It was another eventful weekend of league football, with five of West Ham United’s young loanees making their mark across various divisions.
After securing a move to EFL Championship side Bristol City during the week, George Earthy made his debut for the Robins on Saturday. The match was a dramatic affair, with Bristol City surrendering an early 2-0 lead against Millwall, falling 3-2 behind before levelling at 3-3. Earthy was introduced with just four minutes left to play, as the home side desperately searched for a late winner.
Despite his brief cameo, the 19-year-old midfielder brought energy to the field, eagerly demanding the ball and using it effectively. Just two minutes after coming on, he played a key role in the home side's winning goal. Receiving the ball out wide, Earthy drew the attention of two defenders before passing back to Joe Williams, whose first-time cross found Scott Twine, who scored to secure a 4-3 win for the Robins.
Earthy’s promising debut nearly included a goal, too, but a mishit shot from the centre of the penalty area denied him the perfect start. Nevertheless, Bristol City held on to secure their first league win of the campaign, moving them into the Play-Off places.
Elsewhere in the EFL, Callum Marshall made his League One debut, playing 25 minutes as a substitute in the second half as Huddersfield Town beat Stevenage 2-1.
Defender Michael Forbes, who had played 90 minutes in the Carabao Cup the previous midweek, was not involved in Bristol Rovers’ goalless draw against Rotherham in League One.
In League Two, both Levi Laing and Patrick Kelly featured for their respective clubs. Kelly came on for the last 15 minutes in Doncaster Rovers’ 3-1 defeat by Newport County, despite his team initially taking the lead at Rodney Parade. Meanwhile, Laing made his third start for Cheltenham Town, who fought back from 2-0 down only to be denied a point by a stoppage-time winner from Grimsby Town's Jordan Davies at Blundell Park.
In the National League South, Mason Terry’s Hornchurch suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at home to Eastbourne Borough.
Goalkeeper Krisztián Hegyi remained an unused substitute as his side Motherwell advanced to the quarter-finals of the Scottish League Cup with an extra-time win over Kilmarnock at Fir Park.
