Jackson Irvine put in a full shift as relegation battlers St Pauli drew 0-0 away to bottom club FSV Mainz in the German Bundesliga.
The result means 16th-placed St Pauli has managed five points from its past three games. Connor Metcalfe was an unused substitute.
Cristian Volpato started and played 78 minutes in Sassuolo’s 1-0 home loss to Torino in Italy’s Serie A.
Mat Ryan impressed with a string of saves as he put in a full shift in Levante’s 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad in Spain’s La Liga.
Ryan Teague returned from a knee injury for the first time since September but remained unused in Mechelen’s 1-0 loss to St Truiden in Belgium’s Pro League.
Ajdin Hrustic played the full 90 in Heracles’ 3-0 home loss to Heerenveen in the Dutch Eredivisie.
Jordan Bos was absent for Feyenoord’s 1-1 draw with Twente, while Max Balard put in a full shift in NAC Breda’s 1-0 home defeat to Telstar.
Cameron Peupion was a half-time substitute for ADO Den Haag as they lost 2-1 at home to Jong PSV in the Eerste Divisie.
Cameron Devlin received an 8/10 rating for his full display in Hearts’ 2-1 home win over Rangers to remain six points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Edinburgh Evening News wrote: “Into everything in his vicinity. Won countless tackles and seemed to irritate opponents, notably Max Arrons.”
Martin Boyle netted his fifth goal of the Scottish Premiership season in Hibernian’s 1-1 draw at Dundee United.
Boyle, who started and played 64 minutes, scored with a back-post finish in the 38th minute.
Ryan Strain went off injured in the fifth minute for United. Manager Jim Goodwin said: “Strain and Graham have both had a significant period on the sidelines already, so hopefully neither of those two injuries are too serious. It looks like groin injuries.”
Just when Ryan Strain is back, he is injured again and I feel for him. Head up Ryan 🧡
Wasn’t worth the risk keeping Ryan Strain on as it could have got worse than what it is just now.
Hopefully it’s nothing too serious as he is a good player. Speedy recovery 🙌#DUFC pic.twitter.com/mesAftOXVH
— dufcway (@dufcway) December 20, 2025
Zach Sapsford put in a full shift for United, while Jack Iredale played the full game for Hibs.
Keanu Baccus has been ruled out for 2-3 months with a hamstring tendon injury sustained in St Mirren’s League Cup final triumph last weekend.
St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson said: “Keanu Baccus is a big blow for us. He’s had a tendon problem in his hamstring, and he could be up to 3 months out, which is a real, real blow for us.
“The best-case scenario is probably 8 weeks. The worst case is 3 months. But he’ll be a big miss.”
Real blow for St Mirren with Keanu Baccus out for between two and three months. Played final 10 mins of final after injury.
Mark O’Hara fit but unlikely to start against Livingston.https://t.co/vnuk8APmUt pic.twitter.com/dJgQH2U4Nc
— David Irvine (@divirvine) December 20, 2025
Injury-cursed midfielder Riley McGree limped out of Middlesbrough’s 2-0 loss at Bristol City early on in the English Champioship on Saturday.
McGree was substituted out in the 16th minute, having grabbed at his hamstring after skipping past an opponent and pulling up. Boro boss Kim Hellberg said: “I actually don’t know yet. I think it’s not too dangerous, but I don’t have a good answer for you yet. We will see.
“I just spoke to him at half time a little bit and hopefully it isn’t too serious. Riley is an unbelievable player for us. It’s a tough blow, but we have such a big squad and a lot of good players.
“So we just keep going and hopefully he is back soon. He didn’t think it was such a big thing at half-time. He’s a good person as well as a player that we need in the squad.”
Really hope that the Riley McGree injury isn’t as serious as it sounds.
Kim Hellberg’s impact has clearly been huge but McGree’s reintroduction to the team has been critical to our attacking displays.
Praying for good news 🙏🇦🇺#Boro #UTB
— Phil Spencer (@PhilSpenc23) December 20, 2025
Hayden Matthews scored an own goal but impressed with an 8/10 full display in Portsmouth’s 1-1 draw away to Derby County.
The News rated Matthews 8/10 and wrote: “A third successive start for the youngster and a display to be applauded against the powerful Agyemang.
“Strong, good in the air and produced one tremendous late chase back and challenge to deny the striker when clean through. Also lasted the full 90 minutes. A real coming of age performance.”
The own goal was unlucky, with Matthews caught in a two-on-one situation where Joe Ward’s cutback for Patrick Agyemang forced him to try to intervene.
Callum Elder put in a full shift the Rams, while Adrian Segecic was a 66th minute substitute for Pompey.
Cameron Burgess also netted an own goal with an unfortunate header in Swansea City’s 2-1 win over Welsh rivals Wrexham.
Burgess put in a full shift and was rated 7/10 by Wales Online who wrote: “So unfortunate with the own goal and very nearly conceded another when he blocked Nathan Broadhead’s strike. Nearly got one back at the other end on two occasions.”
Lewis Miller continues to impress at Blackburn Rovers, playing a full game in a 2-0 win over Millwall.
Lancashire Telegraph rated Miller 8/10 and wrote: “Looked like a real beneficiary of a free week. Sharp to win the ball back and showed his versatility playing both RCB and RWB.”
Nestory Irankunda was a 76th minute substitute for Watford in their 1-0 victory over Stoke City.
In League One, Alex Robertson also scored an own goal in Cardiff City’s 2-1 loss to Lincoln City. Attempting a cut-out tackle, Robertson poked the ball past his goalkeeper.
