Overseas Irish set for weekend action…18/10/2020

Friday
Following his senior international debut on Wednesday afternoon, Jason Knight was in action with his Championship club Derby County who went down to a one nil defeat by visitors Watford in Pride Park this Friday evening.

U21 striker Jonathan Afolabi, on loan from Glasgow Celtic, was a half-time substitute for loan club Dundee who suffered a crushing  6-2 defeat in their opening Scottish Championship fixture at Heart of Midlothian this Friday evening.

Saturday
Seamus Coleman started for early season Premier League pacesetters Everton but suffered a recurrence of his injury and was substituted after 31 minutes of their two all draw with defending champions and Merseyside rivals Liverpool on Saturday afternoon. Shane Long was an 86th minute substitute for Southampton who shocked hosts Chelsea with a very late equaliser to earn a three all draw at Stamford Bridge while Michael Obafemi was an unused substitute. On Saturday evening, Jeff Hendrick started for Newcastle United who went down to a four one defeat by visitors Manchester United.  

Shane Duffy was in Scottish Premiership action with Glasgow Celtic who suffered a two nil home defeat by bitter rivals Glasgow Rangers early on Saturday afternoon in Celtic Park. Later in the afternoon U21 defender Danny McNamara, on loan from Millwall, was in action with St Johnstone who defeated hosts Hamilton Academical by five goals to three.

Callum O’Dowda was an 85th minute substitute for Bristol City who played out a two all Championship draw at Barnsley with O’Dowda conceding the last minute penalty which earned the hosts a draw. Chris Hughton got his managerial post at Nottingham Forest off to a winning start with an 90th minute winner over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. Daragh Lenihan started for the hosts while Cyrus Christie started and Harry Arter was a 50th minute substitute for the victors. Stoke City included Nathan Collins in their starting eleven for their two nil victory at Luton Town while Adam Idah was in the Norwich City side which secured  a two one victory at Rotherham United for whom Kieran Sadlier was an unused substitute. International returnee Daryl Horgan was a 66th minute substitute for Wycombe Wanderers who went down to a two one defeat by visitors Millwall for whom Troy Parrott continues to be an injury casualty.

U21 midfielder Jack Taylor was in the Peterborough United side which defeated visitors Oxford United by two goals to nil in League OneRonan Curtis started for Portsmouth but was withdrawn on 59 minutes of their one nil home defeat by visitors Doncaster Rovers while Gavin Bazunu and loan club Rochdale went down to a three nil home defeat by visitors Hull City.

U21 striker Joshua Kayode was in loan club Carlisle United’s side for their three two League Two victory over visitors Colchester United while Lee O’Connor started for loan club Tranmere Rovers in their one nil defeat at Newport County. 

Sunday
John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick were in Premier League action with Sheffield United who played out a one all draw with visitors Fulham at Bramall Lane early on Sunday afternoon. Aaron Connolly was a 78th minute substitute for Brighton & Hove Albion who scored an added time equaliser to earn a point at Crystal Palace.  Matt Doherty was an unused substitute for  Tottenham Hotspur who, having been comfortably in command and leading by three goals to nil, were reined in by visitors West Ham United who scored three times in the final ten minutes to earn a draw. Darren Randolph was an unused substitute for the ‘Hammers’. Conor Hourihane was an unused substitute for Aston Villa who scored  the only goal in the final minutes of this evening’s encounter with Leicester City at the King Power Stadium to maintain their 100% winning start to the season.

Preston North End duo Alan Browne and Sean Maguire were both in Championship action at mid-day on Sunday when visitors Cardiff City scored the only goal for victory at Deepdale. There was however bitter disappointed for the ‘Blues’ Greg Cunningham who was forced off through injury after just 29 minutes. The Galway native has suffered a whole series of injury problems throughout his career.

Monday
Midweek international debutant Dara O’Shea was an unused substitute for West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League on Monday afternoon while Callum Robinson was a 73rd minute substitute as they played out a scoreless draw with visitors Burnley for whom Kevin Long was in central defence with Robbie Brady a 69th minute substitute and  Jimmy Dunne unused on the substitute bench.