Sunday
The Premier League continued at noon on Sunday with the London derby meeting of West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur which went the way of the ‘Hammers’ by two goals to one. Matt Doherty has not had a very auspicious start to life with Spurs and found himself on the substitute bench again today. A poor first half performance from his replacement saw Doherty introduced for the second half and he acquitted himself very well. Teenage striker Ademipo Odubeko was unused on the ‘Hammers’ substitute bench together with Darren Randolph who returned after several weeks absence. There was a 7pm kick-off for the Old Trafford meeting of Manchester United and Newcastle United which went the way of the hosts by three goals to one. Ciaran Clark was in central defence for the visiting ‘Magpies’ and performed reasonably well while Jeff Hendrick was unused on the substitute bench.
The Global Energy Park hosted the Scottish Premiership meeting of hosts Ross County and Glasgow Celtic which was won by the hosts with the only goal. Loanee Shane Duffy was not included in the matchday squad.
Ireland manager Stephen Kenny continues to monitor the form of Josh Cullen who was in the starting eleven for Belgian First Division side RSC Anderlecht who suffered a shock two nil home defeat by KV Kortrijk early this Sunday afternoon.
Saturday
The Premier League continued on Saturday afternoon with a lethargic Burnley playing out a scoreless draw at home to a West Bromwich Albion side reduced to ten after 30 minutes. Another injury ruled out Robbie Brady for the ‘Clarets’ while Kevin Long and Jimmy Dunne were unused on the substitute bench. The visiting ‘Baggies’ included Dara O’Shea and Callum Robinson on their substitute bench with O’Shea joining the fray on 32 minutes following the red card incident. Anfield hosted the meeting of Liverpool and Everton at 5.30pm with Seamus Coleman skippering the ‘Toffees’ who secured a deserved two nil victory. The late kick-off saw Fulham score the only goal to defeat visitors Sheffield United for whom Enda Stevens started while David McGoldrick was a 74th minute substitute.
Mick McCarthy continued his positive impact at Championship side Cardiff City when they crushed visitors Preston North End by four goals to nil. Alan Browne together with loanees Greg Cunningham and Jayson Molumby all started for the defeated ‘Lilywhites’. Veteran defender Richard Keogh was in action with Huddersfield Town who stunned high flying Swansea City with a four one success at the McAlpine Stadium. Aston Villa loanee Conor Hourihane started for the ‘Swans’ and scored an excellent free kick while Ryan Manning was a 58th minute substitute. Danny McNamara was an unused substitute for Millwall who played out a scoreless draw with visitors Wycombe Wanderers and Daryl Horgan at the New Den. Adam Idah was introduced for the final four minutes as current leaders Norwich City defeated visitors Rotherham United with the only goal at Carrow Road. Loanee Cyrus Christie was in action with Nottingham Forest who secured aone nil success over visitors Blackburn Rovers at the City Ground. AFC Bournemouth included loanee Shane Long in their starting eleven and he scored their goal in a two one defeat at QPR. Mark Travers and Gavin Kilkenny were unused substitutes for the ‘Cherries’. Keiran Westwood was in action for Sheffield Wednesday who went down to a one nil defeat by visitors Birmingham City for whom Scott Hogan scored the winning goal at Hillsborough. Stoke City introduced James McClean from their substitute bench after 74 minutes of their three nil victory over visitors Luton Town and James Collins.
There was something of an Irish Convention in League One when Ipswich Town and Oxford United played out a scoreless draw at Portman Road. The hosts included loanee Troy Parrott together with Alan Judge in their starting eleven with Aaron Drinan introduced from the substitute bench on 81 minutes while Stephen Ward was unused. The visitors named Anthony Forde and recent Ireland declaree Mark Sykes in their starting eleven while loanee Olamide Shodipo and Liam Kelly joined the fray during the second half. London Road saw hosts Peterborough United defeat visitors AFC Wimbledon by three goals to nil to climb up to second place. Midfielder Jack Taylor was in action with the victorious hosts. Fratton Park hosted the meeting of Portsmouth and Blackpool with Ronan Curtis and another recent Ireland declaree Marcus Harness starting for ‘Pompey’ who suffered a surprise one nil defeat. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, on loan at Rochdale from Manchester City, was in action for the scorless draw with visitors Plymouth Argyle. Southampton loanee Thomas O’Connor was a half-time substitute for Gillingham who secured a two nil success over visitors Bristol Rovers at Priestland. Goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara was again confined to the Burton Albion substitute bench as they suffered three nil defeat by visitors Sunderland who included Aiden McGeady and Aiden O’Brien in their starting eleven. Current leaders Lincoln City secured a hard earned two one victory at Wigan Athletic with Anthony Scully scoring the opener for the ‘Imps’.
Rotherham United loanee Joshua Kayode was in action with Carlisle United who played out a one all draw at Salford City in League Two. The loan move of Zack Elbouzedi from Lincoln City to Bolton Wanderers is turning out to be something of a disappointment as he has spent the majority of his time on the substitute bench and did not make the matchday squad for today’s one nil victory at Southend United. Aston Villa loanee Tyreik Wright is another whose move to Walsall is proving disappointing and he too was absent from the one all draw at Stevenage where Liam Kinsella was dismissed on fifty six minutezs. Glasgow Celtic loanee Lee O’Connor started for Tranmere Rovers who were held to a two all draw by visitors Oldham Athletic.
The Scottish Championship saw Dundee superseded in fourth place by visitors Queen of the South who were victorious by three goals to two. Glasgow Celtic loanee Jonathan Afolabi was a 75th minute substitute for the defeated hosts. Runaway leaders Hearts included Aaron McEneff in their starting eleven as they were were held to a one all draw by visitors Greenock Morton at Tynecastle.