Had Boots Did Travel - Irish Abroad (5 Dec 2016)

It was a cup weekend in England, which made for a disrupted fixture schedule and some lesser-seen teams featuring in this week's section.

There were 35 Irish players in action across the three English leagues that saw action this week: 11 in the Premier League, 20 in the Championship and four in League Two, while 26 lined out in the FA Cup.

Of those, 18 have League of Ireland experienced: six in the Premier League, three in the Championship, two in League Two and seven in the FA Cup.

Premier League

A first goal of the season for Jonathan Walters helped Stoke City to a comfortable 2-0 win at home to Burnley as his deft flick opened the scoring in the first half.

Jeff Hendrick and Stephen Ward played the full game on the losing side, while Glenn Whelan made a return from injury sustained on international duty as a substitute for the final three minutes.

Damien Delaney returned to the Crystal Palace side for the first time in a month and played a leading role in keeping a clean sheet as the Eagles romped to a 3-0 win over Southampton, for whom Shane Long was a late substitute.

James McClean was again a late substitute as West Brom ran out 3-1 winners over Watford and was lucky to stay on the pitch after being involved in a fracas that saw Roberto Pereyra given a straight red card and McClean a yellow.

And Darren Randolph could do little to prevent West Ham from being on the receiving end of a 5-1 hammering at home to Arsenal as he made a number of key saves to keep the score down.

On Sunday, Harry Arter was part of the Bournemouth side that staged a remarkable comeback to overturn a 3-1 deficit in the final 20 minutes to beat Liverpool 4-3 at Dean Court.

And Seamus Coleman was the victim of a stray Zlatan Ibrahimovic boot as he was taken off injured in the second half of Everton's 1-1 draw with Manchester United.

In the Monday night game, David Meyler was introduced 10 minutes from time but couldn't help Hull City overhaul a 1-0 deficit at home to local rivals Middlesbrough.

Championship

Robbie Brady scored his fourth goal of the season and clocked an assist as Norwich City bounced back to form with a thumping 5-0 win over Brentford, who had John Egan an unfortunate onlooker.

Conor Hourihane was the standout player as he set up all three of Barnsley's goals in a stunning 3-0 win away at Birmingham City.

Derrick Williams and Darragh Lenihan continue to impress in defence for Blackburn Rovers. Lenihan made his 50^th Rovers appearance in a 1-1 home draw with Huddersfield Town.

David McGoldrick and Jonathan Douglas started and Leon Best was a second-half substitute as Ipswich Town were defeated 2-0 by Bristol City at Ashton Gate.

Anthony Forde played 67 minutes of Rotherham United's 2-1 defeat away at Burton Albion.

There was another clean sheet for Shane Duffy at Brighton & Hove Albion but his side could only manage a draw with Cardiff City, who had Anthony Pilkington as a 70th-minute sub.

And it was a day to forget for Reading captain Paul McShane as the high-flying were pumped 5-0 at Fulham. Liam Kelly was introduced from the bench just before the hour.

An eventful afternoon for Eoin Doyle at Hillsborough as the Preston North End striker was introduced, scored and sent off for fighting with teammate Jermaine Beckford in the final ten minutes.

Aiden McGeady and Alan Browne were both hauled off at half time for the Lilywhites, and Greg Cunningham played the full 90, while Kieren Westwood lined out in goal for the home side.

Richard Keogh and Alex Pearce made it five from five as they chipped in with a clean sheet ina 1-0 away win at Wigan Athletic.

In the Friday night game, Ciaran Clark played 90 minutes but could do little as his side had two men sent off and lost 2-1 at Nottingham Forest despite the Magpies saving two penalties.

League Two

Former Bohemians midfielder Paul Keegan made a rare second-half substitute appearance as Doncaster Rovers won by the odd goal in seven away at Stevenage.

And Kevin Dawson clocked up an assist in Yeovil Town's 5-0 win over Crawley Town, who had Mark Connolly and James Collins in action from the start.

FA Cup

Ex-Limerick striker Rory Gaffney opened the scoring for Bristol Rovers at home to Barrow but the Pirates nevertheless fell to a shock 2-1 defeat to the non-league side.

Aiden O'Brien made it nine for the season as he capped off a 5-2 win for Millwall at home to Braintree Town.

John O'Sullivan scored the third as Accrington Stanley were comfortable 3-0 winners at Woking. Seamus Conneely also started for Stanley, while Frankie Sutherland was a late sub for Woking.

And Alan Power set up a goal and captained non-league Lincoln City to a 3-2 win over League One Oldham Athletic, for whom Paul Green played the full 90 minutes.

Reported Shamrock Rovers target Mark Yeates appeared for the first time in a month for Blackpool as he played the final 24 minutes of their 1-0 win over Brackley Town.

Conrad Logan, Joe Rafferty, Niall Canavan and Keith Keane started as Rochdale powered to a 2-0 away win over League Two leaders Carlisle United, who had Jamie Devitt as a second-half sub.

Samir Caruthers and Darren Potter started as MK Dons held Charlton Athletic to a 0-0 draw at the Valley.

Chesterfield and Jay O'Shea were on the end of a heavy 5-0 defeat at home to Wycombe Wanderers as the former Bray man was unable to continue his goalscoring streak in the cup.

Glen Rea and Alan Sheehan started in defence as Luton Town scored six unanswered goals to overcome a 2-0 half-time deficit at home to Solihull Moors.

Plymouth Argyle and Newport County will have to do it again after playing out a 0-0 draw. Graham Carey and Connor Smith started for Argyle while Josh O'Hanlon was injured early on for Newport.

As will Gary Deegan's Shrewsbury and Cian Bolger's Fleetood Town as the former Southend United teammates also saw their game finish scoreless.

Chris McCann was a second-half substitute as Coventry City fell to a heavy 4-0 defeat at Cambridge United.

Graham Burke played 72 minutes as Notts County drew 2-2 at home to Peterborough United.

And it was a disappointing showing from Padraig Amond's Hartlepool United as they went down 4-0 to League One Port Vale.

Scotland

Adam Barton's Partick Thistle were held to a 1-1 draw away at Hamilton Academical.

Gary Dicker made his 400^th senior appearance as Kilmarnock ran out 2-0 winners over Dundee, who had Darren O'Dea in the starting line-up.

Joe Shaughnessy started and Graham Cummins was a late sub as St Johnstone were comfortable 3-0 winners at home to Inverness Caledonia Thistle, who had Jake Mulraney replace Aaron Doran as a 70th-minute sub.

And Rob Kiernan played 90 minutes in Rangers' 2-1 home win over Aberdeen, who had Jonny Hayes in the starting eleven and Adam Rooney as a second-half sub.

Rest of the World

In Australia, Andy Keogh scored his seventh goal in nine games to move joint-top of the A-League scoring charts, though Perth Glory were pegged back for a 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory.

It wasn't such a happy afternoon for ex-Cork City striker Roy O'Donovan, who started but saw his Central Coast Mariners side well-beaten 4-1 at home to Western Sydney Wanderers.

In Cyprus, Cillian Sheridan was a late sub as Omonia Nicosia fell to a heavy 4-1 home defeat to his former side APOEL in the Nicosia derby.