LAST UPDATE | 21 Jan 2023
MICK MCCARTHY WAS made to wait for his first match as Blackpool manager after Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship home clash with Huddersfield was postponed due to a frozen pitch.
The contest at Bloomfield Road had been set to open McCarthy’s tenure after he was placed in charge of the Seasiders for the remainder of the season on Thursday, succeeding the sacked Michael Appleton.
But a statement from Blackpool at 10.45am on Saturday said the game had been postponed. Next up for Blackpool is the FA Cup fourth round clash away to Southampton next Saturday 28 January, while they are away to Middlesbrough in the Championship on Saturday 4 February.
There were Irish goalscorers in today’s action that did go ahead in England and Scotland. In the Championship, Alan Browne was set up by Robbie Brady in the 15th minute for Preston’s second goal as they defeated Birmingham City 2-1. Preston are now 10th in the table, two points off the play-off places.
Conor Hourihane scored Derby County’s second goal in their 2-1 win at home to Bolton Wanderers, for whom Kieran Sadlier netted. Derby are now fourth in the table as Bolton stay in fifth.
And in the Scottish Cup, Jamie McGrath scored a superb bicycle kick in the 68th minute as Dundee United won 3-0 against Stirling University.
Ooh Ahh Jamie McGrath @FAIreland pic.twitter.com/jZ7zSDn5Ud
— The Green Machíne (@GM_Pod) January 21, 2023
Elsewhere, Republic of Ireland international Ruesha Littlejohn featured in the Women’s Super League [WSL] for the first time this season after an injury lay-off.
The midfielder was introduced in the closing minutes of Aston Villa’s impressive 1-1 draw at Manchester City.
Littlejohn sustained a serious foot injury in Ireland’s World Cup qualifier win over Finland at Tallaght Stadium last September.
The Glasgow-born 32-year-old featured for Villa in December’s Conti Cup clash against Durham, but suffered another setback soon after.
