Sunday
The two remaining FA Cup quarter-finals took place on Sunday with Chelsea defeating relegation bound Sheffield United by two goals to nil at Stamford Bridge where Enda Stevens was in action for the defeated ‘Blades’. Leicester City and Manchester United met at the King Power Stadium where the hosts were deserved three one victors. Ireland U21 call-up Shane Flynn has been training with the ‘Foxes’ first team but did not make the matchday squad.
Ireland U21 call-up Ademipo Odubeko was an unused substitute for West Ham United who let slip a three goal advantage as they were pegged back by visitors Arsenal in the Premier League this Sunday afternoon.
Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Shane Duffy was again an unused substitute for loan Club Glasgow Celtic who played out a one all Scottish Premier League draw with champions Glasgow Rangers.
Midfielder Josh Cullen was in brief Belgian First Division action on Sunday afternoon for RSC Anderlecht who defeated visitors SV Zulte Waregem by four goals to one. Substitute Cullen was introduced on 70 minutes, cautioned after 75 minutes and red carded on 85 minutes. Should be fresh as a daisy for Wednesday?.
Saturday
The FA Cup quarter-finals kicked-off at 12.15pm on Saturday afternoon with the South Coast Derby meeting of Championship side AFC Bournemouth and Premier League Southampton who secured a comfortable three nil victory. The hosts named Mark Travers and Gavin Kilkenny on their substitute bench with Kilkenny introduced on 77 minutes, while Will Ferry was unused on the visiting ‘Saints’ bench. Later at 5.30pm Everton and Seamus Coleman went down to a two nil defeat by visitors Manchester City in Goodison Park.
The AMEX Stadium hosts the Premier League meeting of relegation threatened duo Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United at 8pm. Aaron Connolly has returned to training following injury but does not make the matchday squad for the hosts while Ciaran Clark starts with Jeff Hendrick on the substitute bench for the visitors.
Cyrus Christie and Nottingham Forest travelled to promotion chasing Brentford and secured a Championship point from a one all draw. Bristol City included Callum O’Dowda in their starting eleven for the two nil home defeat by visitors Rotherham United with O’Dowda forced off with another injury in the closing stages. Daryl Horgan was a 75th minute substitute for Wycombe Wanderers who played out a scoreless draw with Coventry City at St Andrew’s. Jayson Molumby was unused on the Preston North End substitute bench for the one nil defeat by visitors Luton Town for whom James Collins was a 77th minute substitute. Stoke City defeated visitors Derby County by one goal to nil. The ‘Rams’ included Jason Knight in their starting eleven with Louie Watson 82nd minute substitute while James McClean was not involved with the hosts, which may well see his withdrawal from our International squad. The ‘Welsh Derby’ meeting of Swansea City and Mick McCarthy‘s Cardiff City went the way of the visiting ‘Blues’ with the only goal at the Liberty Stadium where Conor Hourihane was withdrawn through injury after just 18 minutes while Ryan Manning was a 76th minute substitute.
Goalkeeper Keiren O’Hara was an unused substitute for Burton Albion who went down to a two one home League One defeat by MK Dons. Ronan Curtis started for Portsmouth who defeated Ipswich Town by two goals to one at Fratton Park with Marcus Harness scoring the winner. Troy Parrott was an 89th minute substitute while fellow loanee Mark McGuinness who has missed out in recent weeks as a consequence of the loan signing numeric regulations, returned on the bench. Rochdale included loanee Gavin Bazunu and Conor Grant in their starting eleven for the three all draw with visitors Peterborough United who included international goalkeeping target Christy Pym in their starting eleven.
Aston Villa loanee Tyreik Wright was unused on the substitute bench for Walsall who went down to a two one defeat at Bolton Wanderers in League Two. Glasgow Celtic loanee Lee O’Connor started for Tranmere Rovers who defeated visitors Exeter City by two goals to one.