Friday
The Premier League continued on Friday evening with Everton and Seamus Coleman continuing their challenge for a top six spot with a one nil victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Ireland U21 midfielder Luca Connell, who is on loan from Glasgow Celtic, was a 65th minute substitute for runaway leaders Queens Park who went down to a surprise one nil home defeat by Stranraer in the Scottish League Two
Thursday
FA Cup finalists Leicester City returned to Premier League action with a comprehensive three nil defeat of visitors West Bromwich Albion this Thursday evening. The ‘Foxes’ were utterly dominant in the first half, scoring all three goals which might, indeed should, have been six. The visiting ‘Baggies’ included Dara O’Shea and Callum Robinson in their starting eleven with Robinson withdrawn at half-time and replaced with a central defender in an effort to stem the goal flow.
Wednesday
Following the dismissal of Jose Mourinho, Tottenham Hotspur have placed 28 year old Ryan Mason in charge for the remainder of the season and he saw his side come from behind to secure a two one victory in this evening’s Premier League encounter with visitors Southampton. Matt Doherty was again not in the home matchday squad while Will Ferry was an unused substitute for the visiting ‘Saints’.
Millwall included Danny McNamara in their starting eleven for the Championship visit of promotion chasing AFC Bournemouth who won by four goals to one and move up to third place on the league table. Mark Travers was unused on their substitute bench but there was no place for Gavin Kilkenny and loanee Shane Long in their matchday squad. Daryl Horgan was a 74th minute substitute for Wycombe Wanderers who came from behind to defeat visitors Bristol City by two goals to one. Scott Hogan was forced off through injury after 19 minutes as his Birmingham City were held to a one all draw by visitors Nottingham Forest and loanee Cyrus Christie at St Andrew’s. Chris Hughton‘s side equalised from the penalty spot in the 8th minute of added time. Weekend substitute and match winner James Collins was an 83rd minute substitute for Luton Town who played out a scoreless draw with visitors Reading at Kenilworth Road.
Jamie McGrath scored an added time penalty for St Mirren in their three one Scottish Premiership victory at Ross County.
Tuesday
Already promoted Norwich City went down to a second Championship defeat in four days when second place Watford scored the only goal at Carrow Road this evening. Eighteen year old Andrew Omobamidele was again in central defence for the host ‘Canaries’. Preston North End included Alan Brown and Greg Cunningham in their starting eleven while Sean Maguire and loanee Jayson Molumby were added time substitutes as the ‘Lilywhites’ defeated visitors Derby County by three goals to nil. Jason Knight started for the visiting ‘Rams’ but was withdrawn at half-time while Festy Ebosele was a 77th minute substitute with Louie Watson unused on the bench. Keiren Westwood started and Ciaran Brennan was an unused substitute for Sheffield Wednesday who defeated visitors Blackburn Rovers and Darragh Lenihan by one goal to nil at Hillsborough. Loanee Conor Hourihane and Ryan Manning were unused substitutes for Swansea City who went down to the only goal from visitors QPR.
League One promotion hopefuls Portsmouth included Ronan Curtis and Marcus Harness in their starting eleven with Curtis scoring their goal in a surprise three one defeat at Swindon Town. Kieran O’Hara was an unused substitute for Burton Albion who went down to a one nil defeat by visitors Lincoln City and Anthony Scully. Ipswich Town included Stephen Ward and loanee Mark McGuinness in their starting eleven while Aaron Drinan was a 67th minute substitute as they went down to a three nil defeat at Northampton Town with Dublin born right back Peter Kioso scoring twice for the victors. Loanee Gavin Bazunu was again on the substitute bench for Rochdale while Conor Grant started alongside Eoghan O’Connell, Paul McShane and Jimmy Keohane in their one nil victory over visitors Blackpool. Jack Taylor and Peterborough United suffered a setback to their promotion push with a one nil defeat by visitors Gillingham.
Loanee Jason Kayode was in the Carlisle United side for their one nil League Two defdeat at Bolton Wanderers for whom Eoin Doyle scored the winning goal. Fellow loanee Lee O’Connor and Tranmere Rovers secured a one nil victory at Bradford City while another loanee Tyreik Wright was a 65th minute substitute for Walsall who suffered a two nil home defeat by Salford City.
Loanee Jonathan Afolabi started for Dundee but was withdrawn at half-time in their one all draw at Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Championship while Aaron McEneff was withdrawn on 77 minutes by Heart of Midlothian who played out a scoreless draw at Greenock Morton.
All ten Airtricity League Premier Division clubs were in action this Tuesday evening. Bohemian went down to a three one defeat by Sligo Rovers in Dalymount Park while bottom sides Derry City and Dundalk played out a one all draw in the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium. Drogheda United lost to the only goal for Shamrock Rovers while Longford Town and Finn Harps played out a scoreless draw in Bishopsgate. Current joint leaders St Patrick’s Athletic were one nil victors over Waterford in Richmond Park.