Until Alan McLoughlin's 72nd minute goal for Portsmouth against Crewe it looked liked being the first goal-less Saturday of the season so far for Republic of Ireland players in Britain.

McLoughlin's eight goal of the season helped his club to a much-needed 2-0 win over Crewe and makes him the joint second top Irish scorer in Britain with Robbie Keane.

Niall Quinn was the first Republic player to hit double figures this season when he scored in the final minute of Sunderland's 3-0 win over Luton, in Tuesday's League Cup quarter-final.

Not such a good weekend for Cork-born central defender Paul McCarthy, who scored an own goal 15 minutes from time in Wycombe's drawn FA Cup second round tie against Plymouth, or for Everton's Richard Dunne, who was sent off for a second bookable offence against Chelsea on Saturday.