Friday
There was Championship action on Friday evening with Peterborough United and Sam Szmodics going down to a three nil defeat at promotion chasing Huddersfield Town. Bramall Lane hosted a fast and furious contest between Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest which ended in a one all draw. John Egan started and loanee Conor Hourihane was an unused substitute for the ‘Blades’.
Thursday
Fixture seven in the FA Cup fifth round saw Everton overcome a resilient non-league Boreham Wood by two goals to nil at Goodison Park on Thursday evening. Seamus Coleman was introduced from the substitute bench on sixty minutes.
Wednesday
The Scottish Premiership saw Glasgow Celtic defeat visitors St Mirren by two goals to nil with James McCarthy an unused substitute for the victors. Joe Shaughnessy, Charles Dunne, Alan Power and Colm McCarthy all started for the visitors but loanee Connor Ronan was suspended. New manager Jim Goodwin saw his Aberdeen side, which included Jonny Hayes, go down to a two nil defeat by Heart of Midlothian at Tynecastle where Aaron McEneff was unused on the substitute bench. Motherwell included Jake Carroll in their side while Ross Tierney was an unused substitute as they suffered a one nil home defeat by Ross County. Daniel Cleary and John Mahon were unused substitutes for St Johnstone who lost to the only goal scored by visitors Glasgow Rangers after just three minutes..
The FA Cup fifth round continued with Luton Town and Peter Kioso going down to a three two defeat by visitors Chelsea at Kenilworth Road. Southampton defeated West Ham United by three goals to one at St Mary’s Stadium. Both Shane Long and Will Smallbone started for the ‘Saints’ with Smallbone catching the eye while injury forced the withdrawal of Long at half-time. Armstrong Oko-Flex and Darren Randolph were unused substitutes for the ‘Hammers’. Caoimhin Kelleher as expected returned to bench duty for Liverpool who defeated Norwich City by two goals to one at Anfield.
Tuesday
The Premier League saw Burnley go down to a two nil defeat by Leicester City at Turf Moor where Nathan Collins was a 40th minute substitute for the ‘Clarets’ with Kevin Long an unused substitute.
Unusually, the FA Cup fifth round ties are being played in midweek this year with Peterborough United and Sam Szmodics exiting the competition with a two nil home defeat by Manchester City. Young Tayo Adaramola started for Crystal Palace who defeated visitors Stoke City and Jack Bonham by two goals to one in Selhurst Park. Middlesbrough scored the only goal in extra-time to defeat Tottenham Hotspur and Matt Doherty at the Riverside Stadoum.
Cardiff City defeated Derby County in the Championship with the only goal coming five minutes from the end. Mark McGuinness, and Joel Bagan started for the hosts while Jason Knight, Festy Ebosele and Eiran Cashin started for the visiting ‘Rams’.
There was significant Irish involvement in the League One meeting of Portsmouth and Oxford United at Fratton Park. The hosts included loanees Gavin Bazunu and Aiden O’Brien together with Sean Raggett and Marcus Harness in their sides while the visitors include Luke McNally who started and the veteran Anthony Forde on the bench. ‘Pompey’ prevailed by three goals to two with Raggett scoring their opener while McNally scored late on for the ‘Students’. Current leaders Rotherham United were held to a scoreless draw at Shrewsbury Town where Chiedoze Ogbene was a half-time substitute while Joshua Kayode remained on their substitute bench. Second place Wigan Athletic included Will Keane and James McClean in their side for their two nil victory over visitors Fleetwood Town with the goals scored by the Irish duo. McClean was red carded in added time. Daryl Horgan, who has struggled for game time with Wycombe Wanderers, started this evening against Cambridge United and set up the opening goal in their three nil victory. .
Monday
Ireland manager Stephen Kenny was expected to be an interested spectator at the Hawthorns this evening when Championship sides West Bromwich Albion and Swansea City went head to head. The hosts included Dara O’Shea, Callum Robinson and Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Jayson Molumby in their starting eleven with Ryan Manning, Michael Obafemi and Fulham loanee Cyrus Christie starting for the visitors. The ‘Swans’ proved the better side on the night scoring two late goals for a well deserved victory. Manning was again prominent with Obafemi beginning to find his feet while Christie has impressed during his loan spell and capped his performance with the second goal. O’Shea was withdrawn at half-time and Molumby on 77 minutes while Robinson twice hit the post.