Mixed day as players return to domestic action
It was a very mixed day for Irish Footballers as they returned to action following last week’s dramatic World Cup qualifying fixtures.
Fresh from being “confirmed” as Ireland’s goalscorer in Bari on Wednesday, Robbie Keane found the net from the penalty spot for Tottenham Hotspur. However, his lead goal was later cancelled out as Spurs slipped to a 2-1 defeat against a Blackburn Rovers side which included Keith Andrews.
Damien Duff made a surprising return from injury to feature for Newcastle in their 2-0 defeat to Chelsea. Duff joined the action as a first half substitute for a Newcastle team now drifting towards relegation from the English Premier Division.
Fellow injury problem Aiden McGeady also returned to action – having missed the match in Italy – to score for Celtic in a 4-0 Scottish Premier Division win over Hamilton. McGeady got a rest before the end – replaced by former Shamrock Rovers and Derry City player Pat McCourt.
Shay Given and Richard Dunne had a less productive day, seeing their side Manchester City again struggle away from home as they lost 2-0 to Arsenal in London. Stephen Ireland remained out injured after picking up a fresh injury during the week.
Glenn Whelan was influential as Stoke City took a giant step towards safety – beating West Brom 2-0 at the Hawthorns.
Jay Tabb and Shane Long were starters while the Hunt brothers, Noel and Stephen also featured as substitutes in Reading’s 0-0 away draw with Coventry in the Championship. Former Irish under-21 international Leon Best played the first half for Coventry.
Kevin Doyle was rested by Reading with manager Steve Coppell saying, “The manager only gave him 65 minutes in midweek but I’m sure in that 65 he put in as much effort as most people do in 90 minutes. The Italy game was a massive one emotionally for the Irish boys, they got back at 3am, so that’s why he was out.”
John O’Flynn added to his goal-scoring run at Barnet with a second half penalty in a 2-0 win over Gillingham in England’s League Two.
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