Weekend Radar: Smallbone stars for Saints, Idah nets last gasp winner
Weekend Radar: Your essential Irish player tracker.
The Kenny’s Kids Twitter account is back in action this weekend to follow the first round of English Football League action as it happens.
This season there will be additional coverage brought to followers as accompanyingN Kenny’s Kids tweets will be this article containing information on every single Irish player who is on the account’s radar.
That means teamsheet news (start/sub) and goal contribution news (goal/assist) will be added to this page live as the games unfold. There will then be a review before a full comprehensive round-up is shared on Sunday evenings for fans of the Boys In Green to enjoy.
Criteria: Players must have at least one first team club appearance to be included in the database. (IRE) denotes that the player is a full Ireland international.
League One and League Two players over the age of 24 and uncapped at senior international level are excluded. The focus of this feature is players playing for Ireland and young players who could play for Ireland in the future.
Weekend Radar: The Championship.
Birmingham:
Scott Hogan (IRE): Start Vs Swansea, 1-1 draw
Kevin Long (IRE): Start Vs Swansea, 1-1 draw
Blackburn Rovers:
Sammie Szmodics (AM, 27): Start Vs West Brom, one assist, 2-1 win
ASSIST by Sammie Szmodics (AM, 27) 🇮🇪⚽🔥
We are very much back 😂#COYBIG https://t.co/4YugqHxGs0
— Kenny’s Kids (@KennysKids) August 5, 2023
Bristol City:
Jason Knight (IRE): Start Vs Preston, 1-1 draw
Mark Sykes (IRE): Bench Vs Preston, introduced 70′, 1-1 draw
Max O’Leary (GK, 26): Start Vs Preston, 1-1 draw
Cardiff City:
Joel Bagan (LB, 21): Not involved Vs Leeds
Mark McGuinness (CB, 23): Start Vs Leeds, 2-2 draw
Callum O’Dowda (IRE): Start Vs Leeds, 2-2 draw
Callum Robinson (ST, 28) Bench Vs Leeds, unused
Hull City:
Cyrus Christie (IRE): Bench Vs Norwich, introduced 66′, 2-1 loss
Aaron Connolly (IRE): Bench Vs Norwich, introduced 72′, 2-1 loss
Harry Vaughan (AM, 19): Start Vs Norwich, 2-1 loss
Sean McLoughlin (CB, 26): Bench Vs Norwich, introduced 66′, 2-1 loss
Ipswich Town
Jack Taylor (CM, 25): Bench Vs Sunderland
Middlesbrough:
Alex Gilbert (LW, 21): Bench Vs Millwall, unused
Darragh Lenihan (IRE): Start Vs Millwall, 1-0 loss
Millwall:
Danny McNamara (RB, 24): Start Vs Middlesbrough, 1-0 win
Aidomo Emakhu (ST, 19): Bench Vs Middlesbrough, introduced 73′, one assist, 1-0 win
Introduced in the 73rd minute 🔄
Doing this in the 79th minute! 🅰️Instant impact from Ireland U21 striker Aidomo Emakhu as he sets up the goal that gives Millwall an away lead against Middlesbrough!#COYBIG pic.twitter.com/D2QuawvmYd
— Kenny’s Kids (@KennysKids) August 5, 2023
Norwich:
Shane Duffy (IRE): Start Vs Hull, 2-1 win
Andrew Omobamidele (IRE): Bench Vs Hull, introduced 74′, 2-1 win
Adam Idah (IRE): Bench Vs Hull, introduced 86′, one goal, 2-1 win
Tony Springett (RW, 20): Bench Vs Hull, introduced 75′, 2-1 win
Adam Idah starting his season as he means to go on! 🇮🇪⚽️🔥#COYBIG pic.twitter.com/Uyc8Fwyxxi
— Kenny’s Kids (@KennysKids) August 5, 2023
Plymouth Argyle:
Finn Azaz (AM, 22): Bench Vs Huddersfield, introduced 89′, 3-1 win
Tyreik Wright (RW, 21): Bench Vs Huddersfield, unused
Preston:
Robbie Brady (IRE): Not involved Vs Bristol City
Alan Browne (IRE): Start Vs Bristol City, 1-1 draw
Greg Cunningham (IRE): Not involved Vs Bristol City
Will Keane (IRE): Start Vs Bristol City, one goal, 1-1 draw
QPR:
Jimmy Dunne (CB, 25): Not involved Vs Watford
Sinclair Armstrong (ST, 19): Bench Vs Watford, introduced 46′, 4-0 loss
Rotherham:
Joshua Kayode (ST, 23): Bench Vs Stoke, introduced 79′, 4-1 loss
Georgie Kelly (ST, 27): Bench Vs Stoke, introduced 63′, 4-1 loss
Sheffield Wednesday:
Ciaran Brennan (CB, 23): Not involved Vs Southampton
Southampton:
Gavin Bazunu (IRE): Start Vs Sheffield Wednesday, 2-1 win
Ryan Manning (IRE): Start Vs Sheffield Wednesday, 2-1 win
Will Smallbone (IRE): Start Vs Sheffield Wednesday, 2-1 win
95% pass completion and two chances created read like Will Smallbone stats alright, but what was interesting about this game was his discipline as a deeper midfield player. Interceptions, recoveries and tackles like this helped Southampton keep in control of possession throughout pic.twitter.com/IIYUb10Q6a
— Kenny’s Kids (@KennysKids) August 4, 2023
Stoke City:
Jack Bonham (GK, 29): Bench Vs Rotherham
Luke McNally (CB, 23): Bench Vs Rotherham, unused
Enda Stevens (IRE): Start Vs Rotherham, 4-1 win
Mark Travers (IRE): Start Vs Rotherham, 4-1 in
West Brom:
Jayson Molumby (IRE): Start Vs Blackburn, 2-1 loss
League One: Internationals and under-25s
Barnsley:
Luca Connell (CM, 22): Not involved Vs Port Vale
Barry Cotter (RB, 24): Bench Vs Port Vale, introduced 33′, one assist, 7-0 win
A lovely assist from Barry Cotter (RB, 24) as Barnsley extend their lead over Port Vale to three goals 🅰️
He was introduced in the 33rd minute and has certainly taken his chance. #COYBI pic.twitter.com/epCVtwgGeq
— Kenny’s Kids (@KennysKids) August 5, 2023
Blackpool:
Andy Lyons (RB, 23): Bench Vs Burton, unused
CJ Hamilton (IRE): Start Vs Burton, 2-0 win
Burton Albion:
Ciaran Gilligan (CM, 21): Not involved Vs Blackpool,
Carlisle United:
Sean Maguire (IRE): Bench Vs Fleetwood, introduced 69′, 1-1 draw
Cheltenham Town:
Aidan Keena (ST, 24): Start Vs Shrewsbury, 1-0 loss
Will Ferry (LWB, 22): Not involved Vs Shrewsbury
Derby County:
Eiran Cashin (CB, 22): Start Vs Wigan, 2-1 loss
Conor Hourihane (IRE): Start Vs Wigan, 2-1 loss
James Collins (IRE): Start Vs Wigan, 2-1 loss
Fleetwood Town:
Ryan Graydon (RW, 24): Start Vs Carlisle, 1-1 draw
David Harrington (GK, 22): Not involved Vs Carlisle
Cian Hayes (WG, 20): Bench Vs Carlisle, introduced 87′, 1-1 draw
Promise Omochere (ST, 22): Start Vs Carlisle, 1-1 draw
Stephen McMullan (GK, 18): Bench Vs Carlisle, unused
Lincoln City:
Sean Roughan (LB, 19): Start Vs Bolton, 3-0 loss
Danny Mandroiu (AM, 24): Start Vs Bolton, 3-0 loss
Dylan Duffy (LW, 20): Bench Vs Bolton, unused
Oisin Gallagher (CM, 18): Bench Vs Bolton, unused
Oxford United:
Ed McGinty (GK, 24): Not involved Vs Cambridge
Stephen Negru (CB, 21): Bench Vs Cambridge, unused
Peterborough United:
Peter Kioso (RB, 23): Start Vs Reading, 1-0 win
Portsmouth:
Ronan Curtis (IRE): Not involved Vs Bristol Rovers
Anthony Scully (LW, 24): Start Vs Bristol Rovers, 1-1 draw
Wigan Athletic:
Baba Adeeko (CM, 20): Sub Vs Derby, introduced 62′, 2-1 win
What a start to the season 🤩Delighted to have made my league debut , Fans were incredible💙 pic.twitter.com/PHIi8MBxKr
— Baba Adeeko (@AdeekoBaba) August 6, 2023
League Two: Internationals and under-25s
Accrington Stanley:
Leslie Adeyoka (ST, 19): Not involved Vs Newport
Bradford:
Colin Doyle (IRE): Bench Vs Crawley, unused
Crewe Alexandra :
Connor O’Riordan (CB, 19): Bench Vs Mansfield, unused
Doncaster Rovers:
Deji Sotona (LW, 20): Bench Vs Harrogate, introduced 68, 1-0 loss
Gillingham:
Conor Masterson (CB, 24): Not involved Vs Stockport County
Shadrach Ogie (LB, 21): Start Vs Stockport County, 1-0 win
Shaun Williams (IRE): Start Vs Stockport County, one assist, 1-0 win
Mansfield Town :
Stephen Quinn (IRE): Start Vs Crewe, one assist, 2-2 draw
MK Dons:
Dawson Devoy (CM, 21): Bench Vs Wrexham, unused
Conor Grant (AM, 21): Not involved Vs Wrexham
Darragh Burns (RW, 20): Not involved Vs Wrexham
Waren O’Hora (CB, 24): Start Vs Wrexham, 5-3 win
Notts County:
David McGoldrick (IRE): Start Vs Sutton, one goal, 5-1 loss
Salford United:
Josh O’Brien (CB, 20): Not involved Vs Forest Green
Sutton United:
Aiden O’Brien (IRE): Bench Vs Notts County, introduced 58′, 5-1 win
Swindon Town:
Connor Brann (GK, 19): Bench Vs Colchester, unused
Tranmere:
Lee O’Connor (CM, 22): Start Vs Barrow, 2-1 loss
Walsall:
Oisin McEntee (CB, 22): Start Vs Morecambe, 2-1 loss
Ronan Arjun Maher (AM, 18): Not involved Vs Morecambe
Ross Tierney (AM, 22): Bench Vs Morecambe, unused
Wrexham:
James McClean: Not involved Vs MK Dons
Tom O’Connor (CM, 24): Start Vs MK Dons, 5-3 loss
Scotland and beyond: Internationals and under-25s
Aberdeen (SPFL):
Jonny Hayes (IRE): Start Vs Livingston, 0-0 draw
AIK (Allsvenskan):
Zack Elbouzedi (RW, 24): Bench Vs Kalmar, unused
Blau-Weiß Linz (Austrian Bundesliga):
Conor Noss (AM, 21): Bench Vs Hartberg, introduced 46′, 3-3 draw
Celtic (SPFL):
Mikey Johnston (LW, 24): Not involved Vs Ross County, injured
Bosun Lawal (CB, 19): Not involved Vs Ross County
Liam Scales (CB, 24): Not involved Vs Ross County
Rocco Vata (LW, 18): Not involved Vs Ross County
Como (Serie B)
Liam Kerrigan (RW, 23): N/A
Getafe (La Liga)
John Joe Patrick Finn (AM, 19): N/A
Kilmarnock (SPFL)
Corrie Ndaba (CB, 23): Start Vs Rangers, 1-0 win
Kieran O’Hara (IRE): Bench Vs Rangers, unused
PEC Zwolle (Eredivise):
Anselmo Garcia MacNulty (CB, 20): N.A
Sevilla (La Liga)
Ryan Johansson (CM, 22): N/A
Udinese (Serie A)
James Abankwah (CB, 19): N/A
Festy Ebosele (RWB, 21): N/A
Weekend in Review
Player of the Weekend: Will Smallbone (Southampton): Smallbone started the season excellently as Southampton beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 on Friday night. Playing in a midfield pivot, the Ireland international proved a cool head in possession and fulfilled his defensive duties with intelligence and discipline. In the end he completed more passes than anyone else in the match with 142 (97% accuracy) and recovered possession on five occasions.
Honourable mentions: Ryan Manning (Southampton) was also influential in the Saints opening game of the season by alternating between a traditional wing-back role and an inverted version which saw him shift infield towards midfield. He is surely Ireland’s best left wing-back option at this moment in time but Callum O’Dowda (Cardiff City) – who endured a tough international window in June – was equally excellent this weekend as Cardiff drew 2-2 with Leeds. He and Mark McGuinness were kept busy by persistent Leeds attacks and the 28-year-old even managed to have a hand in the Bluebird’s opener.
You might also like: LOI Radar: Tracking the League of Ireland’s Underage Prospects