With another round of midweek Championship fixtures over, we take a look at the Irish players who stood out in England's second tier.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa fell to a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Carrow Road on Tuesday. The Birmingham Mail rated Glenn Whelan 6 and Conor Hourihane 5.5, with the latter assisting James Chester for the Villains only goal of the game:
Whelan: Played it simple in the middle of the park. Showed composure on the ball, moved it quickly and rarely misplaced a pass.
Hourihane: Chipped in with another assist for Chester’s opener. Fired a free-kick over in the first-half and shot wide with a good opportunity after the break. Subbed.
Scott Hogan came on for Villa on 54 minutes, and was rated 5.5 for his efforts.
Rotherham
Rotherham drew 0-0 with Middlesbrough on Tuesday with Richie Towell and Ryan Manning both getting a 7 for their performance from the Rotherham Advertiser:
Towell: Always puts in a shift. He covered the ground in both halves. A key man for the Millers. Didn't do as much as we know he can with the ball, but his contribution off it was important.
Manning: Looked a threat going forward. Comfortable on the ball, direct and not scared to try his luck when he got a sight of goal.
Middlesbrough
Ireland number one Darren Randolph kept a clean sheet against Rotherham on Tuesday and was rated an 8 by Teeside Live, who wrote that the 31-year-old made two stunning saves to keep his side in the game. Kept his 9th shut out of the season.
Millwall
Millwall's Irish contingent fared well on Tuesday, with substitute Aiden O'Brien winning a penalty and captain Shaun Willians scoring from the resultant spot kick. There was high praise from Football London for O'Brien, whose introduction 'changed the game':
Shaun Williams Much better than in recent weeks. Did the simple things well and coolly dispatched his fourth Lions goal of the season to restore parity from the spot – 6
Aiden O’Brien: Introduced at half-time and totally changed the game. Won the penalty and came close to scoring one himself but his deflected effort sailed just wide. Involved in the majority of their good moments in the second-half – 8
Stoke
The Stoke Sentinel scored James McClean a 5 for his part in Stokes 1-1 draw with Sheffield United, writing that for the second game in succession the Derryman 'couldn't get into his stride where it mattered.'
Preston North End
Callum Robinson goal was the big winner from the Irish in the Championship, scoring two goals in a man of the match performance for Preston in their 4-3 win over Brentford. Alan Browne also got on the scoresheet when a Robinson shot deflected into his path allowing him to just nip in front of the keeper to open the scoring.
Callum Robinson with another 2 tonight...he's the clear favourite at minute for big money summer move to promoted team. Watkins also in that shout
— Blades Analytics (@Blades_analytic) October 24, 2018
Sheffield United
Sheffield United missed the opportunity to go top of the league in their 1-1 draw with Stoke. John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick all featured for the Blades, who were left cursing their luck when Joe Allen popped up with a late free kick to gain a share of the spoils.
Bristol City
Callum O'Dowda got 30 minutes as a sub in his side's last gasp win over Hull City, Famara Diedhiou scoring deep into added time.
Derby
Richard Keogh did not manage a clean sheet against West Brom, but will probably be happy nonetheless with his side overcoming West Brom 4-1 at the Hawthorns.
See Also:Watch: Controversial Offside As Spurs Disallowed Goal Baffles Viewers
