Had Boots Did Travel - Irish Abroad (31 Dec 2016)

64 Irish players were represented across the four top divisions in England during the new year's matchweek, ten down on the previous round, as well as seven in Scotland's top league, with two postponed matches in the Championship skewing the numbers down somewhat.

Eight players eligible for the Republic of Ireland made it on the pitch in the Premier League, with a healthy five having come through the League of Ireland

13 appeared in the Championship (three from a League of Ireland background, 19 in League One (6) and 22 in League Two, of whom an impressive 10 had played in the domestic league.

There were just three Irish goalscorers in the four divisions, however, with Shane Long by far the most high-profile, with a further one in Scotland yielding a less than satisfactory haul.

England

Premier League

Shane Long scored his first goal of the season, a ferocious header early on at home to West Bromwich Albion, but it was as good as it got for the Saints who ran out 2-1 losers.

James McClean was introduced as a substitute for the seventh successive game, coming on at half-time in the unfamiliar left-back slot as the Baggies bagged a deserved victory.

David Meyler made his first start for Hull City in two months during their 2-2 home draw with Everton. He played 56 minutes, while Seamus Coleman played 90 minutes and hit the post for the Toffees.

Stephen Ward started as Burnley registered their biggest win of the season, a 4-1 thumping of Sunderland, who had John O'Shea making a rare start in defence.

Harry Arter banked another 90 minutes in the Bournemouth midfield as the Cherries were handsome 3-0 winners away to Swansea City.

Darren Randolph continued in goal for West Ham United but he could do little about the goal that earned Leicester City a 1-0 win at the King Power Stadium.

Championship

Aiden McGeady started for Preston North End in their 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday and provided an inadvertent assist for the own goal at gave Preston the lead.

Greg Cunningham also started, and Alan Browne was a late sub for McGeady, while Kieren Westwood was in goal for Wednesday.

Former Galway United striker Ryan Manning made his Queens Park Rangers debut away to Matt Doherty's Wolverhampton Wanderers as the Rs picked up a rare 2-1 win.

And Conor Hourihane confirmed his place at the top of the Football League's assist chart for 2016, creating his nineteenth goal of the year in a 2-2 draw at home to Birmingham City,

Derby County made it eight clean sheets from ten games as Richard Keogh and Alex Pearce helped their side to a 0-0 draw at home to Wigan Athletic.

Ciaran Clark played 90 minutes of Newcastle United's 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.

Ipswich Town returned to winning ways with a 2-1 win at home to Bristol City. David McGoldrick started for the Tractor Boys, while Callum O'Dowda was a second half sub for the Robins.

Derrick Williams continued at full back for Blackburn Rovers as they eked out a 1-1 draw away to play-off contenders Huddersfield Town.

And Robbie Brady saw red for a reckless tackle 10 minutes from the end of Norwich City's 0-0 draw with Brentford, who had John Egan starting in a three-man defence.

League One

Simon Cox scored for the second successive game as Southend United were denied a fourth straiht win by a late equaliser at home to Charlton Athletic, the game finishing 1-1.

Shaun Williams and Aiden O'Brien both started as Millwall overcame nine-man Gillingham at the New Den.

Samir Carruthers played 90 minutes as MK Dons ran out 2-1 winners at home to Swindon Town.

Jay O'Shea started and Conor Wilkinson was a late sub as Chesterfield fell to a 1-0 defeat at Port Vale.

Rochdale extended their home winning run to ten games with a 2-1 win over Shrewsbury Town. Conrad Logan, Joe Rafferty and Keith Keane all started for 'Dale, while Gary Deegan was a second-half sub for the Shrews.

John-Joe O'Toole completed 90 minutes as Northampton Town fell to a 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

Paddy Madden started but couldn't prevent Scunthorpe United from going down 2-1 away at Bolton Wanderers.

Colin Doyle and Josh Cullen started as Bradford City were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Bury.

Rory Gaffney was a late substitute in Bristol Rovers' 2-0 win at home to AFC Wimbledon.

Cian Bolger played 90 minutes as Fleetwood Town edged out Oldham Athletic 1-0 at home, while Paul Green played 65 minutes for the Latics.

Chris Forrester started for Peterborough United as they drew 1-1 at home with Coventy City, who had Chris McCann opposite him in midfield.

League Two

Padraig Amond opened the scoring as Hartlepool United registered their first win in over a month, Morecambe, who had Barry Roche in goal.

And it ended goalless in the fog at Huish Park, as Kevin Dawson-captained Yeovil Town were held by Portsmouth, who had David Forde, Enda Stevens, Michael Doyle and Noel Hunt starting.

Liam McAlinden started for Exeter City as they overcame Newport Town 4-1 away from home, with Josh O'Hanlon a second-half sub for the home side.

Graham Carey started and Connor Smith was a late sub as Plymouth Argyle returned to the top of the table with a 2-0 win over Crawley Town, who had Mark Connolly and James Collins in the eleven.

Jamie Devitt started as Carlisle United remained in second place with a 3-2 win away at Notts County.

And Alan Sheehan bagged his second Luton Town goal, while Glen Rea also played 90 minutes, as the Hatters beat Barnet 3-1 at Kenilworth Road.

Owen Garvan started and provided the opening assist as Colchester United continued their run of good form with a 4-2 win away at Stevenage.

Seamus Conneely and John O'Sullivan started as Accrington Stanley won 1-0 away at Crewe Alexandra.

Former Dundalk man Pat Hoban and ex-Bohs man Paul Keegan were late subs for Mansfield Town and Doncaster Rovers respectively as they drew 1-1.

Michael Collins played 90 minutes of Leyton Orient's 1-1 home draw with Cambridge United.

Scotland

Jonny Hayes was the only goalscorer as Aberdeen beat Hearts 1-0 to cut the gap with Rangers in second place to two points, pulling six clear of the Jam Tarts.

Rob Kiernan played 90 minutes as Rangers were edged out 2-1 by Celtic at Ibrox.

Carl McHugh assisted an injury-time equaliser in his second game back from a five-month lay-off as Motherwell rescued a 1-1 draw at Hamilton Academical.

Joe Shaughnessy played 90 minutes by St Johnstone went down to a heavy 3-0 defeat in Dundee.

Aaron Doran completed the full game but Inverness Callie Thistle's poor run of form continued with a 3-2 defeat at Ross County.

And Adam Barton and Gary Dicker played 90 minutes in midfield for Partick Thistle and Kilmarnock respectively as they played out a scoreless draw.