Monday
Conor Hourihane started for Aston Villa but was substituted after 67 minutes of their four nil Premier League drubbing at Leicester City on Monday evening.
Sunday
Jason Knight completed another full 90 minutes for Derby County who defeated visitors Blackburn Rovers by three goals to nil at Pride Park in the Championship on Sunday afternoon. Knight earned the penalty which led to the ‘Rams’ third goal. Daragh Lenihan again missed out for the visitors through suspension.
Saturday
James McCarthy completed the full 90 minutes for Crystal Palace who defeated visitors Watford with the only goal at Selhurst Park in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. Enda Stevens returned to the Sheffield United starting eleven but suffered another injury blow and was withdrawn on 61 minutes of their one nil victory over Norwich City at Bramall Lane. John Egan started for the ‘Blades’ while David McGoldrick was a 71st minute substitute. Teenage striker Adam Idah was an 87th minute substitute for the visiting ‘Canaries’. Southampton included Shane Long in their starting eleven but he was withdrawn on 77 minutes of their one nil home defeat by visitors Newcastle United. Michael Obafemi was an 85th minute substitute for the ‘Saints’. Matt Doherty started for Wolverhampton Wanderers who played out a scoreless draw with Brighton & Hove Albion for whom Shane Duffy was an unused substitute at Molineaux. The late kick-off saw Burnley play out a one all draw with visitors Tottenham Hotspur. Jeff Hendrick started for the ‘Clarets’ while Robbie Brady and Kevin Long were unused substitutes.
Callum O’Dowda completed the full 90 minutes for Bristol City as did Fulham duo Harry Arter and Cyrus Christie as their respective sides played out a one all draw at Ashton Gate in the Championship early on Saturday afternoon. Loanee Scott Hogan scored after 6 minutes for Birmingham City but visitors Reading scored three second half goals for victory at St Andrew’s. Josh Cullen started and loanee Aiden McGeady was an unused substitute for Charlton Athletic who lost to the only goal from visitors Middlesbrough. Alan Browne and Sean Maguire started for Preston North End while Ryan Manning started and scored for visitors QPR who earned a three one victory at Deepdale. Olamide Shodipo was an unused substitute for the ‘R’s ‘ but there was no place for Conor Masterson. Centre back Nathan Collins was an unused substitute for Stoke City who crushed visitors Hull City and Sean McLoughlin by five goals to one at the Bet 365 Stadium. Dara O’Shea and Callum Robinson started for West Bromwich Albion who were held to a scoreless draw at Swansea City with Robinson withdrawn on 58 minutes. James Collins was in action for Luton Town who played out a scoreless draw at Wigan Athletic.
In League One, Glenn Whelan and Paddy Madden started for Fleetwood Town while visitors Blackpool included loanee Connor Ronan in their starting eleven as their sides played out a scoreless draw. Ipswich Town included Alan Judge in their side for the one nil home defeat by current leaders Coventry City at Portman Road. Free agent Alan Sheehan joined Lincoln City in midweek and started alongside Anthony Scully and loanee Conor Coventry while Cian Bolger and Zack Elbouzedi were unused on the bench for the visit of Burton Albion who were without suspended goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara and Conor Shaughnessy but Stephen Quinn and John Joe O’Toole both started their three two defeat. Transfer window signing Jack Taylor was in the Peterborough United side for the two nil victory over visitors Portsmouth who included Ronan Curtis and loanee Sean Raggett in their starting eleven with Marcus Harness unused on the substitute bench. Chiedoze Ogbene started for Rotherham United with Trevor Clarke unused on the bench as they suffered a surprise three one defeat at Rochdale, managed by Brian Barry Murphy who included Paul McShane, Jimmy Keohane and Eoghan O’Connell in the starting eleven.