Wednesday
The Premier League continued this evening with Norwich City and Adam Idah playing out a one all draw with Crystal Palace at Carrow Road where the ‘Canaries’ scored after just 38 seconds with Idah providing the assist. Tottenham Hotspur went down to a three two defeat by visitors Southampton for whom Shane Long was an 88th minute substitute while Will Smallbone returned on the substitutes bench after his injury absence.
The Championship saw Blackburn Rovers captain Darragh Lenihan dismissed for a second bookable offence on 53 minutes as his side went down to a two nil defeat by visitors Nottingham Forest. Mark Travers was in action for AFC Bournemouth who returned to second place with a three one victory over visitors Birmingham City for whom Scott Hogan was withdrawn on 54 minutes. Max O’Leary started for Bristol City who defeated visitors Reading by two goals to one. Callum O’Dowda was introduced from the bench on 68 minutes but was forced off through injury twenty minutes later. Mark McGuinness and Joel Bagan started for Cardiff City who crushed visitors Peterborough United by four goals to nil. Alan Browne was in the Preston North End side which played out a scoreless draw with Huddersfield Town at Deepdale where Greg Cunningham also started for the ‘Lilywhites; but was forced off through injury on 35 minutes. Jimmy Dunne started and Newcastle United loanee Jeff Hendrick was a 61st minute substitute for QPR who were held to a two all draw by visitors Middlesbrough for whom Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Aaron Connolly was an 82nd minute substitute. Sheffield United included John Egan, David McGoldrick and Aston Villa loanee Conor Hourihane in their starting eleven for their two nil victory over visitors West Bromwich Albion. The defeated ‘Baggies’ named Callum Robinson, Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Jayson Molumby and fit again Dara O’Shea on their substitute bench with all three introduced during the second half.
There was Scottish Premiership action with leaders Glasgow Celtic defeating hosts Aberdeen by three goals to two. James McCarthy and Liam Scales were unused substitutes for the victors while Jonny Hayes was in action with the hosts. St Mirren defeated visitors St Johnstone by two goals to one with Connor Ronan converting a penalty and again being named ‘man of the match’.
Tuesday
Premier League side Newcastle United, for whom Ciaran Clark was not included in the matchday squad, defeated Everton and Seamus Coleman by three goals to one at St James Park on Tuesday evening. Burnley came from behind to secure a one all draw with Turf Moor visitors Manchester United. Nathan Collins and Kevin Long were unused substitutes for the ‘Clarets’.
Championship side Derby County included Jason Knight and Festy Ebosele in their starting eleven with Eiran Cashin on their bench for their three one victory over visitors Hull City and Sean McLoughlin. An excellent goal and the ‘man of the match’ award went to Ebosele. Stoke City defeated visitors Swansea City by three goals to nil. The ‘Swans’ included their weekend match winner Michael Obafemi together with Fulham loanee Cyrus Christie in their starting eleven but were without without the suspended Ryan Manning.
In League One, Accrington Stanley defeated visitors Oxford United by two goals to nil with their opener scored by John O’Sullivan. The ‘Students’ introduced Mark Sykes from their substitute bench on 55 minutes. AFC Wimbledon went down to a one nil defeat by current leaders Rotherham United who named Chiedoze Ogbene in their starting eleven with Joshua Kayode a 56th minute substitute and recent signing Georgie Kelly unused on their their substitute bench. The winning goal was scored by Kayode four minutes after his introduction with Ogbene providing the assist. Cheltenham Town came from behind to defeat visitors Sunderland and Dennis Cirkin by two goals to one. Doncaster Rovers included West Ham United loanee Ademipo Odubeko in their starting eleven for their one nil defeat by visitors Ipswich Town. Fleetwood Town named Kieran O’Hara and Anthony Pilkington on their bench with Pilkington introduced on 74 minutes as they played out a one all draw with visitors MK Dons. Warren O’Hora, West Ham United loanee Conor Coventry and Tottenham Hotspur loanee Troy Parrott all completed the full ninety minutes for the visitors. Lincoln City and Anthony Scully defeated visitors Morecambe by two goals to one with Scully providing the assist for the opening goal. Portsmouth named Manchester City loanee Gavin Bazunu, Ronan Curtis and Sean Raggett, who scored, in their starting eleven as they secured a two one victory over visitors Burton Albion. Marcus Harness and Sunderland loanee Aiden O’Brien were unused on the ‘Pompey’ bench. Sheffield Wednesday introduced Ciaran Brennan for the final minutes of their one nil victory over visitors Wigan Athletic for whom James McClean and Jamie McGrath were in their starting eleven. Wycombe Wanderers again consigned Daryl Horgan to their substitute bench for their scoreless draw with visitors Shrewsbury Town.
League Two saw Tranmere Rovers and Lee O’Connor defeat visitors Swindon Town, who included Crystal Palace loanee Jake O’Brien in their side, by three goals to nil.