ENGLAND:
After an off-colour performance in the midweek loss to QPR, Tammy Abraham started once again for Bristol City, as Blackburn Rovers made the trip to Ashton Gate. City were utterly ineffective in the final third in the first half, with Tammy having no actions of note apart from winning a couple of free-kicks. However, they upped their game in the second half, also providing better service to Tammy, who won many balls in the air and held up play well. Despite looking more threatening in the latter half, City didn’t manage to put the ball in the back of the net until substitute Aaron Wilbraham capitalised on some lax defending in the dying minutes to put his side ahead.
With the 1-0 win, Bristol City moved up to 6th place and into the promotion play-off zone.
Back with the win today 3 points... we go again
— Tammy abraham (@tammyabraham) October 22, 2016
Upcoming fixtures: Hull City (H, October 25), Barnsley (A, October 29)
Kasey Palmer started for Huddersfield Town versus Derby County; he was a key attacking outlet and always looked to make things happen for his team, though he had no part in the solitary goal that won them the game which came from Elias Kachunga in the 93rd minute. With the victory, the Terriers sit third in the table, level on points with second-placed Brighton and Hove Albion, and three points behind leaders Newcastle United.
In midweek, Kasey was a 67th minute substitute, as Huddersfield lost 3-1 to Preston.
Back to winning ways today! Dug deep and deserved the last minute winner #UTT!!! ⚪️ ⚪️
— Kasey (@Kasey_Palmer10) October 22, 2016
Upcoming Fixtures: Fulham (A, October 29)
Rotherham United are stuck in a rut; having picked up only 6 points from 13 games, ex-manager Alan Stubbs, who was only appointed this summer, was asked to leave and former Wolverhampton and Millwall manager, Kenny Jackett was appointed to take his place. Jackett could not immediately change things in his first match in charge against Reading, with a late Paul McShane winner inflicting yet another loss on the Millers.
Izzy Brown had a regular starting role under Stubbs, but Jackett opted to keep him as an option off the bench in this game. Brown is a skillful player who has the ability to turn a game on its head on his day, but can also be seen as a bit of a luxury player for a side languishing in bottom place like Rotherham due to his lack of defensive work-rate. Brown was introduced in the 64th minute nevertheless, but turned in an uncharacteristically poor, almost disinterested performance which didn’t at all sit well with the Rotherham fans, many interpreting it as a poor reaction to being benched.
Brown played the whole 90 in midweek, when Rotherham lost 4-2 to Birmingham City.
Upcoming fixtures: Ipswich Town (A, October 29)
Tomas Kalas missed Fulham’s 1-0 loss to Aston Villa due to injury and is expected to be back in training next week; Lucas Piazon did start once again and played 81 minutes. Piazon played all but the last minute of injury time in midweek, as Fulham managed to hold Norwich City to a 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage.
Upcoming fixtures: Huddersfield (H, October 29)
Christian Atsu replaced Yoann Gouffran in the 75th minute, as Newcastle made light work of Ipswich Town, beating them three goals to none and going three points clear at the top of the table. He was also a substitute at a similar time against Barnsley in midweek.
Upcoming fixtures: Preston (H, October 25), Preston (A, October 29)
In midweek, Jake Clarke-Salter started for Bristol Rovers, who fought hard to clinch a comeback against MK Dons, drawing 3-3. Charlie Colkett was brought on at half-time and added some much-needed creativity to the side. He also produced a sumptuous backheel to send Clarke-Salter clear in the penalty area, who crossed for hat-trick hero Matty Taylor to put the ball in the back of the net, leveling the scoreline to 3-3.
Much like their Championship counterparts, Bristol City, Rovers moved into the promotion play-off spots this weekend; their 2-0 win against Oldham Athletic took them up to fifth place. Charlie Colkett started for Darrell Clarke’s side, once again in an attacking midfield role and scored the game’s opener with a fine half-volley. Jake Clarke-Salter was a substitute but was called upon in the 64th minute, when Peter Hartley had to come off with a pulled hamstring. Clarke-Salter also added a second for the Rovers, heading in a corner in the 87th minute. A victory made in Chelsea, eh?
Here’s the reaction from the lads themselves.
Upcoming fixtures: Peterborough (H, October 29)
Nathan Ake was an unused substitute for Bournemouth and Patrick Bamford got around four minutes towards the end of Burnley’s 2-1 win over Everton.
Upcoming fixtures (Bournemouth): Middlesbrough (A, October 29)
Upcoming fixtures (Burnley): Man4-0ester United (A, October 29)
Kenedy missed out for Watford through injury. Speaking of injuries, Loic Remy, as per most recent reports, is set for a December return from his.
Upcoming fixtures: Hull City (H, October 29)
Jordan Houghton started in Doncaster’s 4-2 loss to Blackpool, as did Alex Kiwomya in Crewe’s 1-0 loss to Yeovil Town.
Jamal Blackman let in two this weekend, Barnet beating Wycombe Wanderers 2-0.
20: Barnet's keeper thinks he's @Big_Blacks, coming miles off his line for a cross, but he gets nowhere it & it's scrambled away. 0-0.
— Wycombe Wanderers (@wwfcofficial) October 22, 2016
Alex Davey was a 69th minute substitute in Crawley’s 0-0 draw against Accrington Stanley, but Mitchell Beeney was not in the matchday squad..
Dion Conroy was not involved for Aldershot, while Nathan Baxter started in Met Police’s 3-2 loss to Staines Town.
SPAIN:
Jeremie Boga was left out of the matchday squad but Victorien Angban did get another start and played 72 minutes, as Granada played out a goalless draw against Sporting de Gijon.
Charly Musonda missed out for Betis because of injury.
GERMANY:
Michael Hector played no part in Eintracht Frankfurt’s 3-0 beating of Hamburger SV.
Upcoming fixtures: Ingolstadt (DFB Pokal, H, October 25), Borussia Mönchengladbach (A, October 28)
Andreas Christensen is out with a gluteal injury and did not feature in any of Borussia Mönchengladbach’s previous two games. Gladbach won 2-0 at Celtic Park in the Champions League and now sit one point behind Manchester City in their group. Gladbach must definitely attain Europa League qualification at the very least via third spot in this group, although progressing to the knockout stages of the Champions League seems a bleak prospect. In order to progress, they’d need a result against not only Celtic at Borussia Park, but Manchester City as well and hope that Barcelona beat City yet again.
Upcoming fixtures: Stuttgart (DFB Pokal, H, October 25), Eintracht Frankfurty (H, October 28)
Schalke made it three wins out of three in the Europa League with a 1-0 win against Krasnodar. Baba Rahman started at left-back in that game, but was a substitute on Sunday as Markus Weinzierl opted to play a 3-1-4-2 formation with Sead Kolasinac on the left instead. Baba did play the final ten minutes though, replacing Kolasinac.
Upcoming fixtures: Nürnberg (DFB Pokal, A, October 25), Borussia Dortmund (A, October 29)
THE NETHERLANDS:
Lewis Baker and Matt Miazga both started for Vitesse in the Gelderse Derby against NEC Nijmegen. Vitesse were in control for most of the game and took the lead in the 38th minute via none other than former NEC player Navarone Foor. Just as they did last week, however, Vitesse became very sloppy in the final minutes and sat too deep, almost inviting NEC to score an equaliser, which they did in the 88th minute, aided by an error from goalkeeper Eloy Room. Baker had a chance to put Vitesse two goals up, timing his run into the box to perfection but dragging his effort wide. Miazga put in a generally solid showing, playing the ball safely out of defence and defending well in the box. Nathan replaced Milot Rashica in the 69th minute.
Upcoming fixtures: RKC (KNVB Cup, H, October 26), PSV Eindhoven (H, October 29)
Bertrand Traore started for Ajax in their 2-2 draw against Celta Vigo in the Europa League and in De Klassieker, against Feyenoord on Sunday, which ended in a 1-1 draw. He failed to find the back of the net in either game and even got booked for diving in the latter.
Upcoming fixtures: Kozakken Boys (KNVB Cup, A, October 26), Excelsior (H, October 29)
Danilo Pantic was a 61st minute substitute in Excelsior’s 2-0 loss to PEC Zwolle.
Upcoming fixtures: Feyenoord (KNVB Cup, A, October 26), Ajax (A, October 29)
OTHERS:
Matej Delac started for Mouscron and Islam Feruz was a 79th minute substitute, in their 2-0 loss to Yellow-Red KV Mechelen.
Cristian Cuevas started in STVV’s 1-0 loss to Genk.
Kenneth Omeruo started in Alanyaspor’s 2-0 loss to Bursaspor.
Mario Pasalic was an unused substitute for AC Milan against Juventus.
Wallace got 90 minutes against Santos last Monday, but didn’t see any minutes as Gremio took on Palmeiras or Internacional.
Joao Rodriguez was.. you know how it goes.