Premier League
James McCarthy started on the Crystal Palace substitute bench for the Selhurst Park visit of high flying Leicester City in the Premier League this Sunday afternoon. McCarthy has had very little match time with the ‘Eagles’ and his introduction on 78 minutes of their two nil defeat this afternoon may mean his likely exclusion from the revised Ireland squad. Definitely out of the Irish squad is suspended captain Seamus Coleman and he too found himself on the substitute bench for Everton who played host to Tottenham Hotspur. The match was of a very poor quality and ended in a one all draw with a serious leg injury to Everton midfielder Andre Gomes casting a shadow over the affair.
On a more positive note, young Troy Parrott was named on the Spurs substitute bench, but while he and Coleman were unused today, the young Dubliner may soon be given a Premier League introduction.
Championship
Loanee Josh Cullen was in midfield for Charlton Athletic who went down to a one nil defeat by visitors Preston North End at the Valley on Sunday afternoon. Alan Browne, Sean Maguire and Joe Rafferty all started for the ‘Lilywhites’ who move top of the Championship table. None of the Irish quartet were particularly impressive with Brown‘s policing of Cullen making their respective contributions essentially negligible. Maguire, playing wide on the left offered glimpses but his ball control was generally disappointing. Rafferty, playing out of position at left back, was reasonably steady.
Scottish League Cup
Struggling Heart of Midlothian had a break from league action on Sunday afternoon when they faced Glasgow Rangers in the semi-final of the Scottish League Cup but there was no respite from their pitiful form this season as they went down to a three nil defeat. Glenn Whelan started in midfield for the ‘Jam Tarts’ but suffered an early injury and was substituted after just 27 minutes.