The New Year fixture list has been decimated by postponements because of the Covid virus with just a handful of matches surviving this weekend.
Sunday
The Premier League survivors included the 2pm kick-off between Everton and Brighton & Hove Albion which the visitors won by three goals to two. Seamus Coleman started for the defeated hosts while Shane Duffy was a 61st minute substitute for the victors. Struggling sides Leeds United and Burnley met at Elland Road where the hosts prevailed by three goals to one. Nathan Collins and Kevin Long were unused substitutes for the visiting ‘Clarets’. Caoimhin Kelleher was an unexpected starter for Liverpool who played out a dramatic two all draw with Chelsea in the late kick-off at Stamford Bridge.
The Championship featured Bristol City who came from behind to defeat visitors Millwall by three goals to two at Ashton Gate. Callum O’Dowda and goalkeeper Max O’Leary both started for the victorious ‘Robins’. Danny McNamara and the veteran Alex Pearce were in the defeated ‘Lions’ side. Scott Hogan was a very late substitute for Birmingham City who went down to a two one defeat by visitors QPR for whom Jimmy Dunne was in central defence. Darragh Lenihan was in Ewood Park action for Blackburn Rovers who were held to a scoreless draw by visitors Huddersfield Town. Callum Robinson scored the goal for West Bromwich Albion in their one all draw with visitors Cardiff City for whom James Collins opened the scoring. Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Jayson Molumby replaced Robinson on 79 minutes while Mark McGuinness was in action for the visitors with Joel Bagan on their substitute bench.
Saturday
The Premier League saw Watford concede the only goal to visitors Tottenham Hotspur in the 6th minute of added time at Vicarage Road where Matt Doherty was an unused substitute for the victors. In the late kick-off, teenage striker Armstrong Oko-Flex was again named on the West Ham United substitute bench for their visit to Selhurst Park where they took a three goal first half lead against their hosts Crystal Palace but were left hanging on with the concession of two goals in the final minutes.
Former Cork City central defender Sean McLoughlin was again in action for Hull City who went down to a one nil defeat at Blackpool in the Championship with veteran Richard Keogh in action with the hosts.
There was a little more League One activity with Charlton Athletic going down to a one nil defeat by visitors Wycombe Wanderers for whom Daryl Horgan was again an unused substitute. Tottenham Hotspur loanee Troy Parrott was in the MK Dons side together with central defender Warren O’Hora for the scoreless draw with visitors Gillingham. Chiedoze Ogbene started with Joshua Kayode a 73rd minute substitute for Rotherham United who defeated visitors Bolton Wanderers by two goals to one to return to the top of the League Table. Eoin Doyle who is reported to be set to return home and join St Patrick’s Athletic on a three year contract, scored the goal for the defeated side. The in form Mark Sykes scored the equaliser for Oxford United in their one all draw with visitors Cheltenham Town.