YBIG
by Joe McCarthy http://irish-abroad.appspot.com/
Friday, 29 April 2016
Championship
Birmingham City 2-2 Middlesbrough
Having not scored in the Championship before this season, Stephen Gleeson scored his fifth goal in the competition (his first goal since 16th January) in 2015/16
Saturday, 30 April 2016
Premier League
Watford 3-2 Aston Villa
After coming off the bench last week to make his professional debut last weekend, Kevin Toner made the first start of his career today, congratulations Kevin!
Ciaran Clark scored his tenth goal for Aston Villa, his second of the season, having not scored more than a single strike in one season since 2011/12
Everton 2-1 Bournemouth
James McCarthy made his landmark 350th career appearance against Bournemouth – congratulations James!
Harry Arter gave his chances of appearing in Martin O’Neill’s squad for Euro 2016 a massive boost by returning from injury for his first start since 20th March.
Stoke City 1-1 Sunderland
Similarly, Jonathan Walters returned from injury and came off the bench for Stoke for his first appearance since 19th March.
Arsenal 1-0 Norwich
Wes Hoolahan’s returned to the Norwich City starting XI for his first start since 12th March.
Championship
Bolton 1-0 Hull City
Almost two years after signing for Hull City in August 2014, Brian Lenihan made his first appearance for the club following a recovery from a serious injury that kept the defender out of action since a loan spell with Blackpool in November 2014.
Bristol City 4-0 Huddersfield
Alex Pearce made only his second league start of the season, more than two months after his first league start on 23rd February.
Having been an unused substitute in each of his last seven appearances in the matchday squad, Derrick Williams made his first start since 19th January.
Ipswich 3-2 MK Dons
More than a month after signing for MK Dons on loan at the end of March, Kevin Long made his first appearance for the club.
David McGoldrick scored his fourth goal of the season, this was his first goal since August, when he scored three goals in the opening seven games of the season.
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Joe Mason scored his ninth goal of the season, his first goal since 13th February.
Reading 1-2 Preston North End
Stephen Quinn scored his first goal for Reading since signing for them during the summer 2015 window, and almost a year to the date since his last goal on 4th May 2015!
Rotherham 0-1 Blackburn
Shane Duffy scored his fifth goal for the club. This goal was also his fourth of the season, meaning he’s scored more in 2015/16 than in the previous three seasons combined!
League 1
Barnsley 2-2 Colchester
Conor Hourihane was booked for the tenth time this season.
Burton Albion 2-1 Gillingham
Anthony O’Connor’s late introduction from the bench was first appearance in three months after being substituted with an injury on 30th January.
Bradley Garmston made his 25th start of the season
Chesterfield 3-0 Bury
Jay O’Shea made his fiftieth appearance of the season.
John O’Sullivan made his twenty-fifth appearance of the season.
Coventry 3-1 Sheffield United
Stephen Hunt started for Coventry, a day short of two months since his last appearance on 1st March
Congratulations to Graham Kelly on making his senior career debut as a late substitute for Sheffield United.
Millwall 3-0 Oldham
Aiden O’Brien made his fiftieth appearance of the season, and can look forward to at least two more in the play offs with Millwall.
Scunthorpe 1-0 Port Vale
Paddy Madden made his fiftieth start of the season, and marked it with his 22nd goal of the season, just over a month since he last found the back of the net on 28th March.
Southend United 0-1 Bradford City
After coming off the bench last week for his first appearance since early March, David Mooney made his first start since 1st March. Mooney was substituted for fellow striker Noel Hunt who made his first appearance since 5th March.
Stephen McLaughlin was booked for the second time this season, previous to this yellow card the winger had not been cautioned by a referee since 24th October.
League 2
Hartlepool 0-2 Portsmouth
After coming off the bench for Portsmouth last week, goalkeeper Brian Murphy made his first start since 19th January, while in the same game Enda Stevens made his fiftieth start for the club.
York City 1-4 Bristol Rovers
After coming off the bench as a second half substitute, Kenneth McEvoy scored his first goal since 30 January.
James Berrett was booked for the tenth time this season.
Scottish Premier League
Aberdeen 4-1 Motherwell
Adam Rooney came off the bench to make his 100th appearance for Aberdeen, then scored his 20th goal of the season, then was injured and had to be substituted – the first Irish player to be introduced and substituted in the same game since Paul Heffernan last May!
After securing the Player of the Season, Players’ Player of the Season and Goal of the Season awards midweek (see Further Reading), Jonathan Hayes scored his sixth goal of the season, almost three months after his fifth goal on 3rd February.
MLS
Montreal Impact 2-2 Colorado Rapids
Following his goalscoring introduction from the bench last week, Kevin Doyle returned to the Colorado Rapids starting XI for his first start since 20 March.
Sunday, 1 May 2016
Premier League
Southampton 4-2 Manchester City
Shane Long scored his twentieth goal for Southampton, also his 100th career goal!
Eredivisie
PSV Eindhoven 6-2 SC Cambuur
Jack Byrne made his twenty-fifth career start, and marked it with his fourth goal of the season and unfortunately his fifth booking of the season.
