Friday
Glasgow Celtic loanee Jonathan Afolabi, named in Jim Crawford’s Republic of Ireland U21 squad, is in the Dundee squad for this evening’s Scottish Championship contest at Alloa Athletic.
Thursday
Matt Doherty was an unused substitute for Tottenham Hotspur who exited the Europa League following a three nil extra-time defeat by Dinamo Zagreb of Croatia this evening. The North London side had been comfortable two nil victors in the first leg and were expected to progress but once again their frailties were exposed.
Wednesday
There was more Championship action this Wednesday evening with Sheffield Wednesday playing out a one all draw with Huddersfield Town and veteran defender Richard Keogh at Hillsborough where goalkeeper Keiren Westwood retained his starting position for the hosts. Cyrus Christie and Nottingham Forest went down to a two nil defeat by leaders Norwich City at the City Ground while Wycombe Wanderers and Daryl Horgan suffered a three one defeat by in form Barnsley. Darragh Lenihan was in the Blackburn Rovers side for the visit of Bristol City who included goalkeeper Max O’Leary in their starting eleven with fit again Callum O’Dowda a 65th minute substitute as the sides played out a scoreless draw. Scott Hogan started for Birmingham City who surprised promotion chasing Reading with a resilient two one victory at St Andrew’s.
In League One, Accrington Stanley went down to a two nil defeat by weekend EFL Trophy winners Sunderland and Aiden McGeady at the Wham Stadium.
Tuesday
The Championship continued on Tuesday evening with struggling Derby County recovering a two nil half-time deficit to secure a two all draw with promotion chasing Brentford in Pride Park. Jason Knight and Louie Watson both started for the ‘Rams’ with Watson withdrawn at half-time. James Collins was an 81st minute substitute for Luton Town who defeated visitors Coventry City by two goals to nil. James McClean is reported to have made a speedier than expected recovery from his foot injury but was not involved with his Stoke City who okayed out a scoreless draw at Mick McCarthy‘s Cardiff City. Alan Browne was red carded after 36 minutes of his Preston North End’s two nil defeat at Middlesbrough. Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Jayson Molumby whose loan spell is proving very disappointing as he has seen very little match time, was introduced this evening at half-time. Southampton loanee Shane Long together with Mark Travers and Gavin Kilkenny were unused on the AFC Bournemouth substitute bench for the three nil victory nover visitors Swansea City who included Aston Villa loanee Conor Hourihane and Ryan Manning in their starting eleven.
U21 striker Anthony Scully was an 82nd minute substitute for Lincoln City who suffered a shock three nil League One defeat by visitors Gillingham whose Southampton loanee Thomas O’Connor was an added time substitute for the victors. Promotion chasing duo Peterborough United and Portsmouth locked horns at London Road with the hosts scoring the only goal for victory. The ‘Posh’ were still without hamstring victim Jack Taylor but Ireland qualified goalkeeper Christy Pym, the subject of current international speculation, started while Ronan Curtis started for ‘Pompey’ with Marcus Harness a 61st minute substitute. Tottenham Hotspur loanee Troy Parrott, who scored his first senior goal in Saturday’s one nil victory for his loan club Ipswich Town, was joined by Alan Judge in the starting eleven as they suffered a disappointing two nil defeat at Fleetwood Town. Aaron Drinan and Stephen Ward were introduced from the bench on 67 minutes with Parrott one of the departees.
Aston Villa loanee Tyreik Wright was a 94th minute substitute while Liam Kinsella completed the full 90 minutes for Walsall in their one all League Two draw at Crawley Town.