Sunday
Senior Ireland players Matt Doherty and Shane Long were unused substitutes for their respective clubs in this afternoon’s Premier League contests . The Dubliner saw his club Tottenham Hotspur score the only goal, an early penalty, for victory at his former club Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Tipperary man witnessed his Southampton play out a valiant one all draw with St Mary’s Stadium visitors Manchester United.
Midfielder Jake Doyle-Hayes and his Hibernian colleagues played out a two all draw at Dundee in the Scottish Premiership while Heart of Midlothian and Aberdeen played out a one all draw with Aaron McEneff, for the hosts, a 78th minute substitute while Jonny Hayes started at left back for the visiting ‘Dons’ but was withdrawn at half-time.
Zak Elbouzedi completed another 90 minutes for AIK Solna in their two goals to one Swedish Allsvenskan victory over visitors BK Hacken. AIK currently sit third on the league table as the season passes the halfway point.
Saturday
Liverpool defeated Burnley by two goals to nil in the Premier League early this afternoon with goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher for the hosts and defender Nathan Collins with the visitors on the substitute bench for their respective clubs. Aston Villa defeated visitors Newcastle United by two goals to nil with Conor Hourihane unused on the substitute bench for the ‘Clarets’ while Ciaran Clark and Jeff Hendrick were also unused on the visitors bench. Seamus Coleman and his Everton colleagues played out a two all draw with a Leeds United side smarting from their opening day defeat. Adam Idah was joined by Andrew Omobamidele on the Norwich City substitute bench at Manchester City, another side who suffered an opening day reversal. Both youngsters were unused as their side crashed to a five nil defeat. . Aaron Connolly was a half-time substitute with Shane Duffy starting and scoring after 10 minutes for Brighton & Hove Albion who defeated visitors Watford by two goals to nil in the late kick-off with Stephen Kenny in attendance.
Glasgow Celtic crushed St Mirren by six goals to nil in the Scottish Premiership with recent signing James McCarthy not in the matchday squad for the hosts while Jamie McGrath started for the visitors alongside Conor McCarthy, Joe Shaughnessy and Alan Power who was red carded after 19 minutes.
In the Championship, defender Darragh Lenihan was in action with Blackburn Rovers who went down to a two one defeat by West Bromwich Albion who included Dara O’Shea and Callum Robinson in their side at Ewood Park. Mark Travers and Gavin Kilkenny started for AFC Bournemouth who squandered a two goal half time lead and were held to a draw by visitors Blackpool and the veteran Richard Keogh who was on the substitute bench. Cardiff City introduced James Collins for the final few minutes of their three one victory over visitors Millwall. Louie Watson was a 71st minute substitute for Derby County who played out a scoreless draw with visitors Middlesbrough. Striker Scott Hogan started and scored twice for Birmingham City in their five nil victory at Luton Town. Sean Maguire started for Preston North End with Greg Cunningham on the substitute bench for their one nil success against visitors Peterborough United. The visiting ‘Posh’ included goalkeeper Christy Pym in their starting eleven while midfielder Sam Szmodics was introduced from the substitute bench, following his injury absence, after 66 minutes. John Egan started for Sheffield United who went down to a two one defeat by Huddersfield Town at Bramall Lane.
Rotherham United included Chiedoze Ogbene and Joshua Kayode in their starting eleven for the League One visit of Sheffield Wednesday. Ogbene was forced off through injury after 25 minutes and was replaced by Kieran Sadlier as their side went down to a two nil defeat. Mark Sykes started, together with Luke McNally, for Oxford United who went down to a two one defeat at Bolton Wanderers. Ronan Curtis and loanee Gavin Bazunu started for Portsmouth who plated out a scoreless draw at Doncaster Rovers. Loanee Troy Parrott and defender Warren O’Hora started for MK Dons who played out a two all draw at Ipswich Town with Parrott withdrawn on 70 minutes. Dennis Cirken was a 72nd minute substitute for Sunderland while Aiden McGeady started their one nil victory over visitors AFC Wimbledon. Daryl Horgan started for Wycombe Wanderers who defeated visitors Lincoln City and Anthony Scully by one goal to nil. James McClean was named on the substitute bench on his return to Wigan Athletic where he entered the fray on 62 minutes and capped his second debut with the second goal in added time as his side ran out two nil victors over their hosts Charlton Athletic.