Top Performer
Anthony Forde (Walsall)
A goal and an assist to help The Saddlers inch closer towards their promotion dream proved to be a productive afternoon for this Limerick native as Walsall beat Bury on Saturday. The midfielder is beginning to thrive under the watch of manager Sean O’Driscoll.
Watch Out For
Conor Masterson (Liverpool)
After being named as a substitute in the recent FA Cup tie with Exeter City, this Dublin-born defender will have found his profile and confidence soared in tandem. Excellent on the ball and superb at reading the game, he has a bright future ahead of him if he continues to progress.
Irish Manager Monitor
In the Championship, Chris Hughton’s Brighton & Hove Albion secured a 1-0 triumph over Blackburn Rovers, Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich Town drew 1-1 with Preston North End, while Brian McDermott’s Reading lost 1-0 away to MK Dons.
In League One, Sean O’Driscoll’s Walsall recorded their 15th win of the season as they overcame Bury 3-2, while John Sheridan’s first game back at Oldham Athletic ended in a 1-0 loss away to Bradford City.
Further Afield
In the Eredivisie, Jack Byrne played the full 90 minutes for Cambuur Leeuwarden as they lost 2-0 at home to Vitesse Arnhem. Over in Cyprus, Cillian Sheridan featured for Omonia Nicosia in a scoreless draw with Apollon, while in the A-League, Andy Keogh started for Perth Glory in their 2-2 draw with Melbourne City.
Weekend Stats
Premier League
11 appearances– Harry Arter, Eunan O’Kane (Bournemouth), Damien Delaney (Crystal Palace), Rob Elliot (Newcastle United), Robbie Brady, Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City), Shane Long (Southampton), Jonathan Walters, Glenn Whelan (Stoke City), John O’Shea (Sunderland), James McClean (West Bromwich Albion)
3 un-used substitutes– Ciaran Clark (Aston Villa), Josh Cullen, Darren Randolph (West Ham United)
1 yellow card– Harry Arter (Bournemouth)
Championship
21 appearances– Stephen Gleeson (Birmingham City), Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers), Alan Judge (Brentford), Derrick Williams (Bristol City), Stephen Ward (Burnley), Joe Mason, Anthony Pilkington (Cardiff City), Stephen Henderson (Charlton Athletic), Cyrus Christie, Jeff Hendrick, Richard Keogh (Derby County), Jonathan Douglas, Daryl Murphy (Ipswich Town), Samir Carruthers, Darren Potter (MK Dons), Alan Browne, Greg Cunningham, Eoin Doyle (Preston North End), Simon Cox (Reading), Paul Green (Rotherham United), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
3 goalscorers– Stephen Gleeson (Birmingham City), Alan Judge (Brentford), Daryl Murphy (Ipswich Town)
6 un-used substitutes– Jack Bonham (Brentford), Richie Towell (Brighton & Hove Albion), Joe Murphy (Huddersfield Town), David Meyler (Hull City), Niall Keown, Stephen Quinn (Reading)
3 yellow cards– Stephen Gleeson (Birmingham City), Richard Keogh (Derby County), Samir Carruthers (MK Dons)
League One
31 appearances– Conor Hourihane, Kevin Long, Aidan White (Barnsley), Colin Doyle, Mark Yeates (Blackpool), Billy Clarke (Bradford City), Damien McCrory, Anthony O’Connor, Callum Reilly (Burton Albion), Ian Lawlor, John O’Sullivan (Bury), Jay O’Shea (Chesterfield), Owen Garvan (Colchester United), Paul Keegan (Doncaster Rovers), John Egan, Bradley Garmston (Gillingham), Aiden O’Brien, Shaun Williams (Millwall), Rhys Murphy (Oldham Athletic), Chris Forrester (Peterborough United), Sam Foley, Sam Kelly (Port Vale), Stephen Dawson, Paddy Madden (Scunthorpe United), Conor Sammon (Sheffield United), Cian Bolger, Gary Deegan, Noel Hunt, Dave Mooney (Southend United), Anton Rodgers (Swindon Town), Anthony Forde (Walsall)
1 goalscorer– Anthony Forde (Walsall)
6 un-used substitutes– Charles Dunne (Blackpool), Emmanuel Osadebe (Gillingham), David Forde (Millwall), Niall Canavan (Scunthorpe United), Michael Timlin (Southend United), Liam Kinsella (Walsall)
1 clean sheet– Colin Doyle (Blackpool)
4 yellow cards– Kevin Long (Barnsley), Ian Lawlor (Bury), Sam Foley (Port Vale), Cian Bolger (Southend United)
League Two
18 appearances– Rory Gaffney (Bristol Rovers), Barry Corr (Cambridge United), Shamir Fenelon (Crawley Town), Jake Carroll (Hartlepool United), Jamie Devitt, Barry Roche (Morecambe), Mark Byrne (Newport County), James Collins, Brendan Moloney, John-Joe O’Toole (Northampton Town), Ronan Murray (Notts County), Pat Hoban, Callum O’Dowda (Oxford United), Carl McHugh (Plymouth Argyle), Keith Keane (Stevenage), Michael Harriman (Wycombe Wanderers), James Berrett, Kenny McEvoy (York City)
2 goalscorers– John-Joe O’Toole (Northampton Town), Carl McHugh (Plymouth Argyle)
5 un-used substitutes– Gary Dicker (Carlisle United), Clinton Morrison (Exeter City), Alan Dunne (Leyton Orient), Graham Burke (Notts County), Ryan Sweeney (AFC Wimbledon)
1 yellow card– Jamie Devitt (Morecambe)
National League
1 appearance– Alan Power (Lincoln City)
Scottish Premiership
7 appearances– Jonny Hayes, Adam Rooney (Aberdeen), Darren O’Dea (Dundee), Sean Dillon, Gavin Gunning (Dundee United), Graham Cummins, Joe Shaughnessy (St Johnstone)
1 goalscorer– Adam Rooney (Aberdeen)
2 un-used substitutes– Eoghan O’Connell (Celtic), Richie Foran (Inverness CT)
1 yellow card– Gavin Gunning (Dundee United)
Compiled by GARETH MAHER