Premier League
Club captain Seamus Coleman and his Everton colleagues welcomed newly promoted West Bromwich Albion and their duo of Dara O’Shea and Callum Robinson to Goodison Park at 12.30pm on Saturday afternoon. The ‘Toffees’ emerged as five two victors after a bright start by the visiting ‘Baggies’ which saw them take an early lead. James McCarthy and his Crystal Palace colleagues made the trip to Old Trafford where they reprised their victory of last season with a three one success over Manchester United. Despite their midweek Carabao Cup efforts, the West Ham United duo of Josh Cullen and Conor Coventry did not make the squad for the ‘Hammers’ visit to Arsenal which ended in a two one defeat. Darren Randolph resumed his usual substitute role.
Southampton saw their disappointing start to the season continue as they went down to a crushing five two defeat by visitors Tottenham Hotspur in St Mary’s Stadium at noon on Sunday. The hosts introduced Will Smallbone from the substitute bench on 55 minutes and Shane Long on 80 minutes with Michael Obafemi remaining unused while Matt Doherty started for the victorious visitors. Jeff Hendrick started with Ciaran Clark unused on the Newcastle United substitute bench as they went down to a comprehensive three nil defeat by St James Park visitors Brighton & Hove Albion for whom Aaron Connolly started and scored the third goal. The Burnley trio of Robbie Brady, Kevin Long and Jimmy Dunne were all in the starting eleven that went down to a four two defeat by Leicester City in the King Power Stadium. Centre back Dunne, making his Premier League debut, had a reasonably fine match and capped it with the second goal for the ‘Clarets’. There was disappointment for Brady who suffered injury and was substituted on 40 minutes.
The two sides promoted in the season before last, Aston Villa and Sheffield United, met in Villa Park on Monday evening with the hosts prevailing with the only goal in an eventful encounter. Conor Hourihane started for the victors but was withdrawn on 62 minutes while John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick all started for the visiting ‘Blades’. The evening however was short lived for Egan and McGoldrick with the former dismissed after just 12 minutes and the latter withdrawn on 31 minutes for tactical reasons.
Championship
Newly promoted Coventry City earned three Championship points with a three two victory over visitors QPR at their temporary St Andrew’s home on Friday evening. Conor Masterson was an unused substitute for the visitors.
Daragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams, who scored, were both in the starting eleven for Blackburn Rovers who crushed newly promoted Wycombe Wanderers and Daryl Horgan by five goals to nil at Ewood Park this Saturday afternoon. Luton Town and James Collins welcomed Derby County and Jason Knight to Kenilworth Road and collected three points with a two one victory. AFC Bournemouth, had Mark Travers on the substitute bench for their one all draw at Middlesbrough. Adam Idah was a 63rd minute substitute for Norwich City who played out a two all draw with visitors Preston North End and their Irish duo of Alan Browne and Sean Maguire. Newly promoted Rotherham United included Kieran Sadlier and Chiedoze Ogbene in their starting eleven for the visit of Millwall for whom Alex Pearce started with Shaun Williams a 74th minute substitute in their one nil victory.
League One
On Saturday afternoon, Bristol Rovers went down to a two nil defeat by visitors Ipswich Town who included Stephen Ward in their starting eleven with Aaron Drinan a 68th minute substitute. Burton Albion defeated visitors Accrington Stanley and their loanee Ryan Cassidy by two goals to one. Lincoln City included Sean Roughan in their starting eleven with Anthony Scully unused on the substitute bench for their two one victory at MK Dons for whom loanee Warren O’Hora was in the starting eleven. Oxford United duo Mark Sykes and Liam Kelly started the two nil defeat by visitors Sunderland and Aiden O’Brien. The seemingly indefatigable Glenn Whelan was in action for Fleetwood Town with Paddy Madden a 60th minute substitute as they went down to a two one defeat at Peterborough United for whom Jack Taylor was on the scoresheet.
Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, on loan at Rochdale from Manchester City, was in action on Sunday afternoon when Portsmouth and their Ireland qualified trio of Ronan Curtis, Marcus Harness and Sean Raggett visit Spotland Stadium. The match finished scoreless with the hosts also including Eoghan O’Connell, Paul McShane, Jimmy Keohane and Jimmy Ryan in their starting eleven.
League Two
Glasgow Celtic loanee Lee O’Connor was in Saturday afternoon action with Tranmere Rovers who went down to a three nil home defeat by Cheltenham Town in Prenton Park.
Scottish Premiership
Shane Duffy made his third competitive appearance for Glasgow Celtic when they defeated visitors Livingston by three goals to two at Celtic Park on Saturday afternoon. Ireland U21 defender Danny McNamara, on loan at St Johnstone from Millwall, was in action when visitors Ross County scored the only goal at McDiarmid Park. The St Mirren quartet of Sam Foley, Conor McCarthy, Jamie McGrath and Joe Shaughnessy started the two one defeat by Dundee United at Tannadice while 56th minute substitute Dylan Connolly scored their goal eight minutes after his introduction.