October 15th
English Championship
It was a rather quiet evening for Callum Robinson on Friday on the back of his goal-scoring week with Ireland. Both him and Jayson Molumby featured in West Brom’s 1-0 win over Birmingham City.
English League One
There was also a Friday night fixture in League One and it was an all-Irish affair for Burton Albion who saw off Morecambe thanks to a brace from 22-year-old midfielder Tom O’Connor and his Irish teammate Conor Shaughnessy. O’Connor’s first goal came from a corner, beating everyone (including the goalkeeper) and sneaking in at the front post while his second goal was a curling effort which nestled into the bottom corner to give Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s men the win. Morecambe’s Anthony O’Connor set up a late consolation goal for the Shrimps.
October 16th
English Premier League
Caoimhรญn Kelleher made it two starts in a row, filling in for Allison who was late back from international duty with Brazil. The Corkman didn’t have much to do apart from a late save to deny Watford forward Sarr. The game finished 5-0 to Liverpool.
Fellow Irish youngster Nathan Collins played his second consecutive Premier League game for Burnley and despite the 2-0 scoreline against champions Manchester City, the 20-year-old centre-half still earned the plaudits from the Clarets’ fans. Collins won the most amount of duels (9) on the pitch along with being joint-top for successful tackles (4).
Shane Duffy played his part in keeping out Norwich City’s attack (with no Adam Idah) in a 0-0 draw with the Canaries. The result means Duffy has been involved in four consecutive clean sheets for club and country.
English Championship
Sheffield United are now up to 13th spot in the Championship after a slow start to the season. Enda Stevens assisted David McGoldrick for the winning goal in the 83rd minute against Stoke City. McGoldrick, who came on as a substitute in the 77th minute, set up the Blades’ equalizer minutes before to kick-start the comeback and make his mark on the game.
Mark Travers made it five successive clean sheets on the road for Bournemouth in their 2-0 victory over Bristol City. Gavin Kilkenny also impressed on his return to the starting eleven. The 21-year-old faces stiff competition for a starting spot in the Bournemouth midfield but after Saturday’s performance it will be a difficult for Cherries’ boss Scott Parker to drop the Irish midfielder. He completed the most amount of passes (79) and dictated the play from his defensive midfield position.
“He was fantastic. I thought he was different class. I trust Gavin. You see that today. He gets the nod, he came into the middle of a park, he understood where the ball needed to go in possession. Defensively, he was disciplined and like you said he made us tick. He was the glue today, he put the ball in the right areas and knew when to play. He was very good.”
Scott Parker speaking to Dorset Live about Gavin Kilkenny’s performance
English League One
Wigan Athletic eased to a 4-0 win against Bolton on Saturday afternoon and James McClean was a man in-form, netting a brace and assisting Will Keane for the first in the win. Keane also set up their third to add to the Irish contributions. There was no stopping McClean’s first effort which was buried into the top corner from outside the area to give his side a two goal cushion. His performance earned him a spot in the EFL ‘Team of the Week’ alongside Burton’s Tom O’Connor.
Sunderland came out on top away to Gillingham despite playing the final 20 minutes with ten men. Aiden O’Brien opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time. March Harness was also on the scoresheet with a goal worthy of a win for Portsmouth but unfortunately for them it was their only goal in a 4-1 defeat to Rotherham United.
English League Two
Liam Kelly was the only Irish goalscorer in League Two on Saturday. The 25-year-old midfielder, on as a second-half substitute, gave Rochdale the lead before Swindon Town levelled things up in stoppage time to make it 2-2. Corey O’Keefe set up the first goal of game for the Dale in the draw.
Spurs’ youngster Jamie Bowden assisted Oldham Athletic’s third goal in a 3-0 win over Stevenage.
October 17th
English Premier League
Seamus Coleman returned from injury and played the full ninety minutes in a 1-0 defeat for Everton at home to in-form West Ham.
Meanwhile, Ciaran Clark started in Newcastle United’s first game of a new era under the control of their Saudi owners. Despite taking an early lead, Newcastle fell to defeat against Spurs. Matt Doherty was absent from the Spurs bench after coming off injured in Ireland’s game against Qatar.
English Championship
On Sunday in the Championship, Swansea City were victorious in the South Wales derby, beating Cardiff City by three goals to nil. Ryan Manning started for the Swans and set up the opening goal in the win.
Belgian Pro League
Anderlecht suffered a stoppage time heartache as Sint-Truidense clawed back a 94th minute equalizer. Josh Cullen featured for the full game on his return from international duty with Ireland.
October 18th
English Championship
Jason Knight was the standout player in Derby County’s 2-2 with Luton Town. The Irish midfielder assisted Derby’s first and scored their second (his first goal of the campaign since his return from injury) to give them a one goal lead. Knight dropped the shoulder inside the Luton box before finding the bottom corner with a well-placed finish.
Forget five clean sheets, Mark Travers made it six in a row away from home setting a new club record. Travers has firmly cemented his spot between the sticks at Bournemouth after a long wait to grab the number one shirt at the club.
English League One
Next to the third tier and it was that man again Tom O’Connor who provided a bit of magic again for Burton Albion, scoring directly from a corner for the second game running! Surely he must be the first to ever score back-to-back goals directly from corner kicks. He changed it up this time to keep the keeper guessing, looping the ball over everyone in the box and finding the back of the net.
Mark Sykes also got on the scoresheet with a cross/shot in Oxford United’s 2-0 win against Shrewsbury Town.
There were also assists for Aiden McGeady — his fourth of the season — in Sunderland’s 4-0 win, and Will Keane who also claimed his fourth assist of the campaign in Wigan’s 2-1 defeat to MK Dons. Peter Kioso was on the scoresheet in the same game as he netted the equalizing goal with a powerful header to set up the comeback for the Dons.
English League Two
Finally to League Two and the goals haven’t stopped just yet in a busy week for the Irish lads. Emmanuel Osadebe bagged his first goal of the season after he capitalized on a defensive error from Oldham before slotting the ball home. Conor Wilkinson assisted Walsall’s first while Jamie Bowden got a second successive assist for the home side but it was Walsall who came away with all three points.
Paudie O’Connor scored Bradford City’s only goal in a 3-1 loss against Hartlepool United. Meanwhile Trevor Clarke was on the receiving end of one of three red cards that were brandished in a feisty affair between Colchester United and Bristol Rovers.
October 20th
English Championship
To Wednesday’s fixtures and we’ve saved the best goal of the week for last. Peterborough United’s Jack Taylor is no stranger to a long-range strike and proved this with his first goal of the season in a 2-1 win away to Hull City. Taylor’s first time effort from 35-yards out sailed into the top corner, giving his team the lead just before half-time. The decisive win means Peterborough leapfrog Hull in the table and subsequently climb out of the relegation zone.
In the other Championship games, West Brom took the lead after one minute against Swansea thanks to a Karlan Grant goal (assisted by Callum Robinson) but the Swans fought back in the second-half to win all three points. Jayson Molumby made his first start for West Brom in the defeat. Alan Browne also got an assist in Preston’s 2-1 victory over Coventry City.