Top Performer
David Forde (Millwall)
Forced to be patient this season, the Republic of Ireland stopper was drafted back into the Lions' starting line-up recently and while he may be lacking in match sharpness the veteran was superb in the 4-0 win away to Southend United. The clean sheet was well earned - Forde made one big save early on - and it will surely give him confidence in his quest to retain his place for the remainder of the season.
Watch Out For
Danny Kane (Huddersfield Town)
Blessed with natural leadership qualities, this sure-footed defender has been making notable strides in the last few years. Ever since moving to England, the former Cherry Orchard schoolboy has improved each of the major areas of his game but there is still room for improvement. The 18-year-old is strong in the air, able to read a game, comfortable with the ball at his feet, and not afraid to put in a tackle - all attributes needed to succeed at the top level.
Irish Manager Monitor
In the Championship, Mick McCarthy got one over Chris Hughton as Ipswich Town beat Brighton & Hove Albion thanks to a single goal by Daryl Murphy, and Brian McDermott’s Reading lost 2-1 at home to Brentford.
In League One, Sean O’Driscoll’s Walsall won again as they claimed a 2-0 triumph over Peterborough United. While in League Two, John Sheridan’s Newport County lost 2-1 at home to leaders Plymouth Argyle.
Further Afield
In England’s Vanarama National League, Padraig Amond netted his 18th goal of the season for Grimsby Town as they overcame Alan Power’s Lincoln City. Goalkeeper James McKeown also played for The Mariners but Conor Henderson was an un-used substitute.
Other Irishmen to feature in that League this week included Neill Byrne (Macclesfield Town), Sean McGinty (Aldershot Town), and Conor Clifford (Boreham Wood), while Ritchie Branagan, Ryan O’Reilly, Josh O’Keefe and Jimmy Keohane were all on the bench for various teams.
In the Scottish Championship, Rob Kiernan helped Rangers overcome Hibernian in a 4-2 win, while Danny Rogers kept a clean sheet for Falkirk in their 2-0 victory against Livingston.
Midweek Stats
Premier League
10 appearances– Harry Arter, Eunan O’Kane (Bournemouth), Ciaran Clark (Aston Villa), Seamus Coleman, James McCarthy (Everton), Robbie Brady, Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City), Shane Long (Southampton), Jonathan Walters, Glenn Whelan (Stoke City)
5 un-used substitutes– Darron Gibson (Everton), Rob Elliot (Newcastle United), Marc Wilson (Stoke City), Josh Cullen, Darren Randolph (West Ham United)
Championship
22 appearances– Stephen Gleeson (Birmingham City), Shane Duffy (Blackburn Rovers), Alan Judge (Brentford), Derrick Williams (Bristol City), Stephen Ward (Burnley), Anthony Pilkington (Cardiff City), Stephen Henderson (Charlton Athletic), Cyrus Christie, Jeff Hendrick, Richard Keogh (Derby County), Joe Murphy, Sean Scannell (Huddersfield Town), David Meyler (Hull City), Jonathan Douglas, Daryl Murphy (Ipswich Town), Samir Carruthers (MK Dons), Greg Cunningham (Preston North End), Paul McShane, Stephen Quinn (Reading), Lee Frecklington, Paul Green (Rotherham United), Matt Doherty (Wolves)
2 goalscorers– Jeff Hendrick (Derby County), Daryl Murphy (Ipswich Town)
6 un-used substitutes– Jack Bonham (Brentford), Simon Cox (Bristol City), Joe Mason (Cardiff City), Jay Tabb (Ipswich Town), Eoin Doyle (Preston North End), Aaron McCarey (Wolves)
5 yellow cards– Shane Duffy (Blackburn Rovers), Cyrus Christie, Jeff Hendrick (Derby County), Samir Carruthers (MK Dons), Stephen Quinn (Reading)
League One
33 appearances– Conor Hourihane, Kevin Long, Aidan White (Barnsley), Billy Clarke (Bradford City), Damien McCrory, Anthony O’Connor (Burton Albion), Jay O’Shea (Chesterfield), Owen Garvan (Colchester United), Paul Keegan (Doncaster Rovers), Jimmy Ryan (Fleetwood Town), John Egan, Bradley Garmston (Gillingham), David Forde, Aiden O’Brien, Shaun Williams (Millwall), Rhys Murphy, Mark Yeates (Oldham Athletic), Chris Forrester (Peterborough United), Sam Foley, Sam Kelly (Port Vale), Donal McDermott (Rochdale), Niall Canavan, Stephen Dawson, Paddy Madden (Scunthorpe United), Conor Sammon (Sheffield United), James Collins (Shrewsbury Town), Gary Deegan, Noel Hunt, Stephen McLaughlin, Dave Mooney (Southend United), Anton Rodgers (Swindon Town), Anthony Forde (Walsall), Chris McCann (Wigan Athletic)
4 goalscorers– Aiden O’Brien (Millwall), Rhys Murphy (Oldham Athletic), Sam Kelly (Port Vale), Conor Sammon (Sheffield United)
7 un-used substitutes– Charles Dunne (Blackpool), Callum Reilly (Burton Albion), Emmanuel Osababe (Gillingham), Liam Lawrence, Liam McAlinden (Shrewsbury Town), Glen Rea (Southend United), Liam Kinsella (Walsall)
10 yellow cards– Kevin Long (Barnsley), Jimmy Ryan (Fleetwood Town), Bradley Garmston (Gillingham), Shaun Williams (Millwall), Mark Yeates (Oldham Athletic), Chris Forrester (Peterborough United), Donal McDermott (Rochdale), Stephen Dawson (Scunthorpe United), Gary Deegan, Dave Mooney (Southend United)
1 clean sheet – David Forde (Millwall)
League Two
23 appearances– Seamus Conneely (Accrington Stanley), Ian Lawlor (Barnet), Rory Gaffney (Bristol Rovers), Barry Corr (Cambridge United), Shamir Fenelon (Crawley Town), Clinton Morrison (Exeter City), Sean Long (Luton Town), Jamie Devitt, Barry Roche (Morecambe), Mark Byrne (Newport County), Brendan Moloney, John-Joe O’Toole (Northampton Town), Graham Burke (Notts County), Pat Hoban, Callum O’Dowda (Oxford United), Carl McHugh (Plymouth Argyle), Adam Barton, Michael Doyle, Brian Murphy, Enda Stevens (Portsmouth), Michael Harriman (Wycombe Wanderers), James Berrett, Eddie Nolan (York City)
2 goalscorers– Rory Gaffney [2] (Bristol Rovers), Barry Corr (Cambridge United)
5 un-used substitutes– Jack Connors (Dag & Red), Alan Dunne (Leyton Orient), Ronan Murray (Notts County), Ryan Sweeney (AFC Wimbledon), Kenny McEvoy (York City)
2 yellow cards– John-Joe O’Toole (Northampton Town), Michael Doyle (Portsmouth)
1 clean sheet – Brian Murphy (Portsmouth)
Scottish Premiership
5 appearances– Willo Flood, Jonny Hayes, Adam Rooney (Aberdeen), Sean Dillon, Gavin Gunning (Dundee United)
2 un-used substitutes– Graham Cummins, Joe Shaughnessy (St Johnstone)
Compiled by GARETH MAHER