Sunday
The Premier League continued at noon on Sunday with Burnley going down to a two one defeat by visitors Newcastle United. Injury ruled out Robbie Brady and Kevin Long while Jimmy Dunne was unused on the home substitute bench. Ciaran Clark started for the visitors with Jeff Hendrick introduced from the substitute bench for the final two minutes of the contest. West Ham United included Ademipo Onubeko and Conor Coventry on their substitute bench for the three two defeat of visitors Leicester City but Darren Randolph remains on the injury list. Tottenham Hotspur went down to a three one defeat by visitors Manchester United but the position of Matt Doherty is unclear and he was not included in the matchday squad. The 7pm kick-off saw John Egan and Enda Stevens in action for Sheffield United who went down to a three nil defeat by visitors Arsenal.
In the Belgian League, midfielder Josh Cullen was introduced from the RSC Anderlecht substitute bench on 67 minutes with his side trailing by one goal to nil at home to Club Bruges. Anderlecht recovered to score twice for victory.
Saturday
James McCarthy returned to action following injury and was a 59th minute substitute for Crystal Palace who went down to a four one defeat by Chelsea in the Premier League at 5.30pm this afternoon.
Shane Duffy was again confined to the substitute bench for loan club Glasgow Celtic who crushed visitors Livingston by six goals to nil in the Scottish Premiership this Saturday afternoon. St Mirren Manager Jim Goodwin has been lauding the performances of midfielder Jamie McGrath, suggesting he ought to be considered for a call up to the Ireland senior squad and the Dubliner had another opportunity to stake a claim when his club visited Motherwell this afternoon. It was not to be a happy afternoon for the Dubliner who missed a penalty in their one nil defeat.
First into Championship action were Millwall who welcomed Swansea City to the New Den where Danny McNamara was in opposition to Conor Hourihane and Ryan Manning. The visitors from Wales secured a three nil victory. Southampton loanee Shane Long together with goalkeeper Mark Travers remained on the substitute bench for AFC Bournemouth who defeated visitors Coventry City by four goals to one. Bristol City played out a scoreless draw with Chris Hughton‘s Nottingham Forest and Cyrus Christie at Ashton Gate. Cardiff City manager Mick McCarthy saw his side recover from their midweek drubbing with a two all draw against visitors Blackburn Rovers and Darragh Lenihan. Derby County included Jason Knight, Festy Ebosele and Louie Watson on their substitute bench with the latter two introduced in the 84th minute of their one nil defeat by visitors Norwich City and teenage centre back Andrew Omobamidele. Preston North End introduced Alan Browne and Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Jayson Molumby from their substitute bench during the second half of their dismal five nil defeat by visitors Brentford. QPR defeated Sheffield Wednesday, for whom Keiren Westwood and Ciaran Brennan were unused substitutes, by four goals to one at Loftus Road while Daryl Horgan was an unused substitute for Wycombe Wanderers who went down to a three one defeat by visitors Luton Town for whom James Collins started.
In League One Fleetwood Town defeated visitors Rochdale by one goal to nil. The ‘Dale’ included Conor Grant in their starting eleven alongside Eoghan O’Connell, Conor Shaughnessy and Jimmy Keohane while Manchester City loanee Gavin Bazunu and the veteran Paul McShane were unused on the substitute bench. Ipswich Town included Stephen Ward and Aaron Drinan in their starting eleven with Alan Judge and Tottenham Hotspur loanee Troy Parrott late substitutes while Arsenal loanee Mark McGuinness remained on their substitute bench for the scoreless draw with visitors MK Dons. Lincoln City introduced Anthony Scully from their substitute bench on 72 minutes and he scored within three minutes and nine minutes later created the equaliser in their two all draw with visitors Blackpool while Portsmouth duo Ronan Curtis and Marcus Harness both completed the full two one home defeat by visitors Burton Albion for whom Kieran O’Hara was an unused substitute. Swindon Town suffered a three nil defeat by visitors Peterborough United who were without goalkeeper Christy Pym who has torn a side muscle and is likely to miss the remainder of the season but midfielder Jack Taylor was in their starting eleven.
League Two featured the meeting of Scunthorpe United and Tranmere Rovers who included Glasgow Celtic loanee Lee O’Connor in their starting eleven as the sides played out a scoreless draw. Aston Villa loanee Tyreik Wright was in the Walsall side for the two one victory over visitors Forest Green Rovers
In the Scottish Championship, Dundee introduced Glasgow Celtic loanee Jonathan Afolabi from their substitute bench on 59 minutes of their one all draw with visitors Greenock Morton.