Awer Mabil netted his first goals for Swiss club Grasshoppers, while Jackson Irvine marked his recent return from injury with a pair of assists and there was fresh injury news for Riley McGree.
Firstly to the Swiss Super League where Awer Mabil netted Grasshoppers’ first two goals, before dishing off the assist for their third, in their 3-0 win at Yverdon Sport.
Mabil drilled in the opener on 17 minutes with a rifled shot from an angle, before tapping in a simple finish from Pascal Schurpf’s cross-goal ball having made an intelligent run into the box in the 68th minute.
Four minutes later, Mabil showed off his quick feet before whipping in a right-flank cross for Dorian Babunski to add Grasshoppers’ third goal.
Mabil has played six times since joining Grasshoppers from Spanish club Cadiz in August, with those goals and assists marking his first for the club.
Jackson Irvine marked his first start since returning from an ankle injury with two assists, while Connor Metcalfe came off the bench to net St Pauli’s fifth goal in a 5-1 victory over Nurnberg in the German 2.Bundesliga on Saturday.
Irvine initiated a fourth-minute move from the right flank, combining with teammates twice before unselfishly laying off inside for Elias Saad to slip home.
In the 93rd minute, Irvine jinked forward before holding up play and laying off for Etienne Amenyido to curl home their fourth goal.
Metcalfe, introduced as a 64th minute substitute, joined the party in the 95th minute, racing forward on a counter-attack, controlling a pass through and firing home on his left.
Riley McGree missed Middlesbrough’s 4-0 victory over northern rivals Sunderland in the English Championship on Saturday, with fears of a serious foot injury, possibly plantar fascia.
McGree suffered the injury in midweek, with Boro boss Michael Carrick revealing further detail after Saturday’s win. Carrick said: “He felt a pain in the bottom of his foot, plantar fascia-type which is an issue that’s not easy to get on top of. We’ll have to see how he is over the next few days.”
Sam Silvera was a 75th minute substitute in Boro’s win, while Tom Glover and Nectarios Triantis were both unused subs for their respective sides.
Harry Souttar made his first start of the English Championship season, playing 85 minutes as leaders Leicester City won 2-0 over former club Stoke City on Saturday.
Leicestershire Live rated Souttar 6/10 and wrote: “There were a couple of long balls that didn’t work out in the first half, even if the idea was right, but he improved at those. Defensively, he was strong. There were no iffy moments there. He does generally look a little short of confidence though.”
Recalled Socceroo Massimo Luongo started and played 76 minutes as second-placed Ipswich Town won 4-2 over Preston North End. Cam Burgess also put in a full shift.
Kusini Yengi returned after eight weeks out with an ankle injury, coming on as a 91st minute substitute in Portsmouth’s 2-0 win over Port Vale in England’s League One on Saturday. Alex Robertson missed the game due to suspension after accumulating five yellow cards.
Jordan Bos was a 79th minute substitute for Westerlo as they ended their nine-game winless run with a 1-0 home victory over Kortrijk in the Belgian Pro League on Saturday.
Ryan Edwards put in a full shift in midfield for Amorebieta in a 2-1 home loss to Eibar in the Spanish Segunda Division.
Neither Ajdin Hrustic or Cristian Volpato were in the Verona or Roma squads for their Italian Serie A games on Sunday.
Mat Ryan was in goal as AZ Alkmaar condemned Ajax to their worst ever start to an Eredivisie campaign with a 2-1 away win on Sunday.
Denis Genreau put in a full shift as Toulouse drew 1-1 at Brest in the French Ligue 1 on Sunday.
Mohamed Toure made his fourth appearance of the season as a 73rd minute substitute for Paris FC in their 2-0 home loss to Auxerre in the French Ligue 2 on Saturday.
🔄 73' Ilan Kebbal est remplacé par Mohamed Touré.
0⃣-2⃣ #PFCAJA
— Paris FC (@ParisFC) October 7, 2023
Marco Tilio was absent again for Celtic despite returning from injury for Celtic B last week against Ayr United. For the record, Celtic beat Kilmarnock 3-1 in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.
Martin Boyle received an 8/10 rating from Edinburgh Live after Hibernian came from behind to draw 2-2 at rivals Derby.
Boyle put in a full shift and Edinburgh Live wrote: “The Aussie demonstrated his blistering pace all day long. Caused Hearts all sorts of problems, with Devlin booked for an early foul at the flying wing man. At it again in the second half. Constant threat.”
New Socceroo Lewis Miller also played a full game, earning a 7/10 rating: “Strong display and played a key supporting role on the overlap. Done by Lowry for Hearts second but overall dealt with most of the threats thrown at him.”
Jimmy Jeggo started and played 78 minutes, receiving a 6/10 rating, while Kye Rowles and Calum Nieuwenhof both put in full shifts for the Jambos, both rated 7/10. Cammy Devlin started and played 72 minutes, also earning a 7/10 rating for “another solid display”.
On Nieuwenhof, Edinburgh Live wrote: “Starred alongside partner in crime Devlin as the two Aussie men took control of the midfield battle. Showed some neat touches and helped keep the high tempo going.”
Ryan Strain was sent off in the first half of surprise packet St Mirren’s 3-0 home loss to Rangers in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.
Strain was punished with a straight red card in the 28th minute for handling Zakariya Lovelace’s ball across goal which was destined for a routine finish for Abdallah Dipo Sima at the back post. The costly offence led to a penalty, which James Tavernier converted.
Keanu Baccus started and played 68 minutes for the Buddies, who slip to third below Rangers.
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson said: “There’s no denying it is a penalty and a sending off. The game turns on its head after that.”
Dimi Petratos and Jason Cummings both scored as Mohun Bagan triumphed 3-1 away to Chennaiyin in the Indian Super League on Saturday.
Petratos nodded in the opener in the 22nd minute, before Cummings added a second on the stroke of half-time with a deft finish after a tackle spilled to him inside the box.
Brendan Hamill and Petratos both put in full shifts, while Cummings was replaced in the 62nd minute.
Others
Full games
Jason Davidson (KAS Eupen), Jack Iredale (Bolton), Ash Maynard-Brewer (Charlton), Kenny Dougall (Blackpool), Nicholas Bilokapic (Petrerborough), Aaron Calver (Gwangju FC), Rostyn Griffiths (Mumbai City)
Minutes
Milos Degenek – SB 68 (Red Star Belgrade), Aiden O’Neill – SB 81 (Standard Liege), Anthony Kalik – ST 46 (Hajduk Split), Craig Goodwin – ST 46 (Al Wehda), Mitch Duke – ST 85 (Machida Zelvia), Stefan Mauk – ST 60 (Fagiano Okayama), Alex Grant – SB 46 (Pohang Steelers), Paulo Retre – SB 85 (Goa), Brad Smith – SB 88 (DC United)
Unused subs
Zach Duncan (AGF), John Iredale (Wehen Wiesbaden), Alessandro Circati (Parma), Patrick Flottmann (Seongnam)
Notable absentees
Tyrese Francois (Fulham), Cameron Peupion (Cheltenham)
