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Shane Long and his Southampton colleagues went down to an undeserved three two defeat by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in a crucial Premier League contest this Sunday afternoon. Long, starting for the first time in quite a while, took a heavy knock early on but battled on, scoring the opening goal on seventeen minutes and continued to contribute to his sides efforts until injury forced him off on eighty minutes. Declan Rice started and Josh Cullen was introduced as a late substitute for West Ham United who came from behind to earn a one all draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge late this afternoon. Rice, playing on the right hand side of a back three similar to his Ireland debut in Turkey last month, gave another accomplished performance while the introduction of Cullen for the final eleven minutes to help shore things up was another vote of confidence from his manager.

International retiree Wes Hoolihan, a late substitute, and his Norwich City colleagues put a spanner in the promotion hopes of visitors Aston Villa and their starting duo of Conor Hourihane and Scott Hogan with a three one victory in their 12.30pm Championship engagement at Carrow Road. Brentford duo John Egan and Alan Judge were both in the starting eleven for their one nil victory over visitors Ipswich Town. Former Ireland U21 coach Paul Clement, now in charge at Reading, included Liam Kelly in his starting eleven for the one nil victory over visitors Preston North End who had Greg Cunningham and Alan Browne in their starting eleven while Sean Maguire was a second half substitute. Callum O’Dowda returned to the Bristol City starting eleven following his lengthy injury absence while their hosts Millwall included Shaun Williams in midfield as the ‘Lions’ secured a two nil victory. Alex Pearce again started ahead of Richard Keogh for Derby County and he opened the scoring against visitors Bolton Wanderers after six minutes as the ‘Rams’ ran nout three nil victors. Former Limerick defender Paudie O’Connor made his Leeds United debut in their one all draw at home to Sunderland who included John O’Shea, Marc Wilson and Aiden McGeady in their starting eleven.

The Merseyside Derby between Everton and Liverpool ended scoreless early on Saturday afternoon in Goodison Park with Seamus Coleman in action for the hosts, while teenager Conor Masterson was on the visiting bench. Shane Duffy and his Brighton & Hove Albion colleagues played out a one all draw with visitors Huddersfield Town while the Burnley duo Stephen Ward and Kevin Long started with Jeff Hendrick a late substitute in their two one success at Watford. James McClean started for West Bromwich Albion in their one all draw at home to Swansea City.

Second place Cardiff City went down to a one nil defeat by visiting leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers in a seminal Championship contest this Friday evening. The hosts introduced Anthony Pilkington in the final stages on the contest while Matt Doherty returned to the starting eleven for the victors following his one match suspension.