Sunday
Whilst fully fit and available James McCarthy was not included in our senior international squad last week which may signal the end of his involvement. He was an unused substitute for Glasgow Celtic who came from behind this afternoon to defeat Glasgow Rangers by two goals to one in their crucial Scottish Premiership clash in Ibrox Park which sees them go six points clear of their bitter rivals.
In the Premier League Tottenham Hotspur and Matt Doherty crushed visitors Newcastle United by five goals to one in their London Stadium. Doherty occupied a left wing back role and scored their second goal.
Fresh from his midweek substitute appearance for Ireland, Scott Hogan and his Birmingham City colleagues defeated West Bromwich Albion, and their Irish trio of Callum Robinson who started together with Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Jayson Molumby and Dara O’Shea who were unused substitutes, with the only goal in their Championship meeting at St Andrew’s.
Rotherham United included Chiedoze Ogbene and Joshua Kayode in their starting eleven for this afternoon’s Football League Trophy Final against Sutton United. The League Two side led twice in the contest with the ‘Millers’ scoring an equaliser in the sixth minute of added time to take the contest to extra-time. Ogbene, who had been relatively quiet throughout regulation time, came to life in extra-time and scored a stunning goal to put his side in front for the first time and they scored again to secure a four two victory.
RSC Anderlecht included Josh Cullen in their starting eleven for their four nil victory over visitors Sporting de Charleroi in the Belgian First Division this afternoon.
Saturday
Following his two international appearances, during which he barely had a save to make, Caoimhin Kelleher as expected was on substitute duty for Liverpool who defeated Watford by two goals to nil in the Premier League early this afternoon. Shane Duffy was unused on the Brighton & Hove Albion bench for the scoreless draw with visitors Norwich City while injury ruled out Evan Ferguson. Defender Kevin Long was in the Burnley side which suffered a two nil loss to Manchester City at Turf Moor while Nathan Collins missed out through suspension. Shane Long played the final six minutes while Will Smallbone remained on the bench for Southampton who played out a one all draw at Leeds United.
Midweek U21 goal scorer Ross Tierney was a 74th minute substitute for Motherwell who defeated visitors St Mirren by four goals to two in the Scottish Premier League with Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Connor Ronan starting for the visitors.
Mark Travers was fit and started for AFC Bournemouth who came from behind to defeat visitors Bristol City by three goals to two in the Championship while fellow goalkeeper Max O’Leary was unused on the visitors bench. The ‘Welsh Derby’ meeting of Cardiff City and Swansea City featured U21 defenders Joel Bagan and Mark McGuinness for the hosts against Michael Obafemi and Fulham loanee Cyrus Christie for the visitors who crushed their hosts by four goals to nil with Obafemi scoring twice. Derby County included Jason Knight, Festy Ebosele and Eiran Cashin in their starting eleven for their one nil victory over visitors Preston North End and Alan Browne. Midfield hopefuls Jack Taylor and Sam Szmodics were both in the Peterborough United side which suffered a four nil defeat by visitors Middlesbrough and their Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Aaron Connolly who was not involved with the senior squad last week. Whilst only involved in international training last week, Jimmy Dunne together with Newcastle United loanee Jeff Hendrick were unused on the QPR bench for their two nil defeat by visitors Fulham. Veteran goalkeeper Keiren Westwood started for the hosts. John Egan started and conceded the own goal which was the only goal and secured victory for their hosts Stoke City. Aston Villa loanee Conor Hourihane and the fit again Enda Stevens were unused substitutes.
There was a 12.30pm kick-off for the League One meeting of Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers which ended in a one all draw with Will Keane and James McClean starting for the hosts. McClean scored the opening goal after just seven minutes. Fresh from the euphoria of his winning midweek strike, loanee Troy Parrott was in action for MK Dons alongside fellow loanee and Ireland U21 captain Conor Coventry and young central defender Warren O’Hora for their two nil win over visitors Shrewsbury Town. Midfielder Mark Sykes was part of the international squad last week and together with defender Luke McNally, reported to be the subject of interest from Tottenham Hotspur, was in the Oxford United side which went down to a one nil defeat at Plymouth Argyle. Daryl Horgan who was not involved in last week’s international gathering was in the Wycombe Wanderers side for their two nil victory over visitors Doncaster Rovers for whom U21 striker Mipo Odubeko who is on loan from West Ham United, was a 71st minute substitute.
Another of our midweek U21 side midfielder Lee O’Connor was in League Two action for Tranmere Rovers who were held to a two all draw by visitors Carlisle United.
Friday
Central defender Sean McLoughlin was in action with Hull City who went down to a one nil defeat by visitors Huddersfield Town in the Championship on Friday evening.
Young defender Oisin McEntee, who played for our U21s in their midweek success in Sweden, was in action for loan club Greenock Morton who played out a one all draw with Scottish Championship leaders Kilmarnock on Friday evening. McEntee is on a season long loan from his parent club Newcastle United.