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There was a full Championship programme this Saturday afternoon with the Irish management team and their scouts in attendance at a number of venues. Birmingham City striker Lukas Jutkiewicz is believed to be on the review list and the goalless draw with visitors Brentford for whom Alan Judge was an eighty second minute substitute at St Andrews was expected to receive some attention. Bristol City and Callum O’Dowda  welcomed Rotherham United to Ashton Gate where Richie Towell started for the visiting ‘Millars’ but was red carded on seventy two minutes as his side lost to the only goal. Anthony Forde and Ryan Manning, who may at this juncture be outside the Irish management viewing circle, were introduced from the bench late in the second half as was defender Sean Raggett, who has just recovered from a lengthy injury absence. Midfielder Alan Browne has scored eight goals this season for Preston North End but missed out today through injury when Aston Villa and fellow midfielders Conor Hourihane and Glenn Whelan visited Deepdale. Striker Scott Hogan disappointingly remained on the substitute bench for the ‘Villians’, but Graham Burke started for the hosts with seventeen year old Cork born midfielder Adam O’Reilly replacing him for the final five minutes as the sides played out a one all draw. The Bramall Lane contest between Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers provided a host of Irish hopefuls, with John Egan, Jack O’Connell, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick in the ‘Blades’ starting eleven as they secured a three nil victory over their visitors who included Darragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams in their starting eleven. McGoldrick was again on target with the third goal on eighty two minutes.   

Eighteen year old striker Michael Obafemi was not in the Southampton squad for the visit of West Ham United and fellow teenager Declan Rice to St Mary’s Stadium in the Premier League this Thursday evening. The visiting ‘Hammers’ came from behind to secure a deserved two one victory with Rice again excellent in his midfield holding role. Shane Long was introduced from the ‘Saints’ substitute bench on sixty two minutes but could make little impact while teenage midfielder Conor Coventry was unused on the visiting bench. Ireland manager Mick McCarthy was also expected to be in attendance.  

Right (wing) backs Cyrus Christie and Matt Doherty were in opposition as Fulham played out a one all draw with Craven Cottage visitors Wolverhampton Wanderers in this afternoon’s early kick-off in the Premier League. Burnley, with Jeff Hendrick in their starting eleven, crashed to an alarming five one defeat at home to Everton for whom Seamus Coleman was again in action. Kevin Long remained unused on the ‘Clarets’ substitute bench while injury again ruled out Robbie Brady. The fit again James McCarthy did not make the ‘Toffees’ match day squad amid rumours that he may be loaned out in the impending transfer window. Mick McCarthy may have had a wasted journey to Selhurst Park where substitute Harry Arter received only the final two minutes of Cardiff City’s scoreless draw with Crystal Palace, while Greg Cunningham remained on the bench. Shane Duffy returned to the Brighton & Hove Albion starting eleven following his three match suspension, as his side played out a one all draw with visitors Arsenal.    

There was a full Championship programme on St Stephen’s Day with current leaders Leeds United coming from behind and scoring twice in added time to defeat their visitors Blackburn Rovers by three goals to two at Elland Road. Darragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams both started for the ‘Riversiders’ with Williams conceding an ‘own goal’ for the Leeds opener. Improving Birmingham City moved into seventh place with a two nil victory over visitors Stoke City who included James McClean in their starting eleven. The host ‘Blues’ had the in-form Lukas Jutkiewicz leading their line and he may be another Mick McCarthy target for Ireland assuming his eligibility is confirmed. Callum O’Dowda started for Bristol City and Alan Judge was a late substitute for Brentford in their one all draw at Ashton Gate. Goalkeepers Darren Randolph for Middlesbrough and Keiren Westwood for their visitors Sheffield Wednesday were in opposition with Westwood playing just his second match of the season and keeping his second clean sheet in a one nil victory for the ‘Owls’. Alan Browne was again on the scoresheet for Preston North End but to no avail as visitors Hull City secured a two one victory. The Sheffield United quartet of John Egan, Enda Stevens, David McGoldrick and Jack O’Connell all started the three one victory over visitors Derby County and Richard Keogh with McGoldrick again on the scoresheet. Conor Hourihane scored the only goal for Aston Villa as they overcame their hosts Swansea City. Glenn Whelan also started for the visitors but Scott Hogan remained unused on the substitute bench.  

Everton included Seamus Coleman in their starting eleven for the Goodison Park visit of Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon. The ‘Toffees’ opened brightly and took an early lead but their optimism was short lived as they were emphatically put to the sword by their buoyant visitors who emerged victorious by six goals to two. The fit again James McCarthy may find himself ever closer to a first team return following this afternoon’s defensive midfield frailties.
The Aston Villa duo of Conor Hourihane and Glenn Whelan both started in the early kick-off Championship contest with high flying Leeds United at Villa Park where the hosts led by two goals to nil at half-time with Hourihane scoring the second. There was to be bitter disappointment however for the hosts as a vibrant visiting side scored three times in the second half for victory and a return to the summit of the division. Scott Hogan was introduced from the bench for the final ten minutes but could make little impression for a bitterly disappointed home side.  

There was a 12.30pm kick-off for Burnley who included Jeff Hendrick and Kevin Long in their starting eleven with injury ruling out Robbie Brady in their three one defeat by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. Injury also ruled out Ciaran Clark for Newcastle United who played out a scoreless draw with visitors Fulham who included Cyrus Christie in their starting eleven at St James Park while Declan Rice started for West Ham United who went down to a two nil home defeat by Watford at the London Stadium. Michael Obafemi was introduced from the Southampton bench at Huddersfield Town on sixty five minutes and six minutes later scored the decisive third goal which ensured a three one success for the visiting ‘Saints’. There was a 5.30pm kick-off between  Cardiff City and visitors Manchester United who trounced their hosts by five goals to one. Harry Arter and Greg Cunningham both started for the vanquished ‘Bluebirds’.

The Championship continued it’s lengthy journey on Saturday afternoon with Blackburn Rovers, who included Darragh Lenihan in their starting eleven with Derrick Williams a half-time substitute, going down to a one nil defeat by visitors Norwich City at Ewood Park while Brentford, with Alan Judge an eightieth minute substitute, defeating visitors Bolton Wanderers by one goal to nil at Griffin Park. Derby County included Richard Keogh in defence as they were held to a one all draw by visitors Bristol City at Pride Park where Callum O’Dowda was in action for the visitors. The Sheffield United quartet of John Egan, Jack O’Connell, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick all started the one all draw with Ipswich Town at Portman Road. Middlesbrough and Darren Randolph recovered from their shock League Cup defeat on Tuesday night with a one nil victory over Reading at the Madejski Stadium. Rotherham United include Richie Towell, Anthony Forde and  Ryan Manning in their starting eleven as they crashed to a four nil defeat by visitors West Bromwich Albion while Preston North End introduced Alan Browne and Graham Burke from the bench in the second half of their one nil defeat by struggling Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough where Keiren Westwood was restored to action after a lengthy absence. Stoke City included James McClean in their side for their one nil victory over visitors Millwall for whom Aiden O’Brien was a seventy first minute substitute at the bet365 Stadium.
League One leaders Portsmouth defeated visitors Sunderland by three goals to one at Fratton Park with Ronan Curtis scoring the second goal on fifty three minutes.