Thursday
In the Premier League Manchester United defeated visitors Burnley by three goal;s to one. Nathan Collins was an unused substitute for the defeated ‘Clarets’.
Among the surviving Championship fixtures was the meeting of AFC Bournemouth and Cardiff City which the hosts won by three goals to nil. Mark Travers was in action with the hosts while Mark McGuinness started for the visitors with James Collins a 59th minute substitute. Bristol City included Callum O’Dowda in their starting eleven together with goalkeeper Max O’Leary as they went down to a two one defeat by visitors QPR and Jimmy Dunne. Stoke City suffered a two onw defeat by visitors Derby County who included Jason Knight in their starting eleven with Festy Ebosele a 63rd minute substitute.
Two huge clubs, Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday, met at the Stadium of Light in League One where the hosts crushed their visitors by five goals to nil. Dennis Cirkin was a 63rd minute substitute for the victors while Ciaran Brennan was a 29th minute substitute for the visiting ‘Owls’ with Olamide Shodipo unused on the bench.
Wednesday
The Premier League saw Chelsea held to a one all draw by visitors Brighton & Hove Albion who scored the equaliser in added time. Shane Duffy and teenager Evan Ferguson were unused on their substitute bench.
The Championship fixture between Blackburn Rovers and Barnsley at Ewood Park went the way of the hosts by two goals to one with captain Darragh Lenihan in his usual defensive position for the victors. Millwall scored the only goal for victory at Coventry City where Danny McNamara was in action for the ‘Lions’.
In League One, Ipswich Town scored the only goal to defeat visitors Wycombe Wanderers for whom Daryl Horgan was an unused substitute. Oxford United defeated visitors AFC Wimbledon by three goals to nil with Mark Sykes scoring the opening goal.
Tuesday
There was an Irish presence in all four of this afternoon’s Premier League fixtures. Adam Idah started for Norwich City who went down to a three nil defeat at Crystal Palace. Shane Long started for Southampton who played out a one all draw with visitors Tottenham Hotspur for whom Matt Doherty was a half-time substitute. Teenage striker Armstrong Oko-Flex was unused on the West Ham United substitute bench for their four one victory at Watford while Caoimhin Kelleher was an unused substitute for Liverpool in their one nil defeat at Leicester City.
Monday
The Premier League fixture between Newcastle United and Manchester United took place in St James Park on Monday evening and ended in a one all draw with Jeff Hendrick an unused substitute for the host ‘Magpies’.
The two Championship fixtures scheduled for Monday evening remained unscathed. Derby County and their Irish quartet of Jason Knight and Festy Ebosele who started and substitutes Louie Watson and Eiran Cashin defeated West Bromwich Albion and their duo, Callum Robinson and loanee Jayson Molumby, with the only goal at Pride Park this afternoon. The meeting of QPR and AFC Bournemouth took place at Loftus Road with the visiting ‘Cherries’ emerging victorious by one goal to nil. Jimmy Dunne was in central defence for the hosts while Mark Travers started for the victors with Gavin Kilkenny and Robbie Brady unused on their substitute bench.
Sunday
Among the surviving Premier League matches on St Stephen’s Day was the Carrow Road meeting of Norwich City and Arsenal where Adam Idah was a 72nd minute substitute for the ‘Canaries’ who crashed to a five nil defeat. Despite speculation surrounding his future at the club, Matt Doherty was included on the Tottenham Hotspur bench for their three nil victory over visitors Crystal Palace. The London Stadium hosted the clash of West Ham United and Southampton which the visiting ‘Saints’ won by three goals to two. Shane Long was an unused substitute for the victors. There was an 8pm kick-off time for the Amex Stadium contest between Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford with Shane Duffy and Aaron Connolly not part of the host squad but teenage striker Evan Ferguson was named on the substitute bench as the ‘Seagulls’ secured a comfortable two nil victory.
The Scottish Premiership witnessed St Johnstone go down to a three4 one defeat by visitors Glasgow Celtic who included Liam Scales and James McCarthy in their starting eleven. St Mirren welcomed back Jamie McGrath to their starting eleven for their two nil defeat by Glasgow Rangers at Ibrox Park.
Current League One leaders Rotherham United included Chiedoze Ogbene in their starting eleven while Joshua Kayode was an unused substitute as they suffered a one nil defeat at Accrington Stanley. Loanee Troy Parrott was a 60th minute substitute for MK Dons who recovered from a two goal deficit to defeat their hosts Lincoln City by three goals to two. Anthony Scully returned from his lengthy injury absence as a 68th minute substitute for the defeated ‘Imps’.
Thursday
The Premier League – Manchester United v Burnley (Nathan Collins and Kevin Long).
The Championship fixtures currently surviving include AFC Bournemouth (Mark Travers, Gavin Kilkenny and Robbie Brady) and Cardiff City (Mark McGuinness, James Collins and Joel Bagan). Bristol City (Callum O’Dowda) and QPR (Jimmy Dunne). Stoke City and Derby County (Jason Knight, Festy Ebosele, Eiran Cashin and Louie Watson).