League and EFL Trophy action this week…14/01/2021

Thursday
The Premier League continued on Thursday evening with Arsenal playing out a scoreless draw with Crystal Palace for whom James McCarthy was introduced from the substitute bench for the final five minutes of action at the Emirates Stadium.

Wednesday
There was further Premier League action on Wednesday evening with Matt Doherty unused on the substitute bench for Tottenham Hotspur who were held to a one all draw by visitors Fulham in a late re-arranged contest.

The Football League Trophy continued with League Two Tranmere Rovers defeating a Leicester City U21 side in Prenton Park. The hosts included veteran goalkeeper Joe Murphy in their starting eleven while the visitors included youngsters Darragh O’Connor, Ali Reghba and Shane Flynn in their starting eleven. Dubliner Flynn, who played with Bray Wanderers prior to his move to Leicester, was excellent for the ‘Foxes’ and is one to keep an eye out for.

Tuesday
The Premier League resumed on Tuesday evening with the Bramall Lane meeting of Sheffield United and Newcastle United which saw the host ‘Blades’ finally achieve their first league victory this season with a fully deserved one nil success. The hosts included John Egan and David McGoldrick in their starting eleven but injury again ruled out Enda Stevens while Ciaran Clark and Jeff Hendrick started for the visitors. The Molineaux meeting of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton saw the visiting ‘Toffees’ emerge victorious by two goals to one. Seamus Coleman was an 86th minute substitute for the victors. At the same time, Burnley went down to a one nil defeat by visitors Manchester United at Turf Moor where Robbie Brady started but was withdrawn on 65 minutes while
Kevin Long was an unused substitute.

The Championship meeting of AFC Bournemouth and Millwall at the Vitality Stadium ended in a one all draw. Young Gavin Kilkenny was an unused substitute for the hosts while both Troy Parrott and Danny McNamara started for the ‘Lions’ with Parrott withdrawn on 78 minutes. James Collins started for Luton Town who went down to a two nil defeat by visitors QPR at Kenilworth Road where Conor Masterson was an unused substitute.

The Football League Trophy featured the meeting of Lincoln City and Accrington Stanley with Anthony Scully and Zack Elbouzedi starting for the ‘Imps’ while the visitors included loanee Ryan Cassidy in their starting eleven as they crashed to a four nil defeat. Elbouzedi opened the scoring on 32 minutes and also provided a later assist. The London Road meeting of Peterborough United and Portsmouth saw Jack Taylor open the scoring for the ‘Posh’ as they cruised to a five one success.