There was some Irish involvement in the fourth round of the Football League Cup on Wednesday evening with Richard Keogh, who conceded an unfortunate own goal, captaining Derby County in their three two defeat at Chelsea. The Declan Rice debate was again resurrected with reports that he is about to make the anticipated international switch to England, while his West Ham United exited the League Cup following their three one defeat by London Stadium visitors Tottenham Hotspur. Loanees Ben Heneghan and Paudie O’Connor were in central defence for League Two side Blackpool who went down to a two one defeat by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, with O’Connor, who was dismissed on eighty four minutes, scoring the ‘Tangarines’ goal. On Tuesday evening, teenage goalkeeper Mark Travers was on the substitute bench for AFC Bournemouth who progressed to the quarter-finals with a two one victory over Norwich City. Cyrus Christie saw just a few minutes of action as a very late substitute for Fulham who went down to a two nil defeat at Manchester City on Thursday evening.
Burnley loanee Jimmy Dunne was again in central defence for current Sottish Premier League leaders Heart of Midlothian who played out a scoreless draw with fierce Edinburgh rivals Hibernian, for whom Daryl Horgan was an unused substitute.