St Stephen’s Day and weekend fare…26/12/2020

Monday
The Premier League saw further action on Monday afternoon with Crystal Palace playing out a one all draw with Leicester City at Selhurst Park where James McCarthy was an unused substitute for the hosts. Aston Villa continued their fine form with a one all draw at Chelsea later on Monday afternoon. Conor Hourihane was again an unused substitute for the visitors.

Sunday

There was more Premier League action scheduled for Sunday with Leeds United defeating Burnley with the only goal at Elland Road in a noon kick-off. Robbie Brady was ruled out for the ‘Clarets’ following his injury withdrawal on Monday last while Kevin Long and Jimmy Dunne were unused on the substitute bench. Goalkeeper Darren Randolph was an unused substitute for West Ham United who were held to a two all draw by visitors Brighton & Hove Albion at the London Stadium. Caoimhin Kelleher was unused on the Liverpool substitute bench when West Bromwich Albion stunned Anfield with a late equaliser in the  4.30pm kick-off. The ‘Baggies’ included Dara O’Shea and Callum Robinson in their starting eleven with O’Shea having a fine game in central defence. The day was rounded off at 7.15pm with the meeting of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur at Molineaux where Matt Doherty was in action against his former club. The visitors took the lead inside the first minute but the hosts persevered throughout and finally equalised with just four minutes remaining.

Saturday
In the Premier League, high flying Aston Villa defeated Crystal Palace by three goals to nil at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon despite playing the second half with ten men following the dismissal of Mings. Both of their respective midfielders Conor Hourihane and James McCarthy were unused on the substitute bench. Shane Long started for Southampton who played out a scoreless draw at Fulham where Michael Obafemi and the fit again Will Smallbone were unused on the substitute bench. There was an 8pm kick-off for Newcastle United who went down to a two nil defeat at Manchester City where Ciaran Clark was in in their starting eleven. The travails of Sheffield United continue as they suffered another home defeat going down to a late goal from visitors Everton at Bramall Lane. John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick all started while Seamus Coleman was a 66th minute substitute for the ‘Toffees’.

In the Scottish Premiership, Aberdeen defeated visitors St Johnstone and Danny McNamara by two goals to one while Shane Duffy was an unused  substitute for Glasgow Celtic who scored a three nil victory at Hamilton Academicals.

The Championship saw Darragh Lenihan in action with Blackburn Rovers who were held to a one all draw by visitors Sheffield Wednesday and returning goalkeeper Keiren Westwood at Ewood Park. Callum O’Dowda started for Bristol City who secured  a two one success over Wycombe Wanderers and Daryl Horgan at Ashton Gate. Nathan Collins and James McClean started for Stoke City who played out a scoreless draw at St Andrew’s, temporary home of Coventry City. Jason Knight and Derby County were reduced to ten men after just 20 minutes and suffered a one nil defeat by visitors Preston North End for whom Alan Browne scored the winner in the 6th minute of added time. Sean Maguire also started while Adam O’Reilly was an unused substitute. Teenager Louie Watson was an unused substitute for the host ‘Rams’. Harry Arter was an unused substitute for Nottingham Forest while Cyrus Christie started their scoreless draw with Birmingham City and Scott Hogan at the City Ground. Conor Masterson was an unused substitute for QPR who went down to a two nil home defeat by Swansea City for whom  former player Ryan Manning was also an unused substitute. Luton Town and James Collins made the short journey to Reading where they went down to a two one defeat. 

In League One Anthony Scully started and scored for Lincoln City who crushed visitors Burton Albion and Kieran O’Hara by five goals to one.Fellow U21 international Zak Elbouzedi replaced Scully on 76 minutes.  

Rotherham United loanee Joshua Kayode was in action with Carlisle United who were held to a three all League Two draw by visitors  Bolton Wanderers at Brunton Park while Glasgow Celtic loanee Lee O’Connor was an unused substitute for Tranmere Rovers who went down to a one nil home defeat by visitors Bradford City.

Another Glasgow Celtic loanee Jonathan Afolabi, was an eightieth minute substitute for Dundee who defeated hosts Queen of the South by three goals to one in the Scottish Championship.