Loan Report: Aluko Struggles & Young Keepers Target Promotion

Four defeats out of the first four games for Beijing Renhe sees them rock bottom of the Chinese Super League. Sone Aluko was part of the side that was demolished 5-1 last Sunday at the hands of Chinese giants Shanghai Shenhua. Former Premier League striker Odion Ighalo got two for the hosts as it was 5-0 by 80 minutes. Renhe did manage to grab a consolation goal on 86 minutes but it did not distract from the amount of work that needs to be done.

Over in the States, Vito Mannone was between the sticks for Minnesota United as they claimed a shock 2-1 win away at New York Red Bulls which sees them move up into a playoff spot in the Western Conference of the MLS.

As we enter the final few games of the season here in England, one team looking to cement a play-off place in League Two is Forest Green Rovers. Sitting sixth in the fourth tier of English football, they beat Crawley Town 2-1 away from home, in which keeper Lewis Ward played the full ninety minutes. The youngster was powerless to keep out a wonderful long range strike from Dannie Bulman, but his side came from behind to pick up all three points.

After he announced yesterday that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season, George Legg could be playing for a contract at Boreham Wood. Unfortunately, he won’t have done his chance any favours on Saturday as the Vanarama National side were beaten 2-1 at home by Sutton United.

It has not been a pleasant few days to be an Eastleigh fan or player, but two defeats in a matter of days and four defeats in their last five has seen the Hampshire side just about cling on to a play-off spot in the Vanarama National. A 4-2 defeat on Saturday to AFC Fylde was followed by a 3-2 defeat last night to promotion chasing Leyton Orient. Luke Southwood, on loan from the Royals, played the full game in both defeats for Eastleigh, and will be looking to help his side turn around their poor run of form between now and the end of the campaign.

In the Belgian second-tier, Danzell Gravenberch and Darren Sidoel both started for KSV Roeselare in their 2-2 draw with OH Leuven. Gravenberch was bought off in the 69th minute and will be disappointed he could not help his side secure a much needed victory. Roeselare must pick up a win in their next match, as the Belgian First Division B is now split into the relegation phase of the competition, and they sit bottom of that mini league.

In the last game of the regular phase of the Scottish Premiership, Marc McNulty and his Hibs side travelled the short distance to Hearts to take part in the Edinburgh derby. McNulty grabbed an assist as he helped his side come back from 1-0 down to win the derby 2-1.

Despite scoring a goal last week in a hard fought win, Andrija Novakovich and his Fortuna Sittard side were on the end of a 5-0 slump, thanks no less to his former manager Jaap Stam’s PEC Zwolle side. Fortuna went down to 10 men just a couple of minutes after Zwolle had grabbed their first. After that, the ten men just capitulated and with five games left of the Dutch season, find themselves four points above the relegation play-off zone in the Eredivisie.

Adrian Popa came on as a sub for Ludogorets as they drew 0-0 in their second play off game against CSKA Sofia, who had beaten them 1-0 just a few days before in the quarter-final of the Bulgarian Cup.

David Meyler was once again an unused sub for Coventry City as they drew 0-0 at home to Bristol Rovers in League One.