The Irish international was replaced by striker Matt Derbyshire in the dying minutes as Forest chased what proved to be an ultimately elusive point, but it was great to see Cunningham in action again after his recovery from a fractured tibia.
It was no better a weekend for Michael Johnson who played 20 minutes for managerless Leicester in their 3-2 defeat to West Ham, nor for Ipswich’s Reece Wabara or Middlesbrough’s Alex Nimely who both came off the bench for their sides, only to suffer heavy losses at the hands of Milwall and Southampton respectively.
Abdul Razak made his debut for Portsmouth less than 24 hours after moving to Fratton Park, and although Pompey lost 3-1 to Derby the tough-tackling midfielder acquitted himself well in his 27-minute substitute appearance.
Abdul Razak made his debut for Portsmouth less than 24 hours after moving to Fratton Park, and although Pompey lost 3-1 to Derby the tough-tackling midfielder acquitted himself well in his 27-minute substitute appearance.
Ryan McGivern was re-installed to Bristol City’s starting line-up as they claimed their first league win since August with a last minute victory away at Barnsley, while defensive duo Kieran Trippier and Ben Mee both started for Burnley in their comprehensive 3-1 win over Lancashire rivals Blackpool. A fourth win in six games saw the Clarets move well clear of the drop-zone and with eyes for the top of the table as they now sit just six points off the play-off spots.
In League One, Ahmed Benali was missing for Rochdale as they slipped up 2-0 against Leyton Orient. That result leaves the Dale stooped deep in the relegation mire having fallen into the drop-zone for the first time since September.
While Emmanuel Adebayor remains a first choice at Tottenham, the Togolese striker missed a host of chances for Spurs as they overcame QPR 3-1, and what Dedryck Boyata’s Bolton would have given for a similar result against recently promoted Swansea. Without the Belgian, the Trotters’ defence crumbled to a 3-1 defeat that sees them remain slumped in the bottom three.
Loris Karius and Roque Santa Cruz were also absent for their respective losing sides this weekend, while Academy graduate Vladimir Weiss – whose Espanyol beat Santa Cruz’s Betis in mid-week – made a rare start for the Spanish side in their meeting with Malaga. The Slovakian was replaced just before the hour mark as his side’s 3-game winning streak was brought to an end.
Mohammed Abu’s Stromgodset twice came from behind to claim a well-deserved point against newly crowned Norwegian champions Molde, managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. It was a case of 11 simply being better than ten for both John Guidetti and David Gonzalez. The Swedish striker played the second 45 for Feyenoord as they were humbled 6-0 by an impressive Groningen, while Gonzalez’s ten-man Aberdeen were downed 2-1 by Scottish champions Rangers.
