Sunday in the Championship
The Championship continued at noon on Sunday when Reading secured an emphatic three nil victory over visitors Cardiff City at the Madejski Stadium. Our U21 international Josh Barrett has played a part in the ‘Royals’ opening fixtures but was an unused substitute this afternoon.
Saturday in the Championship
Match series three in the Championship took place this weekend. West Ham United loanee Josh Cullen travelled with his Charlton Athletic colleagues to Barnsley where they secured a two all draw while the Blackburn Rovers trio of Darragh Lenihan, Derrick Williams and Cardiff City loanee Greg Cunningham all started the one nil victory over Ewood Park visitors Middlesbrough and Darren Randolph. The position of Callum O’Dowda at Bristol City remains one of flux and he was not in the matchday squad for the visit of QPR to Ashton Gate. The visiting ‘Rs’ included Ryan Manning in their starting eleven as they went down to a two nil defeat. James Collins started for the hosts Luton Town, who went down to a two one defeat by visitors West Bromwich Albion for whom Dara O’Shea was an unused substitute. The Millwall trio of Aiden O’Brien, Alex Pearce and Shaun Williams all started the one nil victory over visitors Sheffield Wednesday for whom Keiren Westwood returned following his suspension. Daniel Crowley and his Birmingham City colleagues made the short cross country trip to Nottingham Forest where they suffered a three nil defeat while also in Midlands action were Stoke City and Derby County. The hosts included James McClean and Aston Villa loanee Scott Hogan in their starting eleven while Richard Keogh started for the visiting ‘Rams’. The sides played out a two all draw with Hogan scoring the second for Stoke. Teenagers, Nathan Collins for Stoke and Jason Knight for Derby were both introduced as late substitutes. Sean Maguire started for Preston North End as did Joe Rafferty,who opened the scoring after eleven minutes, but the hosts Swansea City recovered to secure a three two victory. Alan Browne was an eighty first minute substitute for Preston.
League One
Much Irish interest in League One focussed on those named in the provisional international squad announced by Mick McCarthy on Friday.
There was an early start for Sunderland and Portsmouth who met in the Stadium of Light at 12.30pm on Saturday afternoon with the hosts prevailing by two goals to one. The veteran Aiden McGeady started for the ‘Makems’ while ‘Pompey’ included Ronan Curtis and Marcus Harness in their starting eleven with Norwich City loanee Sean Raggett on the substitute bench. Manchester United loanee Kieran O’Hara started for Burton Albion who lost to the only goal from Rotherham United. Surprise preliminary international squad selection Kieran Sadlier was in action for Doncaster Rovers as was goalkeeper Ian Lawlor in their three two victory over their visitors Fleetwood Town.