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Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City kicked-off the Saturday afternoon fare in the Premier League when they faced each other in Molineaux at 12.30pm. Matt Doherty was relegated to the home bench but was introduced on seventy three minutes of an invigorating contest which went the way of the hosts who scored an added time winner for a four three success. Declan Rice started for West Ham United who went down to a two nil defeat by AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium while Shane Duffy lined out at Old Trafford with Brighton & Hove Albion where in-form Manchester United continued their revival with a two one victory. Ciaran Clark was an unused substitute for Newcastle United who defeated visitors Cardiff City by three goals to nil at St James Park. Shane Long, who faced a battle to be fit, was introduced from the substitute bench for Southampton who defeated visitors Everton and Seamus Coleman by two goals to one at St Mary’s Stadium. Stephen Ward who has recovered from his long term injury together with Robbie Brady did not make the Burnley matchday squad for the trip to Watford. Jeff Hendrick  started with Kevin Long an unused substitute as the sides played out a scoreless draw.

The Championship marathon took another step on it’s arduous journey to the Premier riches this Saturday afternoon. Stuttering Aston Villa, with Conor Hourihane in their starting eleven, were held to a two all, draw by visitors Hull City at Villa Park while Blackburn Rovers had Darragh Lenihan in their starting eleven for their two nil victory over visiting basement side Ipswich Town who included new signings Alan Judge and Will Keane in their starting eleven. Derby County captain Richard Keogh continued in defence for the two one defeat of visitors Reading for whom long time injury absentee Paul McShane has returned to training. Darren Randolph and his Middlesbrough colleagues were held to a one all draw by visitors  Millwall for whom Shaun Williams started and Aiden O’Brien was a very late substitute at the Riverside Stadium. Callum O’Dowda was again prominent for Bristol City who scored the only goal at the City Ground to defeat their hosts Nottingham Forest and hand new manager Martin O’Neill and his coaching assistants Steve Guppy and Seamus McDonagh a disappointing start to their tenure. Ryan Manning remained on the QPR bench as they suffered a four one Loftus Road defeat by visitors Preston North End who included Alan Browne, who scored, and Sean Maguire in their starting eleven. Keiren Westwood  recovered from injury and started for Sheffield Wednesday who overcame visitors Wigan Athletic and their new signing Anthony Pilkington with the only goal at Hillsborough. James McClean was a second half substitute for stuttering Stoke City who shocked current leaders Leeds United with a two one success at the Bet365 Stadium. The Sheffield United quartet of John Egan, Jack O’Connell, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick all started  the late kick-off at Swansea City but were disappointed with a one nil defeat.
League One leaders Portsmouth included Ronan Curtis in their starting eleven for their two one Kassam Stadium defeat by hosts Oxford United, while Josh Cullen started for Charlton Athletic who defeated their visitors Accrington Stanley with the only goal at the Valley.

The FAI has today announced two International friendlies to be played this Autumn. We will face Bulgaria in the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday the 10th September, five days after the home European Championship qualifier against Switzerland and we then meet New Zealand, for the first ever time, in the Aviva Stadium on Thursday the 14th November, four days before we take on Denmark in the European Championship, again in the Aviva Stadium. 

The one remaining FA Cup third round replay took place at St Mary’s Stadium this Wednesday evening between Southampton of the Premier League and Championship side  Derby County. The sides shared four goals at Pride Park in the first contest, with Richard Keogh and Shane Long in direct opposition as they were again this evening, and the result was also reprised after extra-time with the ‘Rams’ again recovering a two goal deficit. The contest was decided in a penalty shoot-out which went the way of the visitors Derby County, for whom skipper Richard Keogh scored the fifth and decisive penalty. Despite one glaring miss, Shane Long had a fine game leading the line until injury forced his withdrawal on seventy three minutes.  

Following their one all draw at St James Park in the first encounter, Newcastle United progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup with a four two extra-time victory over Darragh Lenihan and Blackburn Rovers in the replay at Ewood Park this Tuesday evening. Ciaran Clark started for the ‘Magpies’ but was forced off through injury at half-time. The visitors took an early two goal lead but were pegged back with Lenihan scoring the equaliser on the cusp of half-time. Stoke City, with James McClean a seventy second minute substitute, crashed out of the competition when they forfeited a two goal advantage at their own Bet 365 Stadium and allowed League One visitors Shrewsbury Town to score three times in the in the final twenty minutes and progress to the fourth round. The sides had played out a  one all draw in their opening contest at the New Meadow Stadium. 

The Premier League continued on Monday evening with Manchester City defeating visitors Wolverhampton Wanderers by three goals to nil at the Etihad Stadium to reduce the gap to leaders Liverpool to four points. The visitors were outplayed from the start and were further hampered by the dismissal of defender Boly after just nineteen minutes. Wing back Matt Doherty, who had been in fine form in recent weeks, did not enjoy the best of evenings under the watchful gaze of Ireland Assistant Manager Terry Connor. 

Captain Seamus Coleman returned to the Everton starting eleven for this afternoon’s hard fought two nil Goodison Park victory over visitors AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The Killybegs man had a steady match in what was a generally unspectacular contest. James McCarthy was not included in the matchday squad, strengthening speculation that he may move, perhaps on loan, during the current transfer window.