Nine of West Ham United’s loanees were involved in a busy weekend of action throughout the English football pyramid and abroad...
Krisztián Hegyi’s Debreceni VSC moved out of the Hungarian top-flight relegation places for the first time since November with a 2-0 win over MTK Budapest. Hegyi’s January arrival has made an instant impact, with his side securing back-to-back league wins for the first time this season and a first clean sheet since the opening day, having previously secured just one win since August while holding the league’s worst defensive record.
Back in England, in the EFL Championship, Freddie Potts and Portsmouth fell to a 2-1 defeat, despite a decent away performance against Sheffield United. Connor Ogilvie’s equaliser swiftly canceled out Gustavo Hamer’s opener for the Blades, but Crystal Palace loanee Jesurun Rak-Sakyi struck the decisive goal, as Pompey left Bramall Lane empty-handed. In what was arguably their best away display of the season, Potts impressed with his composure in possession, pressing, and distribution. Portsmouth now have the opportunity to respond at Fratton Park when they face Cardiff City in midweek, as they continue their battle to pull clear of the relegation zone.
Staying in the Championship, George Earthy featured for just over half an hour in Bristol City’s 1-0 home defeat by Swansea City, only their second league loss since Christmas. It was a missed opportunity for the Robins, as a victory would have taking them into the Play-Off places for the first time since mid August.
In the FA Cup fourth round, Gideon Kodua was introduced as a second-half substitute as Wycombe Wanderers saw their journey come to an end in a penalty shootout defeat to Preston North End. In Mike Dodd’s first match as Wycombe head coach, the Chairboys matched their Championship opponents across 120 minutes, but Preston goalkeeper Freddie Woodman emerged as the hero, saving two spot-kicks to seal his side’s passage to the fifth round.
Back in league action in EFL League One, Callum Marshall made his 20th start of the season for Huddersfield Town, who were held to a goalless draw at home to Reading. After a 16-game unbeaten run put them firmly in automatic promotion contention, the Terriers are now struggling for consistency, winning just once in their last eight matches.
Marshall, who set up Herbie Kane’s goal in the Terriers' previous fixture, was deployed in a more creative role on the right wing. The 20-year-old brought the same energy he displayed against Northampton, driving his side forward as they searched for a breakthrough.
With seventh-place Bolton Wanderers just two points behind them, Huddersfield will be looking to rediscover their early-season form when they make the short trip to Barnsley next weekend.
Junior Robinson made his Sutton United debut in the Vanarama National League, playing just over an hour in a 2-1 defeat by Hartlepool United. The full-back played a key role in his side’s opener just seconds after the restart, taking a quick throw-in to Dillon Da Silva, who teed up Will Davies for his tenth goal in as many games. However, Sutton were unable to hold on, conceding twice in the final 15 minutes as Hartlepool leapfrogged them into tenth place.
Fellow young Hammer Regan Clayton also made his National League full debut, playing 77 minutes as Dagenham & Redbridge held Yeovil Town to a 1-1 draw.
In National League South, Mason Terry kept a clean sheet as Hornchurch recorded their first league win of 2025, securing a 2-0 victory away at Bath City. A brace from Darren McQueen sealed the three points. His latest clean sheet means only promotion contenders Truro, Eastbourne, Torquay, Maidstone, and Boreham Wood have better defensive records than Terry's newly promoted side.
In Spain's La Liga, after playing the full 90 minutes in midweek as Real Sociedad defeated Osasuna in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals, Nayef Aguerd completed another 90 minutes in a 2-1 league win over Espanyol.
