The remaining EFL Cup second round ties took place on Wednesday evening and produced a mixed bag for the Irish involved.
With Mick McCarthy believed to be in attendance, Jeff Hendrick and Kevin Long started and completed ninety minutes for Burnley who went down to a three one defeat by League One Sunderland at Turf Moor. The absent Robbie Brady resumed training last week but is reported to have suffered a setback. Ciaran Clark was omitted from the Newcastle United matchday squad at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday last but started this evening and completed ninety minutes against visitors Leicester City. The sides played out a one all draw with Leicester prevailing 4-2 in the penalty shoot-out. Ryan Manning retained his left wing back position for QPR who went down to a two nil defeat by League One visitors Portsmouth who had Ronan Curtis in their starting eleven. U21 defender Conor Masterson was unused on the host bench while Marcus Harness started and scored the second goal for ‘Pompey’. Goalkeeper Mark Travers and midfielder Gavin Kilkenny, named today for the first time in the Ireland U21 squad, both started for AFC Bournemouth who welcomed League Two Forest Green Rovers to the Vitality Stadium. Kilkenny completed 84 minutes of the match which ended scoreless at full time. Travers was the hero of the penalty shoot-out, saving all three penalties he faced as his side scored their opening three for victory.