Loan watch: Gunn keeps double clean sheet
Angus Gunn kept two clean sheets this week as Stoke City attempt to climb the Championship table. This and more in this week’s Loan Watch, in association with Kuflink…
It was a successful week for Angus Gunn and Stoke City as they picked up all six points at home, with Gunn proving a vital component in Stoke’s battle for the top six.
Steven Fletcher’s late goal ensured victory for Stoke over Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday, but it was Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Luton Town that really highlighted the team’s quality in recent weeks.
Michael O’Neil’s men now sit just three points off of sixth place Bournemouth AFC.
Shane Long netted his first goal for Bournemouth on the weekend against Queens Park Rangers.
Bournemouth conceded in the 58th minute but it was Shane Long’s goal some 10 minutes later that brought the Cherries back into the match.
Long’s efforts did not save Bournemouth from defeat, though, as QPR regained the lead in the 83rd minute.
Elsewhere in the Championship, Yan Valery secured some game time as he came off the bench for Birmingham City in their 2-0 defeat to Millwall.
Now to League One, where it was a week of mixed emotions for Callum Slattery and Tom O’Connor at Gillingham.
Both players had a substantial amount of playing time this week, starting against Peterborough where Gillingham fell to a 3-1 defeat.
However, Gillingham found form again as they raced to a 2-0 victory over Bristol Rovers for a lunchtime showdown at Priestfield Stadium.
Steve Evans started Callum Slattery for the fixture, though he was brought off at half time after picking up an injury.
O’Connor made his appearance after the break and made an immediate impact on the game – providing a perfectly timed assist for Akinde to give Gillingham the lead.
Another Akinde goal ensured a 2-0 victory for the club, who now sit 15th in the league.
It was a successful week for Sunderland as they won their Football League Trophy semi-final against Lincoln City, securing a date at Wembley on the 14th March.
Loanee Jake Vokins was unable to feature as he is cup-tied. He did, however, feature in Sunderland's 3-0 victory over Burton Albion helping the side rise to sixth in League One.
Josh Sims featured in Doncaster Rovers' six-goal thriller with Hull City, where James Coppinger scored a late winner to tie the game, with Doncaster sitting fourth in the league.
In League Two, Jake Hesketh featured for Crawley Town on Saturday and helped the side to victory over Colchester United.
Up to the Premier League now where Fulham nabbed a 1-1 draw with Burnley and a vital victory over Sheffield United in a bottom of the table scrap.
Mario Lemina started Fulham’s midweek clash with Burnley and came off the bench as a substitute vs Sheffield United to help them win the game.
Across the border in Scotland, Mohammed Elyounoussi got some game time off the bench against Aberdeen and Ross County.
While Neil Lennon’s side secured a 1-0 victory over Aberdeen, they failed to perform against a struggling Ross County side.
Elyounoussi did almost pull off a last gasp winner over County, but Ross Laidlaw’s fingertips denied him the equaliser.
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