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There was Irish involvement in the Premier League and Championship on Sunday afternoon. Cyrus Christie started for Fulham in their two nil Premier League defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge while fellow right back Seamus Coleman captained Everton who lost to a 96th minute goal from neighbours Liverpool at Anfield. In the Championship, Bristol City, for whom Callum O’Dowda was an eighty third minute substitute, played out a one all draw with visitors  Millwall, for whom Shaun Williams scored the equalising goal. Aiden O’Brien also started but was substituted before the hour mark. 

Struggling Burnley had Jeff Hendrick and Kevin Long in their starting eleven with Robbie Brady a half-time substitute as they went down to a two nil defeat at Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. Shane Duffy and Brighton & Hove Albion were also on the road as they travelled to Huddersfield Town where they recovered from conceding a first minute goal to win by two goals to one with Duffy scoring the equaliser. Midweek captain Ciaran Clark was dropped to the Newcastle United substitute bench for the visit of West Ham United and Declan Rice to St James Park. The ‘Hammers’ secured all three points with an empathic three nil victory. The 5.30pm kick-off featured Southampton at home to Manchester United which ended in a two all draw. Following his midweek League Cup performance, teenager Michael Obafemi retained his place in the starting eleven, his first Premier League start, and he again performed admirably before his sixty fourth minute departure with a hamstring injury.  

The ‘Yorkshire Derby’ meeting of Sheffield United and Leeds United kicked off the Championship action at 12.30pm in Bramall Lane on Saturday afternoon with the visitors scoring a late winner. The hosts included John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick in their starting eleven, each of whom performed reasonably well although both McGoldrick and Stevens might have been red carded had a more vigilant referee been in charge. In form Preston North End midfielder Alan Browne started but was replaced by Graham Burke on seventy nine minutes as their side crashed to a three nil defeat by Birmingham City at St Andrew’s.  A hip injury ruled  Darragh Lenihan out of the Blackburn Rovers side which defeated visitors  Sheffield Wednesday by four goals to two at Ewood Park. Fellow defender Derrick Williams returned to the starting eleven following his midweek exclusion. Richard Keogh and Derby County returned to winning ways with a two one victory over visitors Swansea City at  Pride Park. Rotherham United duo Richie Towell and Anthony Forde started against Norwich City at Carrow Road with Towell opening the scoring on eleven minutes but in vain as the ‘Canaries’ recovered to win by three goals to one. Loanee Ryan Manning remained unused on the ‘Millers’ substitute bench. James McClean and Stoke City secured a point from a two all draw at Reading where David Meyler was unused on the ‘Royals’ substitute bench. The 5.30pm kick-off saw Darren Randolph and Middlesbrough play disappointingly below par against  vibrant visitors Aston Villa who secured an emphatic three nil victory. Conor Hourihane was named ‘mam of the match’ while Glenn Whelan and Scott Hogan were introduced from the substitute bench on eighty two minutes with Whelan scoring the third goal just a minute after his arrival on the pitch. 

Promoted duo Cardiff City and Wolverhampton Wanderers met in the Premier League on Friday evening with the host ‘Bluebirds’ coming from behind to secure a two one victory. Harry Arter started for  the home side but Greg Cunningham was not in the matchday squad.  Matt Doherty started and scored the opening goal for the visitors after eighteen minutes.

The Championship continued on Wednesday evening with Conor Hourihane starting for Aston Villa who played out a crazy five all draw with visitors Nottingham Forest. Glenn Whelan was a late substitute for Villa while Scott Hogan and Jake Doyle-Hayes remained on the substitute bench. Shaun Williams started for Millwall and Aiden O’Brien was a very late substitute in their two nil defeat by  visitors Birmingham City while James McClean was a seventy fourth minute substitute for Stoke City who defeated visitors Derby County and Richard Keogh by two goals to one at the bet365 Stadium. A hip injury ruled Darragh Lenihan out of the Blackburn Rovers side which went down to a three one defeat by hosts Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium while Derrick Williams was a half time substitute. Wes Hoolihan was unused on the West Bromwich Albion bench at Swansea City, where the ‘Baggies’ came from behind for a two one victory.

The delayed Football League Cup fourth round contest between Leicester City and Southampton took place this Tuesday evening at the King Power Stadium with teenage striker Michael Obafemi starting for the visiting ‘Saints’. Obafemi completed eighty nine minutes before being substituted as the match finished scoreless. Leicester won the penalty shoot-out by six goals to five.
In the Championship, Ireland manager Mick McCarthy was expected to be at Griffin Park for the meeting of Brentford and Sheffield United which the visiting ‘Blades’ won by three goals to two. Alan Judge completed another ninety minutes for Brentford while John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick all started for the visitors with McGoldrick withdrawn on sixty minutes. Alan Browne scored the Preston North End goal in their one all draw with visitors  Middlesbrough and Darren Randolph. The ‘Lilywhites’ were  without Callum Robinson, who suffered a hamstring tear on Saturday and is expected to be side lined for some three months while Sean Maguire is not expected to return from his hamstring injury until the New Year. Rotherham United included Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Richie Towell in their side for their two all draw with visitors QPR, but fellow loanee Ryan Manning was unable to play against his parent club.
In League One, leaders Portsmouth maintained their four point lead at the summit with a two nil victory over visitors Walsall. Ronan Curtis assisted the first and scored the second while Liam Kinsella started and Wolves loanee Conor Ronan was a sixty fifth minute substitute for the ‘Saddlers’. 

Burnley and Newcastle United, who both hover just above the relegation zone, met in the Premier League at Turf Moor on Monday evening with the visiting ‘Magpies’ emerging victorious by two goals to one. The ‘Clarets’ included Robbie Brady and Kevin Long in their starting eleven with Jeff Hendrick on the bench, while Ciaran Clark captained the visiting ‘Magpies’ from the left wing back position. Clark was solid in his defensive role but highlighted his night by his performance in the opposition box as his presence contributed to the own goal which gave his side the early lead and he then scored the second with a fine header. Kevin Long had an excellent game in central defence for Burnley but Robbie Brady, aside from a couple of decent dead ball deliveries, was disappointing. He looked some way off the pace tonight and reluctant to become involved in physical contact, perhaps not entirely surprising given his lengthy injury absence. Brady was replaced with ten minutes remaining by Jeff Hendrick who had little opportunity to impact the match.
New Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy was expected to be in attendance this evening.