Had Boots Did Travel - Irish Abroad (28 Dec 2016)

There were 74 Irish players in action across the top four divisions in England over the St Stephen's Day round of fixtures, and a further 10 in Scotland, as Christmas came a day late for many.

Of those, 10 lined out in the Premier League with eight starting their side's games. Five are products of the League of Ireland, while Jonathan Walters the only Irish scorer.

27 lined out in the Championship (six with League of Ireland experience), 18 in League One (five ex-LOI) and 19 in League Two (with eight LOI products), though just three goals between them.

While a grand total of four goals – and only one in the top division – is a miserly return, Martin O'Neill will be heartened to see 37 eligible players line out in the top two tiers.

England

Premier League

Jonathan Walters headed his second goal of the season after 12 months as Stoke City got off to a dream start away to Liverpool.

Glenn Whelan also started for the Potters, who went on to endure a miserable evening as the Reds scored four unanswered goals and cruised to victory.

Damien Delaney started as former Limerick boss Sam Allardyce took charge of Crystal Palace for the first time at Watford, but conceded the penalty that denied him a winning start as it finished 1-1.

James McClean was second-half substitute for the sixth successive game as West Brom fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat away to Arsenal.

Stephen Ward and Jeff Hendrick completed the full 90 minutes as Burnley leapfrogged fellow promoted side Middlesbrough into 14^th.

Harry Arter played 90 minutes as Bournemouth bore the brunt of a 3-0 loss away to Chelsea.

Seamus Coleman started for Everton as they were impressive 2-0 winners away to champions Leicester City.

Darren Randolph had an easy day's work as West Ham United won 4-1 at Swansea City, leading the Swans to sack manager Bob Bradley.

And Shane Long was a late substitute once again as Southampton surrendered an early lead to go down 4-1 at home to Tottenham Hotspur.

Goalkeeper Mateusz Hewelt made his first appearance on the Everton bench, while Ireland under-21 international Declan Rice also made his first appearance on the bench for West Ham.

Championship

Former Bohemians goalkeeper Brian Murphy made his first appearance for Cardiff City at Brentford but couldn't prevent a late goal forcing 2-2 draw.

John Egan started in defence for the Bees and provided an assist for the equaliser, while Anthony Pilkington was a second-half sub for the Welsh club.

And Kieran Westwood kept a clean sheet for Sheffield Wednesday as they ran out 1-0 winners away to second-placed Newcastle United, for whom Ciaran Clark played the full game.

Another clean sheet for Shane Duffy's Brighton & Hove Albion saw them jump above the Magpies to the top of the table.

Richard Keogh and Alex Pearce were again flawless in defence as Derby County won 1-0 at home to Birmingham City, who had Stephen Gleeson in the starting line-up.

Damien McCrory started in defence as Burton Albion earned a creditable 2-2 draw away to Aston Villa.

Conor Hourihane starred again and provided an assist as Barnsley beat Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. Derrick Williams started for Rovers alongside Darragh Lenihan, who was shown a late red card.

Jonathan Douglas started and both Leon Best and David McGoldrick were introduced at half-time as Ipswich Town fell to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at home to Fulham.

Greg Cunningham and Alan Browne started, while Eoin Doyle was a late sub, as Preston North End were heavily beaten 4-1 at home by Leeds United.

Paul McShane and Liam Kelly started as Reading inflicted an eighth defeat in ten on Norwich City, who had Robbie Brady in the first eleven and Wes Hoolahan a second-half substitute.

Anthony Forde completed the full 90 as Rotherham United eked out a 3-2 win at home to Wigan Athletic.

And it finished 3-2 at Molineux where Matt Doherty started and Joe Mason was a late sub as Wolves beat Bristol City, who introduced Callum O'Dowda midway through the second period.

League One

Simon Cox was on the double as Southend United climbed into the play-off places with a 3-0 win at home to AFC Wimbledon, while Stephen McLaughlin and Michael Timlin also started.

Chris Forrester captained Peterborough United as they conceded a late goal at home to Gillingham, the 1-1 draw dropping them out of the relegation spots.

Colin Doyle kept a clean sheet for Bradford City in their scoreless draw at home to Scunthorpe United. Josh Cullen also started for Bradford, while Paddy Madden started for the Irons.

Conrad Logan, Joe Rafferty and Keith Keane started Rochdale's 3-0 win over Chesterfield, who had Connor Dimaio and Jay O'Shea in the first eleven.

Rory Gaffney played an hour as Bristol Rovers inflicted a heavy 4-1 defeat on Coventry City, for whom Chris McCann played 90 minutes.

Cian Bolger played the full game as Fleetwood Town were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Bury.

Aiden O'Brien started as Millwall cruised to a 2-0 victory at home to Swindon Town.

And Samir Carruthers lasted 80 minutes in MK Dons' 1-0 home defeat to Charlton Athletic.

John-Joe O'Toole played the whole game as Northampton Town were late 1-0 winners away to Oxford United.

League Two

Former Shamrock Rovers full-back Enda Stevens bagged his first goal of the season as Portsmouth won by the odd goal in five at Newport County.

David Forde, Michael Doyle and Noel Hunt also started for Pompey as Paul Cook's side remain fourth in the table.

Graham Carey and Connor Smith started Plymouth Argyle's 3-3 draw at home to Wycombe Wanderers. Carey set up one goal as the Pilgrims were knocked off top spot.

Michael Collins started for Leyton Orient, while James Collins and Mark Connolly started for Crawley Town as Orient ran out 3-2 winners at home.

Jamie Devitt was introduced half-way through the second half as Carlisle United were held to a 1-1 draw at Crewe Alexandra.

Former Sligo Rovers man Seamus Conneely and John O'Sullivan started as Accrington Stanley fell to a 2-0 defeat at Grimsby Town.

Padraig Amond was a late sub as Hartepool United fell to a 1-0 loss at home to Blackpool.

Owen Garvan started for Colchester United as they won the London derby 1-0 away at Luton Town, who had Glen Rea in the starting line-up.

Barry Roche kept a clean sheet for Morecambe as they were 1-0 winners at Mansfield Town, for whom Pat Hoban played the first hour.

Kevin Dawson played 90 minutes for Yeovil Town as they drew 0-0 at home with Exeter City, who had Liam McAlinden as a second-half sub.

Scotland

Adam Rooney scored his tenth of the season as Aberdeen overcame Hamilton Academical 2-1 at Pittodrie. Jonny Hayes started for the Dons while Anthony O'Connor was a late sub.

Gary Dicker played 90 minutes on an unhappy day for Kilmarnock, who fell to a hefty 4-0 defeat at Hearts.

Aaron Doran was a second-half sub as Inverness Caledonian Thistle went down 2-1 at home to Motherwell, who saw Carl McHugh start on his return from injury.

Adam Barton played 90 minutes as Partick Thistle were 2-0 winners at home to Darren O'Dea's Dundee.

And Rob Kiernan started but was at fault as Rangers blew an early lead away at St Johnstone, who had Joe Shaughnessy in the starting line-up.