Harry Wilson – Hull City
Hull dispatched QPR with an emphatic 4-0 win. Harry Wilson picked up his second Man of the Match award for his one goal and one assist. Wilson opened the scoring when he latched onto a through ball and carefully lifted the ball over the goalkeeper and into the far side of the net. His assist came for the third goal and it was a similar through ball that was slotted into the path Kamil Grosicki, who this time ran the ball underneath the ‘keeper. Wilson has been unstoppable during his short time with the Tigers and it wouldn’t be unrealistic to suggest that he could play a part at Anfield next year.
Taiwo Awoniyi – Royal Excel Mouscron
Royal Excel Mouscron have played two matches in their Europa League playoff division and are currently sitting pretty thanks to two goals from Taiwo Awoniyi. The striker scored for the second time in as many games to help his side come from a goal down, to eventually beat Kortrijk 2-1. Awoniyi scored late on in the first half to draw his side level, thanks to commanding header from just over six yards out. He used his power to rise higher than anyone else in the box and met the corner with such authority that a goal seemed to be the only possible outcome. Unfortunately, he was booked in the resulting celebrations for lifting his shirt over his head, but that didn’t spoil the evening as Mouscron impressively turned the game on its head. Awoniyi has now scored 10 competitive goals this season.
Divock Origi – Wolfsburg
Divock Origi produced a touch of magic in Germany, something that hasn’t been said nearly enough this season. The Belgian’s poor run of form meant that he started the match on the bench yet again, and only entered the action in the 74th minute. His skill to set up the Wolfsburg’s second goal in their 2-0 win against SC Freiburg will be replayed over and over again. He picked up the ball near the corner flag and didn’t look to pose any danger whatsoever, but smooth back heel allowed him to roll the ball between his defender’s legs, before turning quickly and finding himself in plenty of space. Origi then calmly slotted the ball through to Daniel Didavi who provided the finish. This is the first time in a while that we’ve seen Origi with a smile on his face and hopefully this will give him some confidence to carry into the final matches of the season.
Lazar Markovic – Anderlecht
Lazar Markovic made his first start for Anderlecht and could be finally proving his worth for the Belgian side. He completed 90 minutes for the first time in what feels like a lifetime and he was on form throughout. Anderlecht beat Charleroi 2-1 and Markovic provided the assist for the first goal, thanks to a whipped cross into the near post. The ball bounced perfectly in front of Ryota Morioka who had a very simple tap in.
Sheyi Ojo – Fulham
Sheyi Ojo started his first match for Fulham in just over a month and he was on the pitch for longer than an hour for only the second time this calendar year. The winger thought that his return to the team had started in perfect fashion when he stabbed home a cross in the 11th minute. Unfortunately, he was judged to have been standing in an offside position and the score remained 0-0. Overall, Ojo put in a decent performance and contributed to many of Fulham’s attacks in the first half. He seemed to tire after the break, perhaps as a result of limited game time and he was subbed off in the 62nd minute. He copped a bit of slack from fans before the match but may have silenced some critics with a very positive display. Fulham found a late winner to clinch the three points with a 1-0 away win over Sheffield Wednesday.
Connor Randall – Hearts
Like Sheyi Ojo, Connor Randall returned to the starting line up for the first time in about a month. Playing as a right wing-back, the Englishman stayed out of trouble for most of the game and was solid in helping his side secure a clean sheet against Aberdeen. He didn’t offer much going forward, as you would expect a wing-back to do, but Hearts didn’t need him in an attacking sense, as they finished as comfortable 2-0 winners.
Matty Virtue – Notts County
Matty Virtue started his second game on the bounce for Notts County, this time in his more natural midfield position. The youngster enjoyed a good afternoon in League 2 as he made an impact all over the field and contributed in all aspects of the 2-1 win against Coventry. His performance earned him a nomination for the man of the match award, but sadly, he received just 7% of the fans’ vote on Twitter. Nevertheless, a positive experience for Virtue.
Andy Firth – Chester
Chester slipped to their fourth league defeat in a row when they lost 2-0 at home to Tranmere in the local derby. As a result, their fate has been sealed and they will be playing National League North football next season. Once again, Andy Firth had a decent match but there was no much he could do for the two Tranmere goals. The first came from a close-range header and the second had suspicions of offside, but the goalkeeper was left all alone and lost the one-on-one to the opposition striker. The rest of the season will be all about experience for Firth, as him and his side continue to play for pride.
Pedro Chirivella – Willem II
For the second time in as many weeks, Willem II finished a match with only ten men. The 2-1 loss to Excelsior leaves them within touching distance of the relegation zone, with four games still to play. Pedro Chirivella seemed to be a passenger for most of the game because he made just 17 passes, won one aerial and didn’t do much else. The quiet nature of his evening led to him being substituted with eleven minutes still to play.
Ovie Ejaria – Sunderland
Ovie Ejaria continues his return from injury and the midfielder was limited to just seven minutes of game time during the 1-1 draw with Leeds.
Anderson Arroyo – Real Mallorca ‘B’
It was a ninth consecutive win for Real Mallorca ‘B’, and their 2-0 win means they have now gone seven matches without conceding. Once again, Anderson Arroyo played the full 90 minutes.
Ryan Kent (Bristol City), Jon Flanagan (Bolton Wanderers) and Corey Whelan (Yeovil Town) were all left out of their respective matchday squads. Daniel Sturridge (West Bromwich Albion) and Marko Grujic (Cardiff City) were also missing for their sides as they are both currently nursing injuries. Finally, Allan Rodrigues (Apollon Limassol) has seen his tenure cut short, as the Cypriot side no longer deem his services to be necessary.
