Riley McGree produced an outstanding performance for Middlesbrough, while Ryan Strain scored a stellar free-kick for St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.
In England’s Championship, Riley McGree was the Player of the Match according to the Evening Gazette as Middlesbrough drew 1-1 with Bristol City on Saturday.
The Evening Gazette rated McGree 8/10 and wrote: “The best player on the pitch today. McGree was ever-present and set up the equaliser. Almost nicked it at the death with a worldie.”
McGree had an early chance saved after breaking into space and firing in a low left-foot shot, while he showed quick feet inside the box before hitting a crisp shot which was parried over the bar too.
The Socceroo’s deflected cross from the left side led to Chuba Akpom’s 47th-minute equalizer, while McGree thundered a late chance in from outside the box only to be thwarted by a diving save from City goalkeeper Max O’Leary.
Elsewhere in the Championship, Bailey Wright played a full game but only received a 6/10 rating as Sunderland lost 1-0 at home to Cardiff City.
The Chronicle wrote: “Poor backpass led to the penalty incident, but otherwise OK.”
Wright’s cross-goal backpass led to Danny Batth’s foul, but goalkeeper Anthony Patterson’s spared their blushes by saving Joe Ralls’ spotkick.
Kenny Dougall put in a full shift and earned a 5/10 rating as Blackpool lost 1-0 at home to Luton Town.
Lancashire Live wrote: “Limited quality in possession but picked up some good tactical fouls to relieve pressure.”
Elsewhere, Harry Souttar was back on the bench for Stoke City for the first time in 12 months after an ACL injury but remained an unused substitute in their 2-1 home loss to Birmingham City.
Welcome back, @harryjsouttar pic.twitter.com/mL1q7W5oCN
— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) November 5, 2022
Tom Rogic was an unused substitute for West Bromwich Albion in their shock 1-0 win at QPR.
Kye Rowles was also back from injury for the first time since late August for Hearts, coming on as a 90th minute substitute in their 3-2 home win over Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.
Rowles hasn’t played since fracturing his foot so his return was welcome news, albeit brief. Cameron Devlin put in a full shift in midfield while Nathaniel Atkinson was a 77th minute substitute after returning from an ankle injury in the UEFA Conference League in midweek and scoring.
Devlin received a 7/10 rating from the Edinburgh Evening News who wrote: “Should have done better with double chance on the half hour after a Motherwell mistake. Typically combative from the buzzbomb midfielder.”
Atkinson got a 6/10: “For Ginnelly 77mins. Deployed a right midfield in a bid to give Hearts more solidity.”
Ryan McGowan put in a full shift in defence as St Johnstone shocked Rangers 2-1 on Sunday.
Ryan Strain curled in an excellent free-kick goal as St Mirren lost 3-2 at Ross County in the Scottish Premiership.
Strain, who played a full game, struck in the 13th minute with a fine shot to make it 1-1. Keanu Baccus also put in a full shift.
Mark Birighitti and Aziz Behich both played full games while Aaron Mooy was an unused sub as Celtic won 4-2 over Dundee United. Behich got the assist for Dylan Levitt’s 87th minute equalizer from a throw-in.
Martin Boyle was absent for Hibernian’s 4-1 loss at Aberdeen on Friday, but manager Lee Johnson revealed he’d be available for selection for the World Cup with positive scans on last weekend’s knee injury scare.
“He’s got a minor joint issue and at the moment we’re just offloading that for a couple of days to see how he responds,” Johnson said. “With a bit of luck he might get one game in for us, but he will certainly head out to the World Cup if selected.”
Awer Mabil was an unused sub as Cadiz drew 0-0 at Getafe in Spain’s La Liga, while Jason Davidson put in a full shift as KAS Eupen won 2-0 over Standard Liege in Belgium’s First Division A.
Mat Ryan wasn’t in FC Copenhagen’s squad for their 3-0 home win over Lyngby in the Danish Superliga on Sunday due to a knee issue.
Alex Gersbach played a full game and got an assist as Grenoble won 1-0 at Rodez in France’s Ligue 2.
59’ : BUUUUUUUUUTTT !!!
Momo Diarra de la tête sur un centre d’@AlexGersbach !!!!!!! (0-1)#RAFGF38 pic.twitter.com/2URikDriXQ— Grenoble Foot 38 (@GF38_Officiel) November 5, 2022
Denis Genreau was an unused substitute as Toulouse lost 2-0 at home to Monaco in Ligue 1 on Sunday.
Cristian Volpato was a 53rd minute substitute for AS Roma in their 1-0 home derby loss to Lazio in Italy’s Serie A on Sunday.
Volpato continues to get more and more minutes, having played 35 minutes off the bench in Roma’s midweek UEFA Conference League win over Ludogorets.
Fran Karacic played a full game as Brescia drew 1-1 with Ascoli while Alessandro Circati was an unused sub as Parma lost 1-0 at Palermo in Italy’s Serie B.
Jackson Irvine put in a full shift and Connor Metcalfe was a 70th minute substitute in St Pauli’s 1-0 loss at Fortuna Dusseldorf in Germany’s 2.Bundesliga.
John Iredale scored Wehen Wiesbaden’s second goal in their 3-0 win at SV Meppen in Germany’s 3.Liga on Friday.
Rostyn Griffiths scored in the Indian Super League in Mumbai City’s 2-2 draw with Mohun Bagan on Sunday. Griffiths along with Mohun pair Brendan Hamill and Dimi Petratos all played full games.
Others
Full games
Gianni Stensness, Tyrese Francois, Mitchell Langerak
Minutes
Deni Juric – SB 59, Caleb Watts – SB 76
Unused subs
James Holland, Dylan Ryan, Dean Bouzanis, Nicholas Bilokapic
Notable absentees
Adam Taggart, Ajdin Hrustic, Joel King
