Weekend action at home and abroad…24/10/2021


Sunday
There was a 12.30pm kick-off in the Championship meeting of Yorkshire rivals Barnsley and Sheffield United. The visiting ‘Blades’ included John Egan and Enda Stevens in their starting eleven while Aston Villa loanee Conor Hourihane was an unused substitute as they secured a three two success.

The Scottish Premiership meeting of St Mirren and Glasgow Rangers went the way of the visitors by two goals to one. Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Connor Ronan opened the scoring for the hosts with a stunning thirty yard strike after just four minutes but the result turned in a two minute spell prior to the interval with the concession of poor penalty by Alan Power and a defensive error from Conor McCarthy. The day was compounded for the hosts by an injury to Jamie McGrath which saw him stretchered from the pitch in the closing minutes.

Josh Cullen was in Belgian First Division action with RSC Anderlecht who secured a four two success over visitors Beerschot.

AIK Solna included Zack Elbouzedi in their side for their one nil victory over visitors IFK Norrkoping in the Swedish Eredivisie.

Saturday
The early kick-off in the Premier League saw Norwich City  crash to a seven nil defeat at Chelsea. Andrew Omobamidele was a 69th minute substitute for the ‘Canaries’ while Adam Idah was unused on the substitute bench. Later in the afternoon, Ciaran Clark started and Jeff Hendrick was unused on the bench for Newcastle United who played out a one all draw at Crystal Palace. The fit again Seamus Coleman returned to the Everton side for the visit of Watford to Goodison Park where the ‘Toffees’ led twice before a late collapse which saw the ‘Hornets’ score four times for a five two victory. Southampton welcomed Burnley and their Irish duo of Nathan Collins who started and Kevin Long who was unused on the bench to St Mary’s Stadium where they played out a two all draw. Their was a 5.30pm kick-off for the Amex Stadium meeting of Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester City with Shane Duffy and Aaron Connolly both unused on the host’s substitute bench as they suffered  a four one defeat.

Mick McCarthy and his struggling Cardiff City side went down to a two nil defeat by Middlesbrough in the Championship with  James Collins and Mark McGuinness  included in the ‘Blues’ starting eleven. Birmingham City included Scott Hogan in their side for the visit of Swansea City for whom  Ryan Manning started after his midweek injury absence while another injury victim Michael Obafemi returned  on the bench.. The host ‘Blues’ secured  a two one victory with the ‘Swans’ goal scored by 57th minute substitute Obafemi with the assist from Manning. Alan Browne and his Preston North End colleagues made the short journey to face local rivals Blackpool where they went down to a two nil defeat. Browne was dismissed in added time for a second bookable offence.  Current leaders AFC Bournemouth included Mark Travers and Gavin Kilkenny in their starting eleven for their three nil defeat of  visitors Huddersfield Town while recent signing Robbie Brady is not yet ready to be involved. Derby County included Festy Ebosele in their starting eleven with Louie Watson unused on the bench for their one all draw at Coventry City. Jack Taylor and Sam Szmodics started for Peterborough United while West Ham United loanee Conor Coventry was a 67th minute substitute as they came from behind to defeat visitors QPR for whom Jimmy Dunne. was in central defence. West Bromwich Albion included Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Jayson Molumby in their starting eleven with Callum Robinson introduced from the bench on 61 minutes as they defeated visitors Bristol City and their 64th minute substitute Callum O’Dowda by three goals to nil.

Portsmouth, with Manchester City loanee Gavin Bazunu on goalkeeping duty, have conceded eight goals in their last two League One matches and were desperate to recover some form when they visited Accrington Stanley on Saturday afternoon. An early goal from Ronan Curtis set them on their way but their hosts responded scoring twice and looked like taking the points but Marcus Harness scored  an equaliser four minutes from time. Also on the road were James McClean and Will Keane whose Wigan Athletic journied to AFC Wimbledon where they secured  a two nil victory with McClean scoring the second goal. Tottenham Hotspur loanee Troy Parrott had a bright start for MK Dons but found himself relegated to the substitute bench for their Tuesday night victory at Wigan Athletic and was again on the bench against visitors Rotherham United until the 64th minute. Chiedoze Ogbene was on the bench for the ‘Millers’ last two fixtures but he started this afternoon as his side eased to a three nil victory. U21 striker Joshua Kayode was again unused on the ‘Millers’ substitute bench. Striker Anthony Scully started for Lincoln City who played out a one all draw with Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. Young left back Dennis Cirkin started for Sunderland who went down to surprise one nil defeat by visitors Charlton Athletic at the Stadium of Light. Wycombe Wanderers secured a two one victory over visitors Crewe Alexandra with  Daryl Horgan unused on their substitute bench.