Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny’s bad luck continues with confirmation at the weekend that Norwich pair Adam Idah and Andrew Omobamidele are both injured. Idah is certain to miss next month’s friendlies against Belgium and Lithuania and will be out until the end of the season. The Cork-born striker was just beginning to command a regular starting place in the Norwich team, but he suffered a knee injury in the Canaries game against Crystal Palace on Feb. 9. After scoring his first EPL goal against Everton last month, Idah was credited with assists in the win over Watford and draw with Crystal Palace. Manager Dean Smith, confirming that Idah has undergone surgery for a meniscus problem in his knee said: ‘‘Adam will be out for the season and that’s a big blow for us.’’ Smith also had bad news for Kenny on Norwich’s Irish defender Andrew Omobamidele. The Kildare-born defender, who is troubled with a back injury, hasn’t played a competitive game since Dec 5. ‘‘Andrew has suffered a setback with his injury. We are hoping it’s nothing too serious, but we have sent him to see a consultant to check,’’ added Smith.
LONG SCORES FOR SAINTS
Shane Long was introduced as a sub for Southampton in the 84th minute of their home game against Everton. And just a minute later the Tipperary-born forward rose above Seamus Coleman and two other Everton players, to score the Saints’ second goal. It was Long’s first league goal since he scored against Aston Villa two years ago this month. Everton have now dropped to 16h place, just 4 points outside the relegation zone.
Liverpool, who beat Norwich 3-1 at Anfield, closed the gap at the top of the table to six points after Manchester City went down 3-2 at home to Spurs. It was City’s first league defeat since October, when they lost at home to Crystal Palace. In midweek, City had won 5-0 away to Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League last 16. On Saturday a late goal from Harry Kane saw Spurs grab all three points. The England striker has been below his best for much of the season, but his performance was a reminder why City boss Pep Guardiola was so keen to sign him at the start of the season. The captain did not just score twice, he was the key man in Spurs’ game plan, constantly dropping deep to collect the ball and finding willing runners ahead of him. Irish international Matt Doherty was a sub for the North Londoners and blocked the last City chance.
Irish international Nathan Collins started for relegation-threatened Burnley, who picked up three points with a 3-0 away win over Brighton. Shane Duffy started for Brighton and 17 year-old Evan Ferguson was a second-half sub. Manchester United won 4-2 away to Leeds, to consolidate their place in the top four. United manager Ralf Rangnick said the win was a perfect response to reports of unrest in the squad. In midweek some media reports suggested Harry Maguire and Cristiano Ronaldo were ‘‘embroiled in a power struggle’’ over the club’s captaincy.
Shane Long scored for Southampton in their win over Everton. INPHO/LASZLO GECZO
GAMES FOR MOLINEUX
England’s next two home UEFA Nations League games, against Italy and Hungary, will be played at Wolves’ Molineux Stadium in June. The game against Italy on June 11 will be played behind closed doors following the unrest at the Euro 2020 final, when the two countries met at Wembley. Hungary visit Molineux on June 14. It will be the first time Wolverhampton has hosted a match involving the England senior men’s team since December 1956.
CLUBS CONCERNED ABOUT TRANSFERS
Bohemians have called for League of Ireland clubs to work together and stand up to agents to prevent the loss of star talent to the UK for tiny transfer fees. Since the end of last season, Sligo Rovers lost Johnny Kenny and John Mahon once Scottish clubs triggered the €150,000 release clause in their contracts, Crystal Palace paid Drogheda just €50,000 for Killian Phillips while out-of-contract players such as James Brown, Georgie Kelly and Dan Cleary to the UK for free. Bohs got compensation, but not a transfer fee, for Ross Tierney’s move to Motherwell. An EPL club paying a five-figure sum for a player here is a concern to clubs, as is the departure of a prospect like Kenny for only €150,000, and Bohs' Chief Operating Officer Daniel Lambert says collective action is needed to remove relatively small buy-out clauses from contracts. Lambert said: ‘‘The agents’ side of it is really worrying, you have so many agents trying to put clauses into contracts and I don’t think they benefit anyone but the agents. When the player does then move, they are not getting the maximum value either. The club has to pay a bit more for the player.’’
ROVERS, PATS WIN
Shamrock Rovers made a good start in their bid to win the League of Ireland for the third season in-a-row with a 3-0 win over UCD at Tallaght on Friday night. St Patrick’s Athletic, who finished runners-up to the Hoops last season, also made a good start, winning 3-0 against Shelbourne at Tolka Park. It was a good start for the Saints new manager Tim Clancy, while Damien Duff said he was happy despite the scoreline. Duff said: ‘‘It was our own mistakes really. With the ball, I couldn’t ask any more of them. I think we created a lot of a lot of scoring opportunities.’’ Another new manager who must be reasonably happy is Stephen O’Donnell, who saw Dundalk draw with a much fancied Derry side. Finn Harps and Sligo Rovers had their home games against Drogheda and Bohemians respectively postponed after snow in the North West. Meanwhile there were plenty of goals in the first division where Cork City beat Bray 6-0, Waterford beat Athlone 5-2 and Treaty hammered Wexford 5-0, all away from home.
EPL results
Arsenal 2, Brentford 1; Aston Villa 0, Watford 1; Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Burnley 3; Crystal Palace 0, Chelsea 1; Leeds United 2, Manchester United 4; Liverpool 3, Norwich 1; Manchester City 2, Tottenham Hotspur 3; Southampton 2, Everton 0; West Ham United 1, Newcastle United 1; Wolverhampton Wanderers 2, Leicester City 1.
