Had Boots Did Travel - Irish Abroad (15 Jan 2017)

There were encouraging signs as a total of 76 Irish players made an appearance of some variety across England's top four leagues, while the Scottish Premier League took a break for the winter.

Of those 76, there were 11 on show in the Premier League and 25 in the Championship, while 20 lined out in each of League One and League Two – meaning the highest representation was in the second tier.

Five of those on show in the Premier League were graduates of the League of Ireland, seven in the Championship, five in League One and a further nine in League Two, a fairly even spread across the tiers.

There were a number of debuts as the weekend saw the first league games of the January transfer window, with ex-Dundalk winger Daryl Horgan excelling on his debut for Preston North End.

England

Premier League

A man-of-the-match perfomance from Jeff Hendrick helped Burnley to a third win in four games as the Clarets clambered up to the safety of tenth place with a 1-0 defeat of Southampton.

Stephen Ward also played 90 minuutes for Burnley, while Shane Long was handed a rare start up from for the Saints.

Seamus Coleman played 90 minutes and James McCarthy was a second-half substitute as Everton blitzed Manchester City 4-0 in the weekend's surprise result at Goodison Park.

Harry Arter played the full game as Bournemouth threw away an early lead to fall to a 3-1 defeat away to Hull City.

There was a 500^th career appearance for Glenn Whelan as Stoke City cantered to a 3-1 win away to Sunderland, who were captained on the day by John O'Shea.

James McClean continued his role as a bench option at West Bromwich Albion, being introduced after 54 minutes of the Baggies' 4-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.

And Darren Randolph kept a clean sheet as West Ham United returned to winning ways with a thumping 3-0 win over Damien Delaney's Crystal Palace.

Championship

Anthony Pilkington was on the double as Cardiff City twice fought from behind to edge out Bristol City 3-2 at Ashton Gate, scoring the winner with a spectacular strike from distance.

Brian Murphy continued in goal for the Bluebirds while Callum O'Dowda played 87 minutes for the Robins.

And there was a second goal in two games, and a first league goal in black and white, for Daryl Murphy as Newcastle United returned to the summit with a 2-1 win at Brentford.

Ciaran Clark started in defence for the Magpies, as did John Egan for the Bees.

And Joe Mason scored the only goal of the game and Matt Doherty started as Wolves earned the east midlands bragging rights with a 1-0 win over Aston Villa.

Daryl Horgan started his first game for Preston North End after debuting off the bench in the FA Cup against Arsenal and he marked it with an assist as the Lilywhites beat league leaders Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0.

Alan Browne was man of the match, while Aiden McGeady and Greg Cunningham also started, and Shane Duffy played 90 minutes for an Albion side who drop to second place.

Ryan Manning retained his starting place and assisted the only goal as Queens Park Rangers made it three league wins on the spin against Liam Kelly's Reading.

Wes Hoolahan's assist couldn't prevent Norwich City from falling to a 2-1 defeat at Rotherham United, who had Anthony Forde in the starting eleven.

And there was another clean sheet for Keiren Westwood as Sheffield Wednesday beat fellow play-off contenders Huddersfield Town 2-0 at Hillsborough.

Richard Keogh captained Derby County as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road.

Stephen Henderson kept a clean sheet as Nottingham Forest held Stephen Gleeson's Birmingham City to a scoreless draw at St Andrews, but it wasn't enough to save Philippe Montanier's job.

Damien McCrory was a late sub as Burton Albion fell to a costly 2-0 defeat at home to Wigan Athletic.

And Conor Hourihane's Barnsley dropped to tenth with a 2-0 defeat at home to Fulham, who leapfrogged the Tykes into play-off contention.

Darragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams started in defence for Blackburn Rovers as they fell to a narrow 3-2 defeat at Ipswich Town.

League One

Simon Cox timed his 100^th career goal impeccably as he struck deep in injury time to earn Southend United a priceless 2-1 victory at home to Rochdale.

The Shrimpers also had Michael Timlin in the first eleven, while Conrad Logan, Joe Rafferty and Keith Keane all lined out for Dale, with Keane seeing red midway through the first half.

Cian Bolger helped himself to a third league goal of the season as Fleetwood Town made it 13 games unbeaten with a 3-1 win over Bristol Rovers.

Stephen Dawson captained Scunthorpe United as they struck late to secure a 2-1 win over John-Joe O'Toole's Northampton United to keep the pressure on first-placed Sheffield United.

And the league leaders saw the gap cut to just a point as they fell to a surprise 4-1 defeat at Walsall, for whom Eoghan O'Connell was making his debut after joining on loan from Celtic.

Paul Green was a late sub as Oldham Athletic, managed for the first time by former Ireland international John Sheridan, beat Gillingham, who brought Emmanuel Osadebe off the bench.

Colin Doyle and Josh Cullen started for Bradford City, but they couldn't prevent Bradford City from falling to a 1-0 defeat at Gary Deegan's relegation-threatened Shrewsbury.

It was an unhappy afternoon's work for Chris Forrester as his Peterborough United side squandered an early lead to down hefty 5-1 losers away at Bury.

Shaun Williams and Aiden O'Brien both started as Millwall held London neighbours Charlton Athletic to a 0-0 draw at the Valley.

Jay O'Shea started for Chesterfield, while both Callum Reilly and Kevin Foley lined out for Coventry City, as the Spireites got the better of the promotional tussle with a 1-0 win.

League Two

A 12^th goal of the season for James Collins helped Crawley Town to a 1-0 win over Hartlepool United, for whom former Sligo Rovers striker Padraig Amond was withdrawn after the hour.

Kevin Dawson gave Yeovil Town a first-half lead from the penalty spot as they posted an impressive 1-1 draw away to promotion-chasing Wycombe Wanderers.

Ian Lawlor made his Doncaster Rovers debut in goal and Paul Keegan was a late sub as the league leaders continued their march with a 3-1 win against Barnet at the Hive.

There was a debut off the bench for Grimsby Town's Gavin Gunning but he was powerless to prevent the Mariners from falling 3-0 to Exeter City, who had Liam McAlinden as a late sub.

Graham Carey set up two and Connor Smith one as Plymouth Argyle kept touch with the leaders thanks to a 4-2 defeat of Stevenage ahead of their FA Cup replay with Liverpool.

And former St Patrick's Athletic full back Jake Carroll made his debut for Cambridge United following his move from Hartlepool as they were held to a scoreless draw by Blackpool.

Alan Sheehan was sent off early in the second half as Luton Town hung on to record a 2-1 victory away to Crewe Alexandra.

Pat Hoban was a late sub as Mansfield Town held Notts County to a scoreless draw at Meadow Lane.

And Mark O'Brien made his first appearance for Newport County as the Welsh side drew 1-1 at home with Owen Garvan's Colchester United.

Barry Roche played 90 minutes in goal as ten-man Morecambe held promotion-chasing Carlisle United to a 1-1 draw at Brunton Park.

Ex-Sligo Rovers man Seamus Conneely played 90 minutes for Accrington Stanley as they were subject to a heavy 3-0 defeat at Cheltenham Town.

David Forde, Enda Stevens and Michael Doyle started Portsmouth's 2-1 win over Michael Collins' Leyton Orient.

Rest of the World

Andy Keogh scored a second-half equaliser as Perth Glory salvaged a 2-2 draw from their trip to Newcastle Jets.

But Roy O'Donovan's Central Coast Mariners remain rooted to the bottom of the A-League table as they endured a 1-0 defeat away to Wellington Phoenix.

Cillian Sheridan played 90 minutes as Omonia Nicosia were beaten 2-1 at home by Apollon Limassol.