Overseas weekend League action…18/01/2021

Monday
Arsenal eased to a comfortable three nil Premier League victory over a toothless Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium this evening. Ciaran Clark started for the ‘Magpies’ while Jeff Hendrick was a 78th minute substitute. 

Sunday
The Premier League continued at 2pm on Sunday with the Bramall Lane meeting of Sheffield United and Tottenham Hotspur which saw the visitors prevail by three goals to one. Enda Stevens returned to action alongside John Egan and David McGoldrick for the hosts with McGoldrick scoring the ‘Blades’ goal. Caoimhin Kelleher was on the substitute bench for Liverpool who played out a scoreless draw with Anfield visitors Manchester United. In the late kick-off, James McCarthy was in the  Crystal Palace side which went down to a four nil defeat at Manchester City.

Saturday
Molineaux hosted the Black Country Derby meeting of Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League at 12.30pm on Saturday afternoon. The visiting ‘Baggies’ included Dara O’Shea and Callum Robinson in their starting eleven as, having taken an early lead, they conceded twice before the half-time break and then themselves scored twice early in the second half for a three two victory. Darren Randolph returned to the West Ham United substitute bench where he was joined by teenage striker Ademipo Odubeko for the one nil victory over Burnley at the London Stadium. Robbie Brady started for the ‘Clarets’ with Kevin Long on the substitute bench. The King Power Stadium meeting of Leicester City and Southampton went the way of the hosts by two goals to nil. The ‘Saints’ included Will Smallbone in their starting eleven but injury forced his withdrawal on 61 minutes. Shane Long was a 72nd minute substitute while young Will Ferry was unused on the substitute bench.

The early Championship kick-off saw Scott Hogan score the only goal for Birmingham City to earn victory at Middlesbrough. Current leaders Norwich City secured  a two one victory at Cardiff City where substitute teenage defender Andrew Omobamidele played the final minute. Ewood Park hosted the meeting of Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City which ended in a one all draw. Darragh Lenihan started for the hosts while the visitors included Nathan Collins in their starting eleven. The Vitality Stadium saw hosts AFC Bournemouth go down to a one nil defeat by visitors Luton Town. Gavin Kilkenny was an unused substitute for the hosts while James Collins started for the visitors. Bristol City defeated Preston North End by two goals to nil at Ashton Gate where the visitors included club captain Alan Browne and Sean Maguire in their starting eleven with loanee Jayson Molumby replacing Maguire on 79 minutes. Derby County went down to a one nil home defeat by Rotherham United at Pride Park with teenage midfielder Jason Knight in their starting eleven. Chris Hughton appears to have resolved some of the problems at Nottingham Forest and his side continued their upward curve with a three one victory over City Ground visitors Millwall. Cyrus Christie started for the hosts while young Irish duo Danny McNamara and loanee Troy Parrott both started for the defeated ‘Lions’. Ryan Manning was unused on the substitute bench for Swansea City who secured a two nil victory at Barnsley to consolidate their second place.

Loanee Ryan Cassidy was a late substitute for Accrington Stanley who went down to a one nil League One defeat by visitors Gillingham who included fellow loanee Thomas O’Connor in their starting eleven. Kieran O’Hara was on the Burton Albion substitute bench for the visit of Ipswich Town who included Arsenal loanee Mark McGuinness who scored  the only goal on 73 minutes for victory. Stephen Ward and Alan Judge also started while Aaron Drinan was a 59th minute substitute. U21 midfielder Jack Taylor and his Peterborough United colleagues secured a comfortable three nil victory over visitors MK Dons.

In League Two, Aston Villa loanee Tyreik Wright was unused on the  Walsall substitute bench for the one all draw with visitors Oldham Athletic at the Bescot Stadium.

Despite speculation of a loan move to Nottingham Forest, Shane Duffy started for current loan club Glasgow Celtic who were held to a scoreless Scottish Premiership draw by visitors Livingston at Celtic Park. Eighteen year old striker Armstrong Okoflex was an 80th minute substitute for the hosts while fellow teenager Luca Connell was an unused substitute.