The Ghanaian’s 35-yard screamer put his side in front – only to then be denied all three points by a last minute equaliser.
Abu is not the only Blue currently out on loan overseas. John Guidetti scored a penalty either side of half-time in Feyenoord’s 4-0 victory over Venlo in the Dutch Eredivisie, while Roque Santa Cruz and Vladimir Weiss both had to settle for a place on the bench for their respective Spanish sides.
Unlike Weiss, Santa Cruz was eventually added to the action in the midst of a second half master class by La Liga giants Real Madrid, who demolished Cruz’s newly-promoted side 4-1.
Loris Karius may soon get his chance in the Mainz first team after they went a seventh game without a win, losing 1-0 to Augsburg, but it was a better week for David Gonzalez, who helped Aberdeen to a crucial 3-1 victory over fellow strugglers Dundee United in Scotland.
Closer to home, Dedryck Boyata enjoyed derby day success against Lancashire rivals Wigan. The Belgian defender helped Bolton win 3-1 to claim the bragging rights in a result that saw the Trotters climb off the foot of the table and out of the relegation zone.
It could have been four, but after Boyata was fouled in the box, Bolton skipper Kevin Davies wasted his penalty kick
...loan watch
Tottenham’s Emmanuel Adebayor also won his side a penalty this weekend – Rafael Van der Vaart succeeding where Davies failed in dispatching his spot kick – but the Togolese striker wasted numerous chances as his side could only manage a 2-2 draw with Newcastle.
Alex Nimely came off the bench for unbeaten Middlesbrough this weekend as they slipped to a fourth consecutive draw and it was a similar story for Reece Wabara’s Ipswich who missed out on the opportunity to climb into the play-offs spots – Wabara added to the fray in the 82nd minute as his side shared the spoils with Cardiff.
Following a 99th minute Reading winner, Kieran Trippier’s Burnley now sit just four points off the Championship drop and may consider re-introducing the fit-again Ben Mee to the first team in a bid to improve their fortunes.
Like Mee, neither Michael Johnson nor Ryan McGivern played a single minute for their sides; however, Ahmed Benali made his Football League debut in the second half of Rochdale’s meeting with Colchester – Steve Eyre’s side fighting back from two goals down to claim a point.
