Monday
The Premier League continued on Monday afternoon with Burnley defeating Turf Moor visitors Wolverhampton Wanderers by two goals to one. Robbie Brady was again in the starting eleven for the ‘Clarets’ while Kevin Long and Jimmy Dunne were unused substitutes. Brady suffered a knock and was withdrawn on 69 minutes.
Sunday
There was something of a ‘High Noon’ feeling in the Sheffield United camp as they prepared to enter the AMEX Arena where Brighton & Hove Albion were their Premier League hosts for a 12pm shoot-out. The ‘Blades’ appeared to shoot themselves in the foot with the violent contact dismissal of John Lundstram on 40 minutes but the 10 men responded positively and took an unexpected lead on 63 minutes with David McGoldrick the creator. Sadly for them, they were unable to hold out and conceded the equaliser with three minutes of normal time remaining. The hosts included Aaron Connolly in their starting eleven with Jayson Molumby unused on the substitute bench while the visitors named John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick in their starting eleven. Matt Doherty has recently been little used by new club Tottenham Hotspur and was again on the substitute bench for today’s home contest with Leicester City which the visitors won by two goals to nil. Anxiety may also have been uppermost in the thoughts of Dara O’Shea and Callum Robinson as their West Bromwich Albion, under the guidance of new manager Sam Allardyce, played host to Aston Villa this evening. O’Shea started with Robinson an 83rd minute substitute as the ‘Baggies’, who lost skipper Livermore to a red card after 30 minutes, went down to a three nil defeat. Conor Hourihane was an unused substitute for the victors.
The deferred 2019/20 Scottish Cup Final kicked off at 2.15pm this afternoon in Hampden Park with Glasgow Celtic, who named Shane Duffy in their starting eleven, seeking to complete the quartet of last season’s domestic trophies against Heart of Midlothian. They achieved their aim, but only just. A two goal half time lead was squandered with the ‘Jam Tarts’ scoring twice to send the contest into extra-time where Celtic again took the lead only for the Edinburgh side to equalise again and send the tie to a penalty shoot-out where finally the Glasgow side prevailed on a 4-3 penalty scoreline.
Saturday
Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher was on the Liverpool substitute bench for their crushing seven nil Premier League victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. James McCarthy returned on the ‘Eagles’ substitute following the recent death of his father. Shane Long was an unused substitute for Southampton who went down to a one nil defeat by visitors Manchester City. Everton captain Seamus Coleman returned to action following his five match injury absence as an 83rd minute substitute in their two one victory over Goodison Park visitors Arsenal. Ciaran Clark started while Jeff Hendrick was an unused substitute for Newcastle United who were held to a one all draw by visitors Fulham at St James Park.
Current Championship leaders Norwich City included teenage defender Andrew Omobamadeli on their substitute bench for their two nil victory over visitors Cardiff City for whom Greg Cunningham completed the full ninety minutes. Luton Town played out a scoreless draw with visitors AFC Bournemouth at Kenilworth Road where James Collins led their line while Mark Travers and Gavin Kilkenny were again unused on the visitors substitute bench. Midweek substitute Troy Parrott was introduced from the substitute bench of loan club Millwall on 72 minutes of their one all draw with New Den visitors Nottingham Forest who included Cyrus Christie in their starting eleven while Harry Arter was an unused substitute. Teenage defender Nathan Collins started while veteran midfielder James McClean was a 66th minute substitute for Stoke City who defeated their visitors Blackburn Rovers and Darragh Lenihan with the only goal of the game. Recent signing Ryan Manning was an unused substitute for Swansea City who defeated visitors Barnsley by two goals to one while Daryl Horgan was in the Wycombe Wanderers side for their one all draw with visitors QPR for whom Conor Masterson was an unused substitute.
Southampton loanee and U21 international Thomas O’Connor was in the Gillingham side which journied to Rochdale and secured a four one League One victory. Watford loanee Ryan Cassidy was an unused substitute for Accrington Stanley who played out a scoreless draw with visitors Blackpool.
Glasgow Celtic loanee Lee O’Connor was a very late substitute for Tranmere Rovers who secured a three nil League Two victory at Bolton Wanderers while Rotherham United loanee Joshua Kayode was in the Carlisle United side which went down to a one nil defeat at Forest Green Rovers.
Ireland U21 defender Danny McNamara was in action with loan club St Johnstone who went down to a three two Scottish Premiership defeat at St Mirren the midweek Scottish League Cup conquerors of Glasgow Rangers.