Seven West Ham United loanees were in action for their respective clubs on Boxing Day.
In the Premier League, James Ward-Prowse appeared as an 82nd-minute substitute for Nottingham Forest as the Reds rose to third in the table with a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at the City Ground, while Maxwel Cornet was not permitted to feature for loan club Southampton against us on Boxing Day, as we won 1-0 at St Mary’s Stadium.
In the EFL Championship, George Earthy appeared for the final 16 minutes of Bristol City’s 1-0 home win over Luton Town in front of a bumper 21,828-strong crowd at Ashton Gate. Victory for Liam Manning’s side means Bristol City are eleventh in the table, seven points behind Watford in the final Play-Off place.
Freddie Potts started and played the full 90 minutes but was unable to prevent Portsmouth from losing 2-1 at Watford, for whom Rocco Vata's 95th-minute winner broke Pompey’s resistance. Earlier, Potts had been penalised for a foul on Kwadwo Baah and a penalty awarded to the Hornets, which Edo Kayembe scored to equalise Zak Swanson’s opener, despite the contact appearing to occur outside the box. Portsmouth are now 21st, one place and one point above the relegation zone.
In League One, Callum Marshall started for Huddersfield Town, who claimed a narrow 1-0 win over fellow promotion hopefuls Stockport County at the John Smith’s Stadium. A first minute own goal scored by Stockport’s Lewis Bate settled the game. The Terriers are fourth, five points behind Wycombe Wanderers in the second automatic promotion place.
Fellow Hammers loanee Gideon Kodua was introduced late on as Wycombe maintained their own promotion charge with a 3-0 win at Stevenage. Two goals from Richard Kone helped the Chairboys keep up the pressure on leaders Birmingham City, who they trail by just a point.
Michael Forbes was not involved as Bristol Rovers were beaten 3-1 at Exeter City. Defeat at St James Park leaves the Gas just three points above the relegation zone and without a win in their last five league matches.
In League Two, Patrick Kelly started for Doncaster Rovers but was unable to prevent his side losing 2-0 at runaway leaders Walsall. Kelly played for 73 minutes and set up a good chance for Billy Sharp to equalise at the Bescot Stadium, where second-half goals from Nathan Lowe and Harry Williams made it five wins in a row for the Saddlers.
Levi Laing was an unused substitute as Cheltenham Town came from a goal down to win 2-1 at home to promotion-chasing Crewe Alexandra. Victory extended the Robins’ unbeaten run to six league matches and lifted them to within four points of the Play-Off places.
In National League South, Mason Terry saved a 97th-minute penalty to help Hornchurch secure a 1-1 draw at Aveley. The Urchins sit 13th in the table at the halfway stage of the season, but are only eight points outside the Play-Off places.
Fellow goalkeeper Krisztián Hegyi was an unused substitute as Motherwell were beaten 4-0 at Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.
Nayef Aguerd and Real Sociedad, Kurt Zouma and Al-Orobah and Mohamadou Kanté and Paris FC are on winter breaks in Spain, Saudi Arabia and France respectively.
