Several members of Jim Crawford‘s midweek Republic of Ireland U21 gathering were in English Football League (Carabao) Cup action on Saturday afternoon.
Midfielder Jason Knight was in the Derby County side which progressed to round two with a 3-2 penalty shoot-out success following a scoreless draw with newly promoted League Two side Barrow at Pride Park. Anthony Scully was in the Lincoln City side which defeated their hosts Crewe Alexandra by two goals to one but Zack Elbouzedi was an unused substitute. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, on loan from Manchester City, was in the Rochdale side which defeated their hosts Huddersfield Town with the only goal at the McAlpine Stadium. Chiedoze Ogbene, together with senior hopeful Kieran Sadlier, started for Rotherham United who went down to a 4-2 penalty shoot-out defeat at Salford City after a one all draw. Glasgow Celtic loanee Lee O’Connor and his Tranmere Rovers colleagues suffered an 8-7 penalty shoot-out defeat by their visitors, newly promoted Harrowgate Town after a one all draw. O’Connor did convert his shoot-out penalty. Conor Masterson and senior hopeful Ryan Manning were in the QPR side which went down to a three two defeat at Plymouth Argyle where Manning opened the scoring after just two minutes. Midfielder Jack Taylor and his Peterborough United colleagues went down to a one nil defeat by visitors Cheltenham Town at London Road. Recently declared senior hopeful Mark Sykes was in action with Oxford United who lost in a penalty shoot-out following a one all draw with visitors AFC Wimbledon. Senior international James Collins scored all three goals for Luton Town who defeated visitors Norwich City by three goals to one at Kenilworth Road. U17 international defender Andrew Omobamidele was an unused substitute for the ‘Canaries’.