Friday
The John Smith’s Stadium was the venue for the Championship meeting of Huddersfield Town and Cardiff City on Friday evening with Richard Keogh in action for the hosts against Mick McCarthy‘s side chasing a promotion play-off place. The match finished scoreless with the hosts squandering the best winning opportunity when failing with a penalty kick. The draw maintained Mick‘s unbeaten record with the ‘Bluebirds’ in his eleventh match in charge and the 1,000th match of his managerial career.
Thursday
Craven Cottage hosted the Premier League meeting of London clubs Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday evening where Matt Doherty started for the visitors whom prevailed by one goal to nil. Dara O’Shea retained his starting role for West Bromwich Albion with Callum Robinson unused on the substitute bench as they went down to a one nil defeat by visitors Everton for whom Seamus Coleman was absent because of injury but believed to be minor.
Wednesday
Burnley named Kevin Long and Jimmy Dunne on their substitute bench for the Premier League visit of Leicester City which ended in a one all draw. Sheffield United seemed to have accepted their inevitable relegation fate as they prepared for the visit of Aston Villa but their attitude and performance in a one nil victory was full of endeavor and pride. Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick both started with skipper McGoldrick starting and finishing the move for the winning goal. James McCarthy was included in the Crystal Palace side for the scoreless draw with Manchester United at Selhurst Park but was withdrawn through injury on 62 minutes.
Following a nine week absence with a hamstring tear, Callum O’Dowda resumed training with Bristol City on Monday but was not involved in this evening’s two one Championship defeat by AFC Bournemouth at Ashton Gate. Southampton loanee Shane Long and Mark Travers were named on the ‘Cherries’ substitute bench with Long introduced on 75 minutes. Weekend goal scorer Adam Idah remained on the substitute bench for leaders Norwich City who scored the only goal to defeat second place Brentford at Carrow Road. Daryl Horgan and Wycombe Wanderers suffered a two nil defeat by Watford at Vicarage Road. Aston Villa loanee Conor Hourihane was introduced from the bench on 70 minutes while Ryan Manning started for Swansea City who scored in added time to secure a two victory at Stoke City whose Irish duo of Nathan Collins and James McClean are injury victims.
Tuesday
Manager Mick McCarthy continued his Championship promotion push with Cardiff City when they crushed visitors Derby County by four goals to nil on Tuesday evening. Jason Knight and Louie Watson are named on the substitute bench for the ‘Rams’ with Watson introduced on 69 minutes.. Veteran defender Richard Keogh was unused on the bench as his Huddersfield Town played out a one all draw with Birmingham City at the John Smith’s Stadium where Scott Hogan was an 84th minute substitute for the visitors. Danny McNamara is again unused on the substitute bench for Millwall who defeated Preston North End by two goals to one at the New Den. The visitors include Greg Cunningham and Jayson Molumby in their starting eleven. Loanee Cyrus Christie started for Nottingham Forest who went down to a one nil defeat by visitors Luton Town at the City Ground where James Collins was an 80th minute substitute for the ‘Hatters’. Stuttering Blackburn Rovers included Darragh Lenihan in their side for the one nil defeat at promotion chasing Watford.
Southampton loanee Thomas O’Connor was in League One action with Gillingham who defeated visitors MK Dons by three goals to two at Priestland. Former ‘Saints’ colleague Warren O’Hora started and scored for the ‘Dons’. Newly appointed manager Paul Cook took a watching brief as Ipswich Town secured a two one victory at Accrington Stanley whose captain Seamus Conneely was dismissed after just 16 minutes. Tottenham Hotspur loanee Troy Parrott together with Alan Judge starting for the ‘Tractor Boys’ with Stephen Ward and Aaron Drinan on their substitute bench. The Portsmouth trio, Ronan Curtis, Marcus Harness and Sean Raggett all started the two one defeat at Doncaster Rovers with Curtis withdrawn at half-time. Anthony Scully and his Lincoln City colleagues suffered another setback as Fleetwood Town defeated them by two goals to one at Sincil Bank. Oxford United included Mark Sykes in their starting eleven with Liam Kelly, Anthony Forde and loanee Olamide Shodipo on the substitute bench for their scoreless draw with visitors and current leaders Peterborough United to the Kassam Stadium. Forde was introduced on 38 minutes while Shodipo entered the fray on 83 minutes. Aiden McGeady started for Sunderland with Aiden O’Brien a 62nd minute substitute bench as they scored the only goal to defeat Swindon Town at the Stadium of Light. Manchester City loanee Gavin Bazunu was in action with relegation threatened Rochdale who went down to a two nil defeat at promotion chasing Hull City.
Rotherham United loanee Joshua Kayode was in League Two action with Carlisle United who went down to a two one defeat at Colchester United. Aston Villa loanee Tyreik Wright was in action with Walsall who who played out a scoreless draw at Exeter City. Glasgow Celtic loanee Lee O’Connor started for Tranmere Rovers who maintained their promotion challenge with a one nil victory over visitors Newport County.
Monday
The Premier League continued on Monday evening with Everton securing a one nil victory over visitors Southampton at Goodison Park. Captain Seamus Coleman was rested by the ‘Toffees’ while Will Ferry was an unused substitute for the ‘Saints’.