December 3rd
English FA Cup
Rotherham United progressed to the third round of the FA Cup after they knocked out Stockport County on Friday night. Ireland international Chiedozie Ogbene started on the right in the win.
English Championship
The top of the table clash between Fulham and Bournemouth finished all square as Fulham’s late equalizer cancelled out Bournemouth’s opener just after the half-time break. Mark Travers started in net while Robbie Brady finally made his debut for the Cherries, coming on in the 88th minute for a late cameo. A first taste of competitive football for the 29-year-old since he came off injured in Ireland’s 1-1 draw with Qatar back in March of this year.
December 4th
English Premier League
Nathan Collins started for a second successive game (fifth appearance of the season) in Burnley’s 1-0 defeat to fellow relegation contenders Newcastle United. Shane Duffy also started and captained Brighton in a 1-1 draw with Southampton. Aaron Connolly made his return to action following a spell on the sidelines and was close to claiming an assist only for Neal Maupay to be denied by Saints’ keeper Alex McCarthy.
English FA Cup
In Saturday’s FA Cup action, Leyton Orient breezed past Tranmere Rovers with a 4-0 victory. Aaron Drinan set up the second and scored the third goal from the penalty spot.
Walsall midfielder Emmanuel Osadebe was also on the scoresheet in a 2-1 home defeat to Swindon Town.
Elsewhere, Wes Hoolahan assisted an 88th minute winner as Cambridge United knocked out Exeter City with a 2-1 win. Stephen Quinn and Anthony O’Connor also turned providers in wins for their respective clubs, Mansfield Town and Morecambe.
English Championship
The main slice of Irish action in the Championship came in the clash between Cardiff City and Sheffield United. Both David McGoldrick and Mark McGuinness were on the scoresheet, while Enda Stevens grabbed an assist as Sheffield United out boxed the home side winning by three goals to two. McGoldrick squeezed in the decisive third goal meaning McGuinness’s late header was worth little to nothing in the end unfortunately.
After a spell on the bench and without any goals or assists to his name, Callum Robinson contributed to a West Brom win for the first time in over a month as he assisted the opening goal in a 2-1 win over Coventry City. However it was Irish-eligible and U-19 international Taylor Gardner-Hickman who stole the show. The West Brom man previously played at right wing-back this season but didn’t look out of place as he ran the show from midfield and went on to win the ‘Man of the Match’ award.
Finally to Milwall’s win over Birmingham City where Danny McNamara and Scott Hogan both got assists.
Scottish League One
Luca Connell scored his fourth goal of the season having just started five games for Queen’s Park. The 20-year-old midfielder netted the fourth goal in a 6-0 win over Falkirk.
December 5th
English Premier League
There was a rare start for both Adam Idah and Andrew Omobamidele in Norwich City’s game with Spurs. Unfortunately the final score-line will not do the pair any favours as Spurs eased to a 3-0 victory against the bottom side. On a brighter note however, Matt Doherty featured for the final half an hour and was picked out by his new manager who was impressed with the impact he made from the bench.
“When he came in he played very well.”
Antonio Conte on Matt Doherty’s performance
Scottish Premiership
League debuts don’t get much better than Liam Scales’s cameo for Celtic on Sunday afternoon. The Irish defender came on in the 75th minute to make his first league appearance for the Bhoys and just over five minutes later he had his first goal for the club, sealing a 3-0 win against Dundee United. Scales ventured forward towards the Dundee’s box and pulled off what looked like a striker’s finish as he placed the ball into the bottom corner with his left foot.
December 7th
English League One
Chiedozie Ogbene has scored for fun in his limited amount of caps for the Republic of Ireland thus far, and he is now finally of the mark this season for his club side Rotherham United. The League One side scored five goals against Gillingham on Tuesday night and Ogbene’s was the pick of the lot. The winger cut in from the right wing and hammered a shot in off the crossbar with his left foot to make it five goals on the night for Rotherham. Ireland U-21 striker JJ Kayode also made an impact from the bench, assisting the fourth goal in the win. The victory means Rotherham remain top of the division on goal difference.
Oxford United moved up to sixth in the league after they scored a late winner against Doncaster Rovers. Mark Sykes netted the first goal of the game with a brilliant solo effort, bringing his tally to five for the season.
Conor Shaughnessy’s second-half strike was not enough for Burton Albion who left Wycombe empty-handed as the home side held on for a 2-1 win.
Sunderland will have to do without the injured Aiden McGeady for the foreseeable but that didn’t stop them scoring five goals against Morecambe on Tuesday evening. Aiden O’Brien set up the final goal of the win which takes them up to fourth spot in the league.
Finally from League One, there was third consecutive clean sheet for Gavin Bazunu as Portsmouth and Sheffield Wednesday battled it out in a goalless draw. Despite sitting in ninth in the league, Portsmouth have kept the joint-most clean sheets (10) so far this season and Bazunu has been between the sticks for eight of those games.
English League Two
There is only place to begin in League Two and that is Leyton Orient’s 4-1 win over Swindon Town. Aaron Drinan may be the most in-form Irish striker in all four English leagues at the moment as his brace in Tuesday’s win takes him up to ten league goals this season (12 in all competitions). A brilliant season for the 23-year-old who struggled last season at Ipswich Town but is certainly proving the doubters wrong. Exciting prospect Shadrach Ogie once again demonstrated his passing ability from deep as his pinpoint pass found Thomas James who laid it on a plate for Drinan’s first. A familiar theme was apparent for Orient’s second goal as Ogie joined the attack and again played his part in another poacher’s finish from Drinan.
Padraig Amond scored his second goal of the season in a 2-1 defeat for Exeter City against Northampton Town. Mixed feelings from Amond on the night as his 200th career goal was unfortunately not enough to secure any points for his team. However, an amazing feat nonetheless for the Irishman.
Mansfield Town full-back Stephen McLaughlin found himself in acres of space at the back post and he capitalized by heading in the winning goal against Carlisle United after just six minutes.
Emmanuel Osadebe followed up his goal on the weekend with an assist in Walsall’s 1-1 draw with Crawley Town.
December 8th
English League One
Wigan Athletic are now ten games unbeaten in all competitions — a run that started back on October 30th — and they got off to flying start on Wednesday evening when James McClean set up Tendayi Darikwa for the opening goal. The score between Wigan and Shrewsbury Town finished 2-1 in favour of the Latics who remain second in the league, level on points with Rotherham United with one game in hand.
After a frustrating period out of the team for Troy Parrott, the Ireland international nearly made an instant impact from the bench in MK Dons’ draw with Plymouth Argyle only to be denied by the crossbar.
English League Two
Eoghan O’Connell assisted Rochdale’s only goal in a 2-1 defeat to Hartlepool United.