Friday
The second leg in the first League One play-off semi-final between sixth place Oxford United and third place Blackpool took place in Bloomfield Road this Friday evening and ended in a three all draw. The hosts progress to the final on a 6-3 aggregate score following their three nil victory in the first leg at the Kassam Stadium on Tuesday last. The visitors included Mark Sykes and Anthony Forde in their starting eleven this evening while QPR loanee Olamide Shodipo was a 69th minute substitute and scored five minutes after his introduction.
Thursday
Tranmere Rovers included Glasgow Celtic loanee Lee O’Connor in their starting eleven for the first leg of their League Two play-off semi-final against Morecambe at Prenton Park this Thursday evening. Despite dominating for the majority of the contest, the hosts went down to a two one defeat and face an uphill task for the away second leg at 12.30pm next Sunday.
Josh Cullen started for RSC Anderlecht who recovered from a two goal deficit to secure a three all draw with Club Bruges in the Belgian First Division this evening. Cullen was withdrawn on 73 minutes.
Wednesday
Everton, whose poor home form in the Premier League has been destructive to their European ambitions, were back in Goodison Park on Wednesday evening when Wolverhampton Wanderers were their visitors. Club captain Seamus Coleman was in action with ‘The Toffees’ as they secured victory with the only goal of the game. Newcastle United scored the only goal to defeat relegated visitors Sheffield United for whom John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick all started while Ciaran Clark and Jeff Hendrick were unused substitutes for the hosts. Matt Doherty was a very late substitute for Tottenham Hotspur who went down to a two one defeat by visitors Aston Villa. James McCarthy retained his starting position for Crystal Palace who suffered a three one defeat by visitors Arsenal at Selhurst Park. Jimmy Dunne was an unused substitute for Burnley who went down to a three nil defeat by Turf Moor visitors Liverpool. Relegated West Bromwich Albion suffered a three one defeat by visitors West Ham United for whom Darren Randolph started following an injury sustained by regular goalkeeper Fabianski in the pre-match warm-up. Teenage striker Ademipo Odubeko was an unused substitute for the victorious ‘Hammers’.
The first leg of the second League One play-off semi-final between fifth place Lincoln City and fourth place Sunderland took place at Sincil Bank this evening and saw the hosts secure a two nil advantage for the second leg at the Stadium of Light next Saturday afternoon. Anthony Scully was in the ‘Imps’ starting eleven while Aiden McGeady was a starter for the ‘Makems’.
Tuesday
Southampton welcomed Leeds United to St Mary’s Stadium in the Premier League at 6pm on Tuesday evening where they went down to a two nil home defeat. Further along the South Coast Brighton & Hove Albion played host to champions Manchester City at 7pm. ‘Saints’ duo Michael Obafemi and Will Ferry were unused substitutes while Aaron Connolly was also an unused substitute as ‘The Seagulls’ recovered from a two goal deficit to defeat the champions, who had been reduced to ten men following a 10th minute red card, by three two goals to two.
The first leg in the first League One play-off semi-final between sixth place Oxford United and third place Blackpool took place in the Kassam Stadium at 6pm. The visitors ran out comfortable three nil victors and will be expected to confirm their place in the final when the second leg is played at Bloomfield Road on Friday evening. The hosts named Mark Sykes in their starting eleven while Anthony Forde and QPR loanee Olamide Shodipo were very late substitutes.
Monday
The first legs of the Championship play-off semi-finals took place on Monday evening with AFC Bournemouth, who finished sixth, playing host to third place Brentford at 6pm in the Vitality Stadium while fifth place Barnsley welcomed fourth place Swansea City to Oakwell at 8.15pm. The ‘Cherries’ secured a one nil victory while goalkeeper Mark Travers and Southampton loanee Shane Long were unused on their substitute bench. Aston Villa loanee Conor Hourihane started for ‘The Swans’ who secured a one goal advantage for the second leg on Saturday next. Ryan Manning was an unused substitute for ‘the victorious visitors.