Saturday
The Premier League resumed on Saturday afternoon with new manager Stephen Gerrard taking charge of Aston Villa who defeated Brighton & Hove Albion who included Shane Duffy in their side by two goals to nil at Villa Park. The former Villa manager and now new Norwich City boss Dean Smith also got off to a winning start with his new side who recovered from the concession of an early goal to defeat visitors Southampton by two goals to one at Carrow Road. Both Adam Idah and Andrew Omobamidele were unused substitutes for the victors while Shane Long and Will Smallbone were also unused on the visitors bench. Burnley duo Nathan Collins and Kevin Long remained on the bench at Turf Moor as the ‘Clarets’ played out a three all draw with visitors Crystal Palace. Another new manager Eddie Howe took charge of Newcastle United but was unable to attend their three all draw with visitors Brentford because of Covid restrictions. Ciaran Clark was in the ‘Magpies’ side but Jeff Hendrick was again excluded from the matchday squad.
Scottish Premiership side St Mirren included Jamie McGrath who scored their goal in a one all draw with visitors Livingston.
Glasgow Celtic reached the Scottish League Cup final with a one nil victory over visitors St Johnstone. James McCarthy was a 78th minute substitute for the victors while Liam Scales remained on the bench.
There was a 12.30pm kick-off for the Championship clash of Sheffield United and Coventry City which ended in a scoreless draw. John Egan, Enda Stevens and Aston Villa loanee Conor Hourihane were named in the ‘Blades’ starting eleven. Bristol City included Callum O’Dowda in their starting eleven and he scored the goal in the one all draw with visitors Blackburn Rovers. Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Jayson Molumby was a 75th minute substitute for West Bromwich Albion who went down to a one nil defeat at Huddersfield Town while Callum Robinson was an unused substitute for the ‘Baggies’. Club captain Alan Browne and his Preston North End colleagues, who included Greg Cunningham and Sean Maguire who scored after just two minutes, went down to a two one defeat by visitors Cardiff City for whom Mark McGuinness scored the equaliser and half-time substitute James Collins the winner. Peterborough United and Jack Taylor went down to a two nil defeat at Stoke City. Swansea City included Ryan Manning in their starting eleven with Michael Obafemi a 72nd minutes substitute as they were held to a one all draw by visitors Blackpool.
In League One, Manchester City loanee Gavin Bazunu and his Portsmouth colleagues secured a two one success over visitors AFC Wimbledon. Chiedoze Ogbene started and Joshua Kayode was a 68th minute substitute for Rotherham United who defeated visitors Cambridge United by three goals to one. The visitors goal was created by the veteran Wes Hoolihan. There was disappointment for Daryl Horgan who was an unused substitute for Wycombe Wanderers in their one nil victory over visitors Bolton Wanderers.
Sunday
Captain Seamus Coleman and his Everton colleagues went down to a three nil defeat at Manchester City in the Premier League this Sunday afternoon while Tottenham Hotspur came from behind to defeat visitors Leeds United by two goals to one. Matt Doherty was an unused substitute foir the victors.
Following a further points deduction Derby County are in serious Championship relegation trouble which is bad news for Jason Knight and Festy Ebosele. The ‘Rams’ played host at noon to leaders AFC Bournemouth who included Mark Travers in their starting eleven while Gavin Kilkenny was a 61st minute substitute. Knight gave the ‘Rams’ the lead on 11 minutes but the ‘Cherries’ responded to lead by two goals to one at the interval. The second half saw the hosts mount a fightback and they scored twice for an unexpected victory.
Josh Cullen and his RSC Anderlecht colleagues played out a one all Belgian First Division draw with visitors KV Kortrijk.
AIK Solna included Zak Elbouzedi in their side for their one nil Swedish Allsvenskan victory at Varbergs BoIS to maintain their third place on the league table just two points behind the leaders.