Everton Loan Round up 20th April 2015

Four of Everton’s loan contingent were involved in Football League action over the weekend.

Matthew Pennington helped to keep League One champions Bristol City at bay on Saturday, as Coventry City eased their relegation fears with a scoreless draw at Ashton Gate.

The defender completed the 90 minutes but was booked late in the contest. It could prove to be a crucial point for the Sky Blues, who are now five points above the drop zone with two matches left to play.

Also at the bottom end of League One, John Lundstram was involved for Scunthorpe United in their 2-2 draw at Colchester. The midfielder was substituted late on as the Iron climbed to 17th in the standings and within touching distance of safety.

That certainly cannot be said for Tranmere in League Two. Rovers are rooted to the bottom of League Two after losing 3-0 at home to Oxford – a defeat which cost manager Micky Adams his job. George Green played an hour at Prenton Park.

It was the Wirral-based club’s fourth successive defeat. Despite the precarious position, they still have hope of securing survival, though they must gain positive results in their last two games against Plymouth and Bury to overtake fellow relegation contenders Cheltenham and Hartlepool.

At the opposite end of League Two, Gethin Jones was substituted in the second half of Plymouth’s 2-0 defeat at Carlisle. The Pilgrims do, however, remain in the last play-off position, sitting ahead of Luton Town on goal difference.

Elsewhere, Conor McAleny missed Cardiff’s scoreless draw against Millwall through injury in the second tier. The striker pulled up with a problem in the Bluebirds’ 2-1 victory at Leeds seven days earlier and did not recover in time.

It was a similar story for Chris Long, who wasn’t involved in Brentford’s 2-2 draw with Bolton Wanderers. It was a frustrating outcome for the Bees, who are three points adrift of the play-offs with only two Championship fixtures remaining.

Long and Lundstram have since had their respective loan deals with Brentford and Scunthorpe until the end of the season.

An injury problem also kept Francisco Junior out of Port Vale’s 2-2 draw with Preston North End on Friday evening. The midfielder has only featured once for the League One club since joining them at the end of March.

And in Scotland, Motherwell did not have a game, meaning it was a free weekend for Conor Grant.