IRELAND’S FINN Azaz and Flynn Downes secured Southampton a 2-0 victory at fellow play-off hopefuls Stoke as boss Tonda Eckert celebrated his 33rd birthday with a first Championship win on the road since November, while Millenic Alli’s goal helped Portsmouth earn a 3-0 win over West Brom.
Saints have fallen short of expectations since last season’s humiliating relegation from the Premier League and turned to the German coach, initially on an interim basis, after sacking Will Still in November.
Eckert found himself under pressure during a shaky festive period, but the mood at Southampton has improved somewhat after a win against Sheffield United, a derby draw at Portsmouth, and a defeat of Stoke.
Mark Robins’ side were outplayed from the outset on Saturday lunchtime, with Azaz finishing an excellent move early into a match that Saints strengthened their grip on when Downes prodded home just after half-time.
Daniel Peretz tipped Stoke substitute Tatsuki Seko’s late volley onto the post as Southampton wrapped up a first away league win in 10 weeks.
Adam Armstrong and Cameron Archer were conspicuous by their absence from the visitors’ squad amid speculation ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline, but Taylor Harwood-Bellis started despite West Ham’s interest.
The defender made a wonderful contribution after just 10 minutes at the bet365 Stadium by sending an exceptional defence-splitting pass through to Tom Fellows, who continued to cut across for Azaz to tap in.
Peretz nearly undid that with a goalkeeping gaffe, but then showed his quality by superbly stopping a Bae Jun-ho strike from distance.
The Saints attempted to kick on from those scares. Tommy Simkin saved a Fellows snapshot after being put behind by Azaz, who was furious to be shown a yellow card for an apparent dive in the box.
The playmaker felt he was caught by Ashley Phillips, but referee Farai Hallam was having none of it.
This was the official’s first match since infuriating Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola during his first Premier League match last weekend by sticking with his decision not to award a penalty against Wolves.
Southampton continued in the ascendancy, and Robins made a triple change at the break, but Stoke would fall further behind in the 52nd minute.
Ross Stewart flicked on a corner, and Downes fell over trying to make contact with the ball, only to react quickly to stab home at the near post.
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Azaz went close to adding another with an audacious effort, with referee Hallam missing Phillips’ pull on Harwood-Bellis’ shirt at a corner.
That intensity eventually settled, but Stoke offered little by way of threat — a far cry from the table-topping side that won August’s reverse fixture at St Mary’s.
Seko saw a volley tipped onto the post by Peretz late on, but Stoke fans made their frustrations clear at full-time.
— X @CenterOfGoals follow 🏴 (@AlberthaRe73666) January 31, 2026
Conor Chaplin scored the first goal of his second spell at his boyhood club to set Portsmouth on course for a dominant victory over relegation rivals West Brom.
Chaplin, who joined Pompey as a six-year-old before returning on loan from Ipswich, opened the scoring before January arrivals Alli and Ebou Adams gave them comfort.
The beleaguered Baggies have won just once in nine matches, have not won on the road since the start of October and sit just three points outside the relegation zone.
Pompey had scored late to secure a point against bitter rivals Southampton last weekend and continued the momentum with a superb first-half performance, which blew the Baggies away.
Chaplin in particular had the bit between his teeth as he fired shot after shot towards Max O’Leary’s goal.
His barrage began in the second minute when he stabbed a Terry Devlin cross wide before curling straight at O’Leary from 25 yards, and then sliding across the face of goal after a fine passing move down the right.
Chaplin finally got his reward, and his long-awaited goal on his return at Pompey, in the 20th minute when Alli pulled the ball back into the area and the forward fired in with aplomb.
It ended 2,910 days since last scoring for Portsmouth before continuing his career at Coventry, Barnsley and Ipswich.
Five minutes later, the hosts doubled their lead as Alli ran beyond the West Brom backline to slide under O’Leary. It was the winger’s first goal since arriving on loan from League One side Luton two weeks ago.
West Brom were thankful for the half-time whistle, after a half in which they had only had one shot — a wayward effort off-target — and entered the Portsmouth box twice.
It was unsurprising when Eric Ramsay ripped up his game plan, made a triple substitution and switched formation from three to four at the back.
However, three minutes after the break, Pompey had a third and the hopes of a Baggies comeback dissolved.
Chaplin added an assist to his goal by threading in Adams, and, despite O’Leary appearing to make a fine instinctive save, the ball bounced over the line. It further added to Adams’ cult hero status, having netted the equaliser against Saints.
Mikey Johnston gave Portsmouth goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid his only piece of work for the day when a rasping shot needed tipping over.
The second half petered out, with West Brom lacking quality and Pompey taking their foot off the gas with a rescheduled match with Ipswich coming on Tuesday.
Chaplin almost added gloss to his day with an 89th-minute shot, but his effort was blocked, and Pompey made it four without defeat in the league and climbed above West Brom, and four points clear of the drop zone.
The day was soured late in the second half when assistant referee James Wilson was struck by a missile thrown from the home end.
Elsewhere, in League One, former Ireland U21 international Tyreik Wright scored the winning goal, as Bradford City beat Doncaster Rovers 1-0.
Ireland international Will Keane scored his second goal in four games since joining Reading on loan from Preston earlier this month, as the Royals beat Northampton 2-0.
Ex-Shelbourne player Jack Moylan scored his sixth goal in 18 appearances, and fourth in his last three, as second-place Lincoln City won 1-0 away to Wigan Athletic.
Retired Ireland international David McGoldrick continued his fine recent form for Conor Hourihane’s Barnsley — the 38-year-old scored his fourth goal in three games and ninth from 25 in total as his side secured a 3-1 win at home to Stevenage that left them 15th in the table with a couple of games in hand on their rivals.
Former Ireland underage international Joe Rafferty was on target in Rotherham’s emphatic 4-0 win at Exeter City.
In League Two, ex-Cork City and Shelbourne player Jaze Kabia registered a brace, as Grimsby Town drew 2-2 with MK Dons.
The 25-year-old attacker has 14 goals from 36 appearances in all competitions this season.
Ex-Waterford striker Aaron Drinan continued his excellent campaign for promotion hopefuls Swindon Town — the 27-year-old Corkonian now has 22 goals from 29 appearances after a brace in the 3-1 defeat of Barrow.
Finally, in the National League, 19-year-old forward Sean Patton scored on his debut, 24 hours after his loan signing from Reading to Aldershot was confirmed.
The former Derry City youngster joined the League One side in September and has made three first-team appearances for the Royals.
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Irish duo on target in Championship
Updated at 17.33
Championship results:
IRELAND’S FINN Azaz and Flynn Downes secured Southampton a 2-0 victory at fellow play-off hopefuls Stoke as boss Tonda Eckert celebrated his 33rd birthday with a first Championship win on the road since November, while Millenic Alli’s goal helped Portsmouth earn a 3-0 win over West Brom.
Saints have fallen short of expectations since last season’s humiliating relegation from the Premier League and turned to the German coach, initially on an interim basis, after sacking Will Still in November.
Eckert found himself under pressure during a shaky festive period, but the mood at Southampton has improved somewhat after a win against Sheffield United, a derby draw at Portsmouth, and a defeat of Stoke.
Mark Robins’ side were outplayed from the outset on Saturday lunchtime, with Azaz finishing an excellent move early into a match that Saints strengthened their grip on when Downes prodded home just after half-time.
Daniel Peretz tipped Stoke substitute Tatsuki Seko’s late volley onto the post as Southampton wrapped up a first away league win in 10 weeks.
Adam Armstrong and Cameron Archer were conspicuous by their absence from the visitors’ squad amid speculation ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline, but Taylor Harwood-Bellis started despite West Ham’s interest.
The defender made a wonderful contribution after just 10 minutes at the bet365 Stadium by sending an exceptional defence-splitting pass through to Tom Fellows, who continued to cut across for Azaz to tap in.
Peretz nearly undid that with a goalkeeping gaffe, but then showed his quality by superbly stopping a Bae Jun-ho strike from distance.
The Saints attempted to kick on from those scares. Tommy Simkin saved a Fellows snapshot after being put behind by Azaz, who was furious to be shown a yellow card for an apparent dive in the box.
The playmaker felt he was caught by Ashley Phillips, but referee Farai Hallam was having none of it.
This was the official’s first match since infuriating Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola during his first Premier League match last weekend by sticking with his decision not to award a penalty against Wolves.
Southampton continued in the ascendancy, and Robins made a triple change at the break, but Stoke would fall further behind in the 52nd minute.
Ross Stewart flicked on a corner, and Downes fell over trying to make contact with the ball, only to react quickly to stab home at the near post.
Azaz went close to adding another with an audacious effort, with referee Hallam missing Phillips’ pull on Harwood-Bellis’ shirt at a corner.
That intensity eventually settled, but Stoke offered little by way of threat — a far cry from the table-topping side that won August’s reverse fixture at St Mary’s.
Seko saw a volley tipped onto the post by Peretz late on, but Stoke fans made their frustrations clear at full-time.
Conor Chaplin scored the first goal of his second spell at his boyhood club to set Portsmouth on course for a dominant victory over relegation rivals West Brom.
Chaplin, who joined Pompey as a six-year-old before returning on loan from Ipswich, opened the scoring before January arrivals Alli and Ebou Adams gave them comfort.
The beleaguered Baggies have won just once in nine matches, have not won on the road since the start of October and sit just three points outside the relegation zone.
Pompey had scored late to secure a point against bitter rivals Southampton last weekend and continued the momentum with a superb first-half performance, which blew the Baggies away.
Chaplin in particular had the bit between his teeth as he fired shot after shot towards Max O’Leary’s goal.
His barrage began in the second minute when he stabbed a Terry Devlin cross wide before curling straight at O’Leary from 25 yards, and then sliding across the face of goal after a fine passing move down the right.
Chaplin finally got his reward, and his long-awaited goal on his return at Pompey, in the 20th minute when Alli pulled the ball back into the area and the forward fired in with aplomb.
It ended 2,910 days since last scoring for Portsmouth before continuing his career at Coventry, Barnsley and Ipswich.
Five minutes later, the hosts doubled their lead as Alli ran beyond the West Brom backline to slide under O’Leary. It was the winger’s first goal since arriving on loan from League One side Luton two weeks ago.
West Brom were thankful for the half-time whistle, after a half in which they had only had one shot — a wayward effort off-target — and entered the Portsmouth box twice.
It was unsurprising when Eric Ramsay ripped up his game plan, made a triple substitution and switched formation from three to four at the back.
However, three minutes after the break, Pompey had a third and the hopes of a Baggies comeback dissolved.
Chaplin added an assist to his goal by threading in Adams, and, despite O’Leary appearing to make a fine instinctive save, the ball bounced over the line. It further added to Adams’ cult hero status, having netted the equaliser against Saints.
Mikey Johnston gave Portsmouth goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid his only piece of work for the day when a rasping shot needed tipping over.
The second half petered out, with West Brom lacking quality and Pompey taking their foot off the gas with a rescheduled match with Ipswich coming on Tuesday.
Chaplin almost added gloss to his day with an 89th-minute shot, but his effort was blocked, and Pompey made it four without defeat in the league and climbed above West Brom, and four points clear of the drop zone.
The day was soured late in the second half when assistant referee James Wilson was struck by a missile thrown from the home end.
Elsewhere, in League One, former Ireland U21 international Tyreik Wright scored the winning goal, as Bradford City beat Doncaster Rovers 1-0.
Ireland international Will Keane scored his second goal in four games since joining Reading on loan from Preston earlier this month, as the Royals beat Northampton 2-0.
Ex-Shelbourne player Jack Moylan scored his sixth goal in 18 appearances, and fourth in his last three, as second-place Lincoln City won 1-0 away to Wigan Athletic.
Retired Ireland international David McGoldrick continued his fine recent form for Conor Hourihane’s Barnsley — the 38-year-old scored his fourth goal in three games and ninth from 25 in total as his side secured a 3-1 win at home to Stevenage that left them 15th in the table with a couple of games in hand on their rivals.
Former Ireland underage international Joe Rafferty was on target in Rotherham’s emphatic 4-0 win at Exeter City.
In League Two, ex-Cork City and Shelbourne player Jaze Kabia registered a brace, as Grimsby Town drew 2-2 with MK Dons.
The 25-year-old attacker has 14 goals from 36 appearances in all competitions this season.
Ex-Waterford striker Aaron Drinan continued his excellent campaign for promotion hopefuls Swindon Town — the 27-year-old Corkonian now has 22 goals from 29 appearances after a brace in the 3-1 defeat of Barrow.
Finally, in the National League, 19-year-old forward Sean Patton scored on his debut, 24 hours after his loan signing from Reading to Aldershot was confirmed.
The former Derry City youngster joined the League One side in September and has made three first-team appearances for the Royals.
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