Sixteen Irish players started for their Premiership clubs at the weekend, with one more, Damien Duff, coming on as a second half substitute for Blackburn against Derby, who had Lee Carsley and Rory Delap in their starting line-up. Charlton's Mark Kinsella had a happy Premiership debut, helping his side to a 0-0 draw away to Newcastle, but Mark Kennedy had a frustrating day at Selhurst Park, where he was an unused sub for Wimbledon. In the first division, Sean McClare scored on his debut for Barnsley, when he came on as a sub in their 3-1 defeat away to Crewe, while Kevin Kilbane was amongst West Bromich Albion's scorers in their 4-1 win at home to Sheffield United. In Division Two, Crumlin-born Steve Robinson scored Bournemouth's winner away to Notts County and at the New Den Richard Sadlier and Scott Fitzgerald got the goals that gave Millwall a 2-1 win over Wycombe Wanderers.

Ryan Casey, the Galway teenager who was a member of the Irish under18 squad that won the European Championships in Cyprus last month, scored Swansea's goal in their 2-1 defeat to Cambridge United. Meanwhile in the Scottish Premier League former Bolton Wanderers' striker Owen Coyle equalised against Rangers at Ibrox, but Motherwell were denied a draw by a 90th minute penalty from Jorg Albertz.