Friday
The Championship continued on Friday evening with the meeting of Midlands rivals Derby County and Stoke City at Pride Park. The hosts, for whom Jason Knight was an unused substitute, crushed their visitors by four goals to nil, bringing a sobering end to the ‘Potters’ revival under the Michael O’Neill banner. James McClean started for Stoke while Nathan Collins was an unused substitute.
There was also Irish involvement in the Scottish Championship meeting of Partick Thistle and Ayr United with Glasgow Celtic loanee Lee O’Connor in action with the hosts while fellow Irish U21 international Aaron Drinan, on loan with the visitors from Ipswich Town, was also a starter as the sides played out a one all draw with O’Connor conceding the penalty which provided the visitors goal.
Wednesday
The Premier League continued on Wednesday evening with goalkeeper Darren Randolph unused on the substitute bench for West Ham United who went down to a two nil defeat by visitors Liverpool at the London Stadium.
Tuesday
The first semi-final of the League Cup was decided in added time with second leg hosts Aston Villa scoring in the third minute of added time to secure a two one victory over Leicester City on the night and a three two aggregate success. Conor Hourihane was unused on the victors substitute bench.
Daragh Lenihan scored the winning goal for Blackburn Rovers in their two one Championship victory over visitors QPR for whom Conor Masterson was again in action. Olamide Shodipo was an 80th minute substitute for the visitors while Derrick Williams for the hosts and Ryan Manning for the London side were unused substitutes. West Bromwich Albion included Dara O’Shea in their starting eleven as they lost top spot on the League table following their two one defeat at Cardiff City while Leeds United recovered a two goal deficit to defeat visitors Millwall by three goals to two and supersede the ‘Baggies’ at the summit. Jayson Molumby and Alex Pearce started for the ‘Lions’ while Aiden O’Brien was an unused substitute. Luton Town included James Collins and Glenn Rea in their starting eleven as they overcame visitors Derby County and Jason Knight by three goals to two at Kenilworth Road. Callum O’Dowda was a 77th minute substitute for Bristol City who scored the only goal to defeat Reading at the Madejski Stadium.
Recent signing Jack Taylor was in League One action for Peterborough United who secured a two nil victory at Accrington Stanley while Kieran O’Hara, John Joe O’Toole, Stephen Quinn and loanee Conor Shaughnessy all started for Burton Albion who drew two each at AFC Wimbledon. Kieran Sadlier scored twice for Doncaster Rovers as they defeated visitors Southend United by three goals to one while Glenn Whelan completed another 90 minutes for Fleetwood Town who were held to a scoreless draw by visitors Coventry City. Loanee Conor Coventry started but Zack Elbouzedi was an unused substitute for Lincoln City who went down to a two nil home defeat by Portsmouth for whom Ronan Curtis opened the scoring. Chiedoze Ogbene was in the Rotherham United team which defeated visitors Ipswich Town and Alan Judge by one goal to nil. Veteran Daryl Murphy scored the late equaliser for Bolton Wanderers in their one all draw with visitors Bristol Rovers.