of the contest while goalkeeper Mark Travers was an unused substitute.
Thursday
Round Five in the Europa League was completed on Thursday evening with Dundalk making the journey to Norway where they went down to a three one defeat by FC Molde in a fixture the ‘Lilywhites’ could well have done without as they are set to face Shamrock Rovers in the FAI Cup final just three days later on Sunday. Matt Doherty and his Tottenham Hotspur colleagues travelled to face LASK in Austria where they played out a three all draw. Beleaguered Glasgow Celtic made the journey to Italy to take on AC Milan where they took an early two goal lead only to see it dissipate as they went down to a four two defeat while injury ruled Shane Duffy out of the matchday squad.
Wednesday
The Championship continued on Wednesday evening with Darragh Lenihan and Blackburn Rovers defeating visitors Millwall by two goals to one in Ewood Park. Tottenham Hotspur loanee Troy Parrott was again in the starting eleven for the defeated ‘Lions’. James Collins scored a second half penalty for Luton Town who defeated visitors Norwich City by three goals to one at Kenilworth Road. Teenage defender Andrew Omobamadele was an unused substitute for the ‘Canaries’. Ryan Manning started for Swansea City who went down to a two one defeat at Middlesbrough. Manager Chris Hughton continued his challenging task with Nottingham Forest with a scoreless draw against visitors Watford at the City Ground where Harry Arter and Cyrus Christie were in the home starting eleven. Wycombe Wanderers included Daryl Horgan in their starting eleven for the visit of Stoke City for whom Nathan Collins started while James McClean was a 62nd minute substitute and provided the assist for the only goal.
The League One meeting of AFC Wimbledon and Peterborough United featured midfielder Jack Taylor in action with the visitors who went down to a two one defeat. Watford loanee Ryan Cassidy had a very eventful evening with loan club Accrington Stanley who played out a two all draw at Shrewsbury Town. With his side trailing, Cassidy was introduced from the substitute bench in the 90th minute and four minutes later failed from the penalty spot but seemingly unperturbed he then did score the equaliser from open play less than a minute later.
Rotherham United loanee Joshua Kayode was in League Two action with Carlisle United who defeated visitors Salford City by two goals to one with Kayode providing the assist for the opening goal.
Tuesday
Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher was an unexpected inclusion in the Liverpool side for their Round Five Champions League encounter with Ajax of Holland at Anfield. The hosts scored the only goal for victory to qualify for the next stage of the competition. Kelleher had a relatively quiet evening dealing well with the few efforts requiring his attention.
The Championship continued on Tuesday with AFC Bournemouth going down to a surprise three two defeat by visitors Preston North End. Mark Travers and Gavin Kilkenny were unused substitutes for the hosts while the visitors included Alan Browne and Sean Maguire in their starting eleven. Struggling Derby County named Jason Knight in their starting eleven for the visit of Coventry City to Pride Park where the sides played out a one all draw. Conor Masterson was an unused substitute for QPR who went down to a two one defeat by visitors Bristol City and Callum O’Dowda at Loftus Road. Striker Scott Hogan, who has been off the international radar of new manager Stephen Kenny, scored for Birmingham City but it was not enough as visitors Barnsley recovered to score twice for victory.
Portsmouth included Ronan Curtis and Marcus Harness in their side for their one nil defeat at Blackpool in League One while Lincoln City had Anthony Scully in their starting eleven for their two one victory over visitors Wigan Athletic. Oxford United named Liam Kelly and Olamide Shodipo in their starting eleven for the scoreless draw with visitors Ipswich Town for whom Arsenal loanee Mark McGuinness, Stephen Ward and Aaron Drinan started while Alan Judge was a late substitute.
In League Two, Tranmere Rovers included Glasgow Celtic loanee Lee O’Connor in their side as they secured the points with he only goal at Oldham Athletic.