De Laet, has returned to Old Trafford
Danny Drinkwater was back with a bang for Barnsley as he recovered from a thigh strain that kept him out last week to assist both goals in the Tyke’s 2-1 win at Leicester.
Andy Gray prodded home Danny Drinkwater’s superb cross after 12 minutes to put Barnsley ahead. Gray then got the winner before the break when he headed home another Beckhamesque Drinkwater cross. Barnsley had won only one of their previous six matches but they showed no lack of confidence as Gray pounced early on after Drinkwater and Ricardo Vaz Te combined to create the chance.
It was Tunnicliffe and Wootton against Brady at the KC stadium as Hull took on Peterborough. Tunners played the full 90 whilst Wootton came on for the last 20 minutes as the visitors looked vulnerable in the closing stages. Brady came on after 60 minutes and threatened the Peterborough goal on a few occasions with the odd speculative shots and supplied dangerous crosses towards hitman Aaron McLean. It was only 1-0 to Hull but could have been much worse if Posh keeper Joe Lewis wasn’t in inspired form between the sticks as he made fine saves to deny our Robbie Brady and McLean, before Peterborough’s Paul Taylor spurned a late chance to snatch a point in added time. Tunnicliffe was deployed in a defensive midfield role which meant he saw very little of the ball and was instructed to clean up around the penalty area; a couple of clearances were his biggest impact on the game. Defeat means Darren Ferguson’s side have not won in four games. Josh King will be looking to be involved in Hull’s trip to Reading on Saturday after completing his loan move.
John Cofie is not being joined in Belgium by Michael Keane, as was widely reported, so will be hoping to aid Antwerp’s promotion push alone. He joins a lengthy list of United youngsters learning their trade at the club which include the likes of John O’Shea, Jonny Evans and Darron Gibson. He made a good start in the Belgian Second Division with a start against Visé. Cofie’s new side ran out 3-1 winners with a hat-trick for the young Ghanaian’s strike partner Kevin Oris. The two combined well throughout the game and Cofie was unlucky not to break his duck with a good chance early in the second half but for a mishit shot.
Kiko Macheda started on the bench in QPR’s 1-0 loss at Newcastle. New manager Mark Hughes did give the Italian a run-out though and it was an eventful 14 minute cameo for Macheda as he was caught offside on a couple of occasions, was booked for unsporting behaviour, got into an altercation with Newcastle’s Danny Guthrie and even had time to handle the ball after failing to control it. Macheda was playing in an unfamiliar role on the wing for Rangers and put in a decent cross that was eventually collected by Dutch keeper Tim Krul.
Oliver Norwood and Sam Johnstone both returned from successful loan spells at Scunthorpe and are expected to go back on loan before the window closes.
Ritchie De Laet’s loan spell has been terminated as the defender recovers from a back injury Canaries boss Paul Lambert said: ‘Ritchie has gone back to Manchester United. We thank Sir Alex Ferguson for loaning him to us and wish Ritchie well for the future and hope he goes on to have a successful career at Man Utd.’
Follow Saad on Twitter- Twitter: @saadnoor
