Loan round-up: Villa loanees in play-off action

Aston Villa loanees Keinan Davis and Conor Hourihane went head-to-head in play-off action over the weekend, while Louie Barry secured a first-leg advantage with Swindon Town.

Davis and Hourihane lined up for Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United respectively as they met in the first leg of their Championship semi-final at Bramall Lane.

Both started among the substitutes, with fit-again Davis, who made his return from injury after a month on the sidelines, introduced in the 77^th minute for The Reds.

And it was Forest who triumphed 2-1 to take a slender advantage into Tuesday’s second leg at The City Ground, with a place at Wembley awaiting the winners.

Barry helped Swindon take a first-leg advantage in their League Two play-off semi-final against Port Vale.

The Villa striker completed 94 minutes for the Robins before being substituted as they triumphed 2-1 at the County Ground to hold a crucial lead.

The Robins and Valiants go again in the second leg of their semi-final on Thursday.

Frédéric Guilbert completed 93 minutes as Strasbourg saw off Clermont Foot 2-1 in the penultimate match of their Ligue 1 campaign. Strasbourg are in 5^th place in the table heading into the final weekend.

Lovre Kalinić started for HNK Hajduk Split as they recorded a 3-1 victory over NK Istra, however they are four points adrift of leaders Dinamo Zagreb and can no longer win the league title heading into their final-day meeting.

Anwar El Ghazi was not named in Everton’s matchday 20 as they were defeated 3-2 by Brentford on Sunday, Matt Targett’s Newcastle United host Arsenal on Monday night.

Trézéguet completed 90 minutes as İstanbul Başakşehir played out a 1-1 draw against Giresunspor to remain in fourth place in Turkey’s Süper Lig.

Wesley, meanwhile, was an unused substitute for Internacional as they drew 2-2 at home to Corinthians on Saturday.

Fit-again Arjan Raikhy was a half-time sub for Grimsby Town in their 4-4 draw against Eastleigh Town in the National League, with the Mariners now set to face Notts County in their play-off eliminator next Monday.

Indiani Vassilev stepped off the bench in the 72^nd minute for Inter Miami CF as they drew 2-2 at home to D.C. United in the MLS.

Caleb Chukwuemeka was an unused sub as Livingston triumphed 2-1 over Dundee on Sunday to secure a seventh-placed finish in the Scottish Premiership.