Mipo Odubeko made his Doncaster Rovers debut on Saturday as one of four West Ham United loanees in action over the weekend.
The 19-year-old forward made his first Football League start in Donny’s 3-1 defeat at home to Plymouth Argyle on Saturday – and came close to marking the occasion with a goal.
Odubeko set the tone for a promising debut when his tireless pressing almost forced a mistake from Plymouth goalkeeper Mike Cooper in the opening minutes, before testing the shot-stopper with a close-range effort from Joe Dodoo.
The Republic of Ireland striker then helped his side take the lead on ten minutes with a fierce effort kept out – but crucially not held – by Cooper, who parried into the path of Branden Horton to slot home.
Plymouth went on to equalise soon after through Luke Jephcott and, despite Odubeko having two further efforts saved either side of half-time, the visitors went on to take the lead against the run of play in the second half via Joe Edwards, before Jordon Garrick sealed the result late on.
Despite the defeat at Keepmoat Stadium, however, Odubeko reflected with pride on a promising debut for Garry McSheffrey’s side, saying: “I felt good.
“In the first half, I felt like I’d started sharply and me and big Joe [Dodoo] upfront started well and ran hard. The second half was a bit more difficult but I’ll be ready to go again on Tuesday [at home to Rotherham].
“We’re frustrated that we didn’t take the opportunities. You can’t have that many chances in a game and not take them, but if you look at the positive at least we’ve created the chances.”
A memorable day was also in store in League One for Conor Coventry, who enjoyed his second 1-0 win in a week on loan at MK Dons.
The Republic of Ireland U21 captain played the full 90 minutes of the Dons’ 1-0 triumph over Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park on Saturday.
As was the case against Burton Albion on Tuesday, Scott Twine was the Dons’ goalscorer, albeit much earlier – in the 13th minute against Wycombe, as opposed to the 95th at Burton.
And Coventry’s influence was once again felt in the middle of the park as Liam Manning’s team dominated the ball for a second successive match to leapfrog their opposition up to fourth in the League One table, just four points behind leaders Rotherham.
Their next fixture will be at home to Coventry’s former loanee club Lincoln City on Saturday.
And not far behind them are Nathan Holland and Oxford United, who recorded a resounding 7-2 thrashing of Gillingham at Priestfield on Saturday
The 23-year-old winger played an hour of the hammering, in which Cameron Brannagan remarkably scored four separate penalties for the U’s, with further goals from Billy Bodin, Matty Taylor and Anthony Forde.
Karl Robinson’s team were three goals to the good at half-time and went on to punish their opposition even further in the second half, with Danny Lloyd and Robbie McKenzie’s replies for Gillingham scant consolation.
Next up for Holland and Oxford is a trip to title challengers Wigan Athletic on Tuesday.
And in the French Cup, Nathan Trott and AS Nancy’s hopes were ended at the Round of 16 stage with a 2-0 defeat at home to fellow Ligue 2 side Amiens SC.
The goalkeeper’s first appearance in his team’s cup run saw him called into action regularly throughout, but he was powerless to prevent Arnaud Lusamba and Tolu Arokodare both striking in the first half to ultimately provide the visitors with a comfortable win at Stade Marcel Picot.
Nancy must now turn their attentions to overhauling a seven-point deficit in Ligue 2 which sees them sit firmly in the relegation zone, bottom of the table.