- There was a mixed bag of results for Hammers loanees in action across the country at the weekend
- It was a weekend to forget for Reece Oxford and Toni Martinez, while Josh Cullen and Sam Howes both enjoyed terrific victories
- Enner Valencia, George Dobson and Toni Martinez were also in action
While West Ham United picked up a crucial win over Swansea City on Saturday, there was a mixed bag of results for the Hammers loanees in action across the country over the weekend.
Starting in the top flight, Everton were in action on Sunday against Leicester City, though Enner Valencia was an unused substitute in their 4-2 win at Goodison Park.
A crazy start on Merseyside saw the visitors go 2-1 up within ten minutes, having hit back through Islam Slimani and Marc Albrighton after Tom Davies’ opener for the hosts inside a minute.
Romelu Lukaku kept the supporters on the edge of their seats with an equaliser in the 23rd minute and from then on, it was the Toffees in control.
The Belgian added a second 12 minutes into the second period to give Everton a two-goal cushion after Phil Jagielka had already scored to help his side regain the lead.
In the Championship, it was a day to forget for young defender Reece Oxford and his Reading side.
Making his second consecutive Royals start, Oxford could not follow up last week’s 1-0 win over Leeds with a positive result at Norwich City, who incredibly were 7-1 winners at Carrow Road.
And astonishingly, the hosts were 6-1 up at half time; Nelson Oliviera, Wes Hoolahan (2), Alex Pritchard (2) and Russell Martin were the home scorers while the in-form Yann Kermorgant gave the visiting fans little consolation for the trip to East Anglia.
The second half remained goalless until the final minute, when Cameron Jerome put the icing on the cake with a seventh. While Norwich’s play-off hopes look to be over anyway, Reading remain in the top six.
As do Bradford City and Josh Cullen in League One, the side recording another win on Saturday to all-but cement their play-off place.
Bury were this time the side beaten by Stuart McCall’s men who have now lost just once in ten matches.
Cullen played all 90 minutes once again for the Bantams as goals from Mark Marshall and Charlie Wyke gave them three points at Gigg Lane.
Elsewhere in the third tier, George Dobson and Toni Martinez faced each other as Oxford United travelled to Walsall’s Bescot Stadium.
With both starting as subs, midfielder Dobson was brought on for the final 21 minutes in the west Midlands while Martinez played the whole of the second half for his Oxford side who saved a point 16 minutes from time.
A first Saddlers goal from Cypriot Andreas Makris had given the hosts the lead but Chris Maguire’s deflected strike earned Oxford a draw.
Peterborough United’s slim hopes of a top six finish, though not mathematically, were pretty much extinguished as they suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Coventry City.
Martin Samuelsen, scorer last week against Charlton Athletic, played the full 90 minutes for Posh but could not help them find an equaliser after Ruben Lameiras’ second half goal.
Jaanai Gordon was an unused sub for Newport County, who will just not let go of their Football League status and remain three points from safety after a 1-0 win at Exeter City.
Tom Owen-Evans’ long range hit gave the visitors a crucial three points, and with five games left, the Exiles will fancy their chances of clawing themselves to safety having been on a decent run of form.
Finally, Sam Howes kept another clean sheet in an emphatic 5-0 victory for Hampton and Richmond Borough in the National League South when they travelled to Oxford City.