Socceroo Neil Kilkenny was withdrawn deep into injury time as Bristol City played out a goalless draw at home to fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest.

Richard Garcia played the last six minutes in Hull City’s 2-0 victory over Millwall as he continues his return from a lengthy layoff. Shane Lowry completed a full ninety minutes for Millwall.

Fresh after signing a new three-year contract with Aston Villa, Chris Herd was forced to sit out from his sides 2-0 loss at home to Liverpool. The midfielder failed a fitness test in the morning and is set to undergo scans on his injured ankle. He faces a race against time to be fit for Aston Villa’s clash with Arsenal.

Socceroo Mark Schwarzer who is suffering from an injured back, watched from the stands as Fulham put their Europa League heartbreak behind them with a 2-0 win over Bolton at Craven Cottage.

Ryan McGowan played the entire match and set up Hearts second goal in their 4-0 drubbing of Dunfermline at Tynecastle. McGowan made an excellent run into the penalty box and found Mehdi Taouil for Hearts second on twenty-seven minutes.

Elsewhere in the Scottish Premier League, Aaron Mooy was a 64th minute substitute in St.Mirren’s 1-1 draw with Motherwell at Fir Park while Socceroo Matt McKay was an unused substitute for Rangers in their 2-1 win at home to Inverness.

Over in the Eredivisie, Brett Holman equalised for AZ Alkmaar in the 45th minute but a 90th minute goal from NAC Breda’s Milano Koenders condemned AZ to their third defeat of the season.

Winless in their last five, Utrecht suffered a 1-0 loss away to eighth placed Groningen. Adam Sarota made way for Stefano Lilipaly on the hour mark, Socceroo Michael Zullo did not feature off the bench while Tommy Oar was absent from the squad.

In the Eerste Divisie, Ryan Marveggio was an unused substitute in Telstar’s 2-1 victory at home to Emmen.

Matthew Leckie was an unused substitute in Borussia Monchengladbach’s 1-0 win at home to Mainz while Mitchell Langerak watched from the bench as Borussia Dortmund maintained the pressure on Bayern with a 4-1 victory away to bottom-of-the-table Freiburg.

In Germany’s second division, Robbie Kruse did not make it off the bench in Fortuna Dusseldorf’s 3-2 defeat at the hands of Paderborn. Fortuna’s first defeat of the season see’s their lead at the top cut down to two points.

Socceroo James Troisi was thrown into the action after seventy minutes as Kayserispor were beaten 1-0 by fourth placed Eskisehirspor in the Turkish Super Lig. The loss ends Kayresispor’s run of three successive wins.

In Italy’s Serie B, Sassuolo played out a 1-1 draw away to Reggina. Carl Valeri did not feature as he continues to nurse a niggling injury but is looking to make a return after the New Year.

David Carney played the final 25 minutes in Alcorcon’s 6-0 thrashing away to league leaders Elche. Alcorcon sits five points adrift of the top six in the Segunda Division.

In the Greek Super League, Nathan Burns was introduced at half time but it wasn’t enough to prevent AEK Athens from suffering a 1-0 defeat away to Atromitos.

Alex Cisak and James Wesolowski put in full shifts for Oldham in their hard fought 1-1 draw away to the table topping Charlton Athletic. Paul Dickov’s men secured a point with six minutes remaining while the result also extends Charlton’s unbeaten run to ten games in England’s League One. Dean Bouzanis continued on the bench for Oldham.

Promotion hopefuls Shrewsbury Town maintained their unbeaten home record with a 1-0 win over Maccesfield courtesy of a 49th minute header from Shane Cansdell-Sherriff.

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