Sunday
The Premier League continued on Sunday afternoon with Newcastle United and Arsenal meeting at 2pm in St James Park. The hosts include Ciaran Clark in their starting eleven with Jeff Hendrick unused on the substitute bench as they suffered a two nil defeat. Later at 7.15pm, Tottenham Hotspur crushed relegated Sheffield United by four goals to nil in their London Stadium. The visitors included John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick in their starting eleven while Matt Doherty returned on the substitute bench for the hosts following his lengthy injury absence.
Josh Cullen was an unused substitute for RSC Anderlecht who played out a two all draw at Club Bruges in the Belgian First Division on Sunday afternoon.
Saturday
First into Premier League action on Saturday afternoon were Crystal Palace and Manchester City who met at Selhurst Park where the visitors secured a two nil victory. James McCarthy was an unused substitute for the hosts. Brighton & Hove Albion secured a two nil victory over Leeds United at the AMEX Stadium which pretty much eased any fears of being dragged into the relegation scene. Aaron Connolly was an unused substitute for the victors. There was disappointment for Seamus Coleman and his Everton colleagues who went down to a two one defeat by visitors Aston Villa at Goodison Park this evening.
Manager Jim Goodwin and his St Mirren side suffered a two one home defeat at Love Street by Hamilton Accademical in the Scottish Premiership. The hosts named Joe Shaughnessy and Jake Doyle-Hayes in their starting eleven while Jamie McGrath was introduced from the substitute bench on 62 minutes and scored their goal nine minutes later.
Luton Town included James Collins in their starting eleven for the Championship visit of Middlesbrough which ended in a one all draw at Kenilworth Road. Collins disappointingly missed from the penalty spot. Danny McNamara started for Millwall who defeated visitors Bristol City by four goals to one at the New Den where Max O’Leary was in goals for the visitors. Andrew Omobamidele and Norwich City came from behind to defeat visitors Reading by four goals to one at Carrow Road. The Preston North End duo of Alan Browne and loanee Greg Cunningham started in the two nil victory over visitors Barnsley while Sean Maguire and another loanee Jayson Molumby were unused substitutes. Chiedozie Ogbene was in the Rotherham United side which scored a late equaliser against visitors Blackburn Rovers and Darragh Lenihan. Relegation threatened Sheffield Wednesday included Keiren Westwood in their side for the visit of Nottingham Forest and loanee Cyrus Christie which ended scoreless. Westwood conceded a first half penalty but then made an excellent save from the resultant spot-kick. Play-off candidates Swansea City came from behind to defeat relegation threatened visitors Derby County by two goals to one. Ryan Manning was a 65th minute substitute for the ‘Swans’ with Conor Hourihane unused on the substitute bench. Jason Knight was in the visiting ‘Rams’ side with Festy Ebosole and Louie Watson unused on their substitute bench. Daryl Horgan was an unused substitute for Wycombe Wanderers who defeated play-off bound AFC Bournemouth with the only goal at Adams Park. Loanee Shane Long was a 67th minute substitute for the ‘Cherries’ while Mark Travers was an unused substitute.
The League One promotion race is proving quite a contest. Jack Taylor and his Peterborough United colleagues secured second place and automatic promotion behind champions Hull City with a dramatic fight back to secure a three all draw against Lincoln City who led by three goals to nil ten minutes into the second half with Anthony Scully having scored twice. Portsmouth who currently sit sixth, the final play-off position, secured a three one victory at AFC Wimbledon where Ronan Curtis opened the scoring and provided the assist for the other two goals. Marcus Harness also started for the the victors. Sunderland moved up to third place while Blackpool retained fifth place with victories at Plymouth Argyle and Northampton Town respectively. Seventh place Oxford United and eight place Charlton Athletic are still very much in contention for a play off place with the ‘U’s’ securing a three two victory at Shrewsbury Town while ‘The Addicks’ earned a one all draw at Accrington Stanley. Oxford included recent international declaree Mark Sykes in their side while Anthony Forde and QPR loanee Olamide Shodipo were unused substitutes.
Tranmere Rovers suffered a two one defeat at Forest Green Rovers which ended their outside chance of automatic promotion from League Two and require a point from their final league fixture to to ensure involvement in the play-offs. They included Glasgow Celtic loanee Lee O’Connor in their side this afternoon.