It was an awfully quiet mid-week Sky Bet Championship from a Yank’s perspective, as once again, only two Americans played any minutes. Haji Wright finally ended his goal drought, while Duane Holmes and PNE suffered another massive defeat.
Overall, it was a quiet match week, but Lynden Gooch’s Stoke City managed to secure three crucial points for the first time since August 19. On the flip side, Duane Holmes’ Preston North End suffered their first league loss of the season.
It was a difficult weekend for our boys abroad in the lower tiers of the English football leagues, as no American contributed to a win for their respective clubs.
Duane Holmes’ goal against Plymouth made it three scoring contributions on the bounce for the PNE man while Tyler Bindon returned for Reading after being sidelined for a minor injury.
Duane Holmes came off the bench for Preston and immediately became the difference-maker by drawing a penalty and setting up the winner, in a game which also saw Lynden Gooch make his Stoke City debut in a losing effort.
Life below the Premier League started off with a mixed bag, with a number of Yanks in England’s second tier such as Haji Wright and Duane Holmes getting their first minutes with new clubs.
The Championship Playoffs saw a Yank on three out of four teams, but only Ethan Horvath’s Luton Town was left standing at the end of the day, after Zack Steffen and Lynden Gooch saw their teams narrowly eliminated.
After being rested for last weekend’s FA Cup loss to Blackburn, Josh Sargent will be available for the Canaries’ trip to Preston on Saturday, according to new head coach David Wagner.
