Northern Ireland striker Ronan Hale scored his tenth goal of the season as Ross County made it back-to-back home wins with a 3-2 success over Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Championship at the weekend.
The former Cliftonville forward, who also provided an assist for County’s second goal, acrobatically fired home the winner mid-way through the second half as The Staggies moved up to seventh in the table.
In the Premier League in England, Trai Hume and Daniel Ballard were part of the Sunderland side that are now in fourth place in the table following their surprising 2-1 victory at Chelsea.
Liverpool started Conor Bradley at right-back and named Northern Ireland U21 midfielder Kieran Morrison among their substitutes, as they fell to a fourth straight league defeat after going down 3-2 to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Elsewhere, Callum Marshall and Justin Devenny were unused substitutes for West Ham United and Crystal Palace respectively.
Meanwhile, it was confirmed by Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom that midfielder Ali McCann had broken his arm in last week’s game at home to Birmingham City.
“He broke his arm last Tuesday night,” said Heckingbottom, before Friday’s Championship clash with Sheffield United. “He’s had an X-ray so, he's got his arm in a sling and, he is seeing the specialist on Monday.”
McCann’s international midfield partner, Shea Charles, could also be a doubt ahead of Northern Ireland’s crucial World Cup qualifying encounter with Slovakia in just over a fortnight after suffering a hamstring injury at the weekend.
There was also disappointment for Oxford United’s Brodie Spencer, who was substituted just 22 minutes into the 2-1 win at bottom of the table Sheffield Wednesday with a foot injury.
Fresh from scoring his first goal for Portsmouth in midweek, striker Makenzie Kirk was handed his first start by the club for Saturday’s Championship clash with Stoke City at Fratton Park.
Despite losing at home for the second time in a week, Pompey boss John Moushino was impressed with Kirk’s performance.
I thought he (Kirk) was really good, that’s why we kept him on,” Moushino told the club website. “I thought he was a constant threat and unlucky not to get a couple of goals really. For his full league debut, I thought he was excellent.
“I thought he was a different threat than what we’ve necessarily had this season. He worked the shoulder really well. He got caught offside a couple of times, but he only needs one of those to come off to get in behind.”
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson also handed winger Conor McMenamin a first league start of the season as his side lost 3-1 away to Dundee United at Tannadice Park.
In the U18 Premier League in England, 16-year-old Luke Hawe hit a brace for Southampton as they lost 5-2 at Aston Villa and Ceadach O’Neill was on target for the seventh time this season as Arsenal lost 2-1 at Fulham.
Finally, former Cliftonville player Emmett Morrison scored his first of the campaign for Sheffield United U18’s, who beat Wigan Athletic 4-1 in the U18 Development League on Saturday.
