Friday
Improving Southampton were in Premier League action on Friday evening when Aston Villa visited St Marys Stadium. Shane Long was an unused substitute for the ‘Saints’ whose third minute goal proved to be the winner.
Thursday
The Europa League resumed on Thursday evening with Ferencvaros of Hungary welcoming Glasgow Celtic to Budapest in the reverse of the fixture which the hosts won in Celtic Park two weeks ago. The Glasgow side kept their hopes of progress alive with a three two victory. Liam Scales was again a late substitute entering the fray in the 89th minute while James McCarthy. who returned to the squad for last Saturday’s draw with Livingston, was introduced from the bench on 78 minutes.
Misfiring Tottenham Hotspur, with new manager Antonio Conte at the helm, were in Europa Conference action with Dutch side Vitesse the visitors to their London Stadium in the reverse fixture from two weeks ago which Spurs lost to the only goal. The hosts started brightly and raced into the three goal lead but in a contest of high passion poor defending saw them twice before the half-time break. The second period remained scoreless but saw three dismissals with the hosts first reduced to ten before the visitors saw two players dismissed in the closing stages. Matt Doherty was an unused substitute for the hosts.
Wednesday
There was further Championship action this Wednesday evening with Barnsley defeating visitors Derby County by two goals to one. The ‘Rams’ included Jason Knight in their starting eleven with Festy Ebosele 68th minute substitute. Current leaders AFC Bournemouth included Mark Travers in their starting eleven with Gavin Kilkenny and Robbie Brady unused on their substitute bench as they suffered a surprise home defeat by visitors Preston North End who included Alan Browne and Sean Maguire in their starting eleven with Greg Cunningham unused on their substitute bench. Cardiff City included Mark McGuinness in their starting eleven for their one nil defeat by visitors QPR who had Jimmy Dunne in central defence. Third place West Bromwich Albion included Callum Robinson in their starting eleven and he provided the assist for the only goal to defeat visitors Hull City while Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Jayson Molumby was unused on their substitute bench.
Tuesday
The Championship continued on Tuesday evening with Birmingham City and Scott Hogan, who scored in Saturday’s victory at Middlesbrough, defeating visitors Bristol City by three goals to nil with Hogan again on the scoresheet. Callum O’Dowda was an unused substitute for the defeated ‘Robins’. High flying Coventry City went down to a two one defeat by visitors Swansea City who included Ryan Manning in their starting eleven with Michael Obafemi introduced from the bench on 62 minutes. Improving Nottingham Forest were held to a one all draw by visitors Sheffield United who included John Egan and Enda Stevens in their starting eleven while Aston Villa loanee Conor Hourihane was a 90th minute substitute at the City Ground. Jack Taylor and Sam Szmodics completed the full ninety minutes for Peterborough United who played out a one all draw with visitors Huddersfield Town. West Ham United loanee Conor Coventry was unused on the Peterborough United substitute bench.
Charlton Athletic played out a one all League One draw with visitors Rotherham United at The Valley for whom Chiedoze Ogbene was a 59th minute substitute with Joshua Kayode unused on the substitute bench. Fleetwood Town played host to Wigan Athletic who included James McClean and Will Keane in their starting eleven with Keane finding the net in their three two victory. Portsmouth named Manchester City loanee Gavin Bazunu, Ronan Curtis and Marcus Harness in their starting eleven for the Fratton Park visit of Cheltenham Town which ended in a one all draw. Hillsborough hosted the meeting of former giants Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland which saw the hosts secure a four one victory. Dennis Cirkin was in the visitors starting eleven. Wycombe Wanderers introduced Daryl Horgan from their substitute bench on 76 minutes of their four one defeat by visitors Ipswich Town.
Monday
Molineaux hosted the Premier League meeting of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton which went the way of the hosts by two goals to one on Monday evening with Seamus Coleman in action for the visitors.
Zachery Elbouzedi was in Swedish Allsvenskan action with AIK Solna who went down to a one nil defeat at Halmstads BK this Monday evening.