On Wednesday evening, Armando Broja netted a superb goal for Southampton at Crystal Palace (pictured top). The Albanian striker fired in a low effort from 25 yards out to put the Saints 2-1 up, although the Eagles, featuring Conor Gallagher throughout, battled back to earn a point in an entertaining contest at Selhurst Park.

Both Southampton and Palace’s games this weekend were postponed, as was Norwich’s fixture at West Ham, but not before they had lost 2-0 at home to Aston Villa in midweek with Billy Gilmour again completing the 90 minutes.

The Canaries remain at the foot of the table, with Palace and Southampton separated by three points in 11th and 15th respectively.

Championship comebacks

There was action for two our players in a heavily-reduced Championship slate this weekend. Levi Colwill was at the back for Huddersfield as they secured a first win on the road since September with an entertaining 3-2 victory at Bristol City, despite conceding very early. The Terriers are 10th in England’s second tier with half their league campaign now completed.

Lower down the table, Nathan Baxter and Hull City were unfortunate to lose 2-1 at Nottingham Forest. Having taken a first-half lead, the hosts were awarded a controversial penalty which was converted, and Forest netted what proved the decider shortly afterwards. Hull are 19th after their first loss in seven.

Drama on the continent

Venezia’s secured a second straight 1-1 draw courtesy of a late leveller which earned a creditable point at Sampdoria. Ethan Ampadu played the first hour in Genoa. They host Lazio on Wednesday before the winter break.

In Turkey, a big Istanbul derby between Fenerbahce and Besiktas ended 2-2. The hosts Fenerbahce went ahead through a Mesut Ozil penalty, but Michy Batshuayi assisted the equaliser. The teams then traded further goals with our striker completing the full game.

Unfortunately, not for the first time in France this season, a game did not even reach its conclusion because of crowd trouble on Friday night. Emerson had started for Lyon at left wing-back as they travelled to Paris FC in the Coupe de France, but violence in the stands at half-time led to an abandonment with the authorities yet to decide on the state of the round-of-64 tie. The score was 1-1 when play was halted.