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The Championship continued on Wednesday evening with Brentford scoring the only goal in added time to defeat visitors Aston Villa and their former manager Dean Smith at Griffin Park. The hosts introduced Chiedozie Ogbene from their substitute bench for the final minute while Conor Hourihane and Glenn Whelan both started for the visitors. Alan Judge and Will Keane were in the Ipswich Town side which recovered from the concession of an early goal to earn a point against visitors Derby County and Richard Keogh at Portman Road . Alan Browne and Sean Maguire both started for Preston North End with Maguire on the scoresheet as they secured  a three one victory over pre-match leaders Norwich City. The Sheffield United trio of John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick all started for the ‘Blades’ with loanee Scott Hogan unused on the bench for the one nil victory over visitors Middlesbrough and Darren Randolph at  Bramall Lane. Wigan Athletic midfielder Anthony Pilkington was in the starting eleven for the scoreless draw with visitors Stoke City who introduced James McClean from the substitute bench on sixty minutes while Liam Kelly started for Reading in their two one success over visitors Blackburn Rovers,for whom Derrick Williams was an unused substitute. Darragh Lenihan remains on the injury list. 

Matt Doherty was in the Wolverhampton Wanderers starting eleven for this Monday evening’s Premier League meeting with Newcastle United at Molineaux. The contest ended in a dramatic one all draw with the hosts securing the equalising goal in the fifth minute of added time. Doherty performed admirably in his right wing back position although he did miss a glorious opportunity to open the scoring.  There was disappointment however for Ciaran Clark who was excluded from the visitors matchday squad. Goalkeeper Rob Elliot is currently on the injured list but has not seen any first team action with the ‘Magpies’ this season.
The Championship continued on Tuesday evening with Millwall duo Shaun Williams and Aiden O’Brien in the starting eleven for the visit of Keiren Westwood and Sheffield Wednesday which ended in a scoreless draw. In-form Callum O’Dowda and Bristol City came from behind to defeat QPR by two goals to one at Ashton Gate while the reportedly Ireland eligible Lukas Jutkiewicz and Birmingham City went down to a surprise one nil defeat by relegation threatened visitors Bolton Wanderers. Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Richie Towell started and fellow midfielder Anthony Forde was a thirty eight minute substitute for Rotherham United who recovered a two goal deficit to draw two each at Hull City. The Nottingham Forest management duo of O’Neill and Keane saw their side secure a two all draw at West Bromwich Albion, where international retirees Wes Hoolihan and Daryl Murphy were introduced as late substitutes for their respective sides.
There was also Irish involvement in the First Division where wide midfielder Kieran Sadlier was a late substitute for promotion chasing Doncaster Rovers who defeated visitors Southend United  by three goals to nil. Burnley loanee Jimmy Dunne, who has caught the eye at Sunderland, was joined by Aiden McGeady in the starting eleven for their one all draw with visitors Blackpool. 

Fifty third minute substitute Cyrus Christie and his Fulham colleagues went down to a three nil Premier League defeat by visitors Manchester United at Craven Cottage in the early kick-off  on Saturday afternoon. Southampton included Shane Long in their starting eleven for the visit of Harry Arter and Cardiff City who scored in added time to secure a two one victory at St Mary’s Stadium. Unused midweek substitutes Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy suffered the same fate this afternoon as Everton lost to the only goal for Watford at Vicarage Road. The 5.30pm kick-off saw Shane Duffy in action and scoring the consolation goal for Brighton & Hove Albion who went down to a three one defeat by visitors Burnley for whom Jeff Hendrick started with Stephen Ward and Kevin Long unused on the substitute bench. Home manager Chris Hughton was not a happy man as his side were denied what appeared to be two clear cut penalties.   

Goalkeeper Darren Randolph was in Championship action for fifth place Middlesbrough at 1pm on Saturday afternoon where Leeds United returned to the summit with a very late equaliser  for a one all draw at the Riverside Stadium. Striker Patrick Bamford who is rumoured to be on Mick McCarthy’s radar completed ninety minutes for Leeds United. A knee injury ruled Darragh Lenihan out of the Blackburn Rovers side but Derrick Williams started as high flying Bristol City and the in-form Callum O’Dowda moved into the top six with a one nil victory at Ewood Park. The Lancashire Derby meeting of Bolton Wanderers and Preston North End saw teenager Luca Connell start for the hosts, but he was forced off through injury after just twenty three minutes. Alan Browne was again on the scoresheet for the visitors and Sean Maguire was also in the starting eleven as they secured a two one victory. Kieran Westwood was in action for Sheffield Wednesday who played out a scoreless draw with Reading at Hillsborough. The 5.30pm kick-off between Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion at the Bet365 Stadium saw James McClean start for the hosts while  visiting veteran Wes Hoolihan, who performed so admirably in their midweek cup defeat, was an unused substitute for the ‘Baggies’ who scored  the only goal for victory. 

While not the division one might normally be seeking to identify possible Irish international options, League One currently does warrant a glance, where four promotion challengers include a number of Irish hopefuls. Former Ireland U21 striker James Collins has been finding the net on a regular basis and opened the scoring for current leaders Luton Town as they secured a three nil victory over near neighbours Wycombe Wanderers at Kenilworth Road. Third place Portsmouth included Ronan Curtis, a member of Martin O’Neill’s final international gathering, in their side for the one all draw with visitors Plymouth Argyle while fourth place Sunderland also played out a one all draw at Oxford United where veteran midfielder Aiden McGeady started as did centre back Jimmy Dunne, on loan from Burnley, who scored the ‘Makems’ goal. Josh Cullen, our captain throughout the last U21 campaign, is on loan at fifth place Charlton Athletic from West Ham United and he too was in action in another one all draw against Southend United at the Valley.

The President’s Cup kicked-off the Irish domestic season on Saturday afternoon when double winners Dundalk lifted the Trophy for the first time since 2015 with a two one victory over dual runners-up Cork City in Turner’s Cross. The ‘Rebels’ had a much changed side with a significant number of players having departed the Club during the close season. The visiting ‘Lilywhites’ have succeeded in retaining the vast majority of their squad and have added some high profile new recruits to the mix. They of course did have one very significant departure with the elevation of manager Stephen Kenny to the role of Ireland Under 21 manager. 

The Championship contest between Aston Villa and third place Sheffield United, who would have gone top with victory, ended in a dramatic three all draw at Villa Park this Friday evening. The visiting ‘Blades’ dominated the first half and led by three goals to nil just after the hour mark. With just eight minutes of regular time remaining, the hosts scored following poor goalkeeping and just four minutes another goalkeeping error saw the hosts score a second. Their revival was completed four minutes into added time when another defensive calamity led to the third and equalising goal.  Conor Hourihane started in midfield for the hosts while the veteran Glenn Whelan was introduced from the bench on sixty six minutes and immediately brought a new solidity to the home midfield. John Egan and Enda Stevens started for the ‘Blades’ with David McGoldrick a sixty ninth minute substitute. Striker Scott Hogan, on loan to the ‘Blades’ from the hosts, was unable to be involved this evening.