Young guns Tommy Oar and Mathew Leckie impressed, while numerous China-based Aussies looked to impress with the commencement of the Chinese Super League.

In the English Premier League, Brad Jones earned a rare start following a calf injury to Pepe Reina and played a full game in Liverpool’s 3-2 win over Tottenham. Jones had a few nervous moments early in the contest but acquitted himself well and could do nothing to prevent either of Tottenham’s goals.

Adam Federici was absent with an ankle injury as Reading dropped to bottom of the table following a 2-1 loss to fellow strugglers Aston Villa. Brett Holman was an unused substitute for Villa while Chris Herd remained out with a foot injury.

In the FA Cup, Shane Lowry played a full game at left-back as Millwall played out a 0-0 draw with Blackburn Rovers. Lowry was strong defensively and got forward on occasions, delivery a couple of decent crosses into the box, however Millwall were guilty of missing some quality chances. The replay will be played Wednesday night at Ewood Park.

In the English Championship, Neil Kilkenny returned to the starting line-up and played a key role in Bristol City’s crucial 2-0 win over Middlesbrough. Kilkenny provided the assist for Albert Adomah’s opener, picking out the Ghanaian with a long range diagonal ball who curled a stunning finish into the top corner. Kilkenny was also involved in Bristol’s second goal, quickly taking a free-kick which caught Boro unaware, as Kilkenny picked out Stephen Pearson who fed Steven Davies to goal. Rhys Williams returned to the starting line-up for Boro and played 90 minutes in the clash. Williams was perhaps lucky to not give away a penalty in the second half after appearing to handle Pearson’s goal-bound shot. Scott McDonald also played 90 minutes but had little impact as Boro slipped 3 points away from the playoff spots.

Elsewhere, Mile Jedinak played a full game as Crystal Palace missed an opportunity to jump back into the automatic promotion places with a 2-2 draw with Leeds United. Jedinak denied Luke Varney a simple finish with a superb last gasp tackle in the first half to keep his side in the lead before Steve Morison equalised for Leeds.

Patrick Kisnorbo was an unused substitute as Ipswich Town drew 0-0 with fellow strugglers Peterborough.

In League One, Dean Bouzanis returned to the starting line-up, playing a full game as Oldham Athletic slipped back into the relegation zone with a 1-0 loss to promotion chasing Tranmere Rovers. Bouzanis made a superb stop from Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro’s header and made a stunning double save deep in the second half but could do nothing to stop Max Power’s powerful strike. James Wesolowski played 85 minutes in the clash and nearly scored a fine equaliser in the second half, however his driving effort from the edge of the box was well saved by Owain Fon Williams. Alex Cisak was an unused substitute for Oldham.  

Elsewhere, Bailey Wright played a full game in defence as Preston North End beat Stevenage 2-0, while Bradden Inman was missing through injury as Crewe Alexandra beat Colchester United 2-1.

In League Two, Jamie Young sustained a head injury as Aldershot Town conceded a 98th minute penalty to draw 1-1 with Bradford City. Young, who earlier was in inspired form with a series of fine reaction saves, collided with 2 players after coming strongly off his line and required treatment for concussion. James Meredith was absent from the Bradford match-day squad, while Curtis Good has returned to Newcastle United after his loan with Bradford expired.

Aaron Downes returned from injury, playing 90 minutes and finding the back of the net in Torquay United’s 3-1 loss to Oxford United. Downes had a mixed day as he was at fault for Oxford’s first goal before giving away a penalty for their second goal, but the defender gave his side hope with a well-directed header from Lee Mansell’s corner, however Torquay conceded another goal in the dying minutes to hand Oxford the three points.

Elsewhere, Shane Cansdell-Sherriff played 90 minutes as Rochdale beat Wycombe 4-1, while Ryan Williams was absent from the match-day squad as Gillingham beat Plymouth Argyle 2-1.

In the Scottish Premier League, Tom Rogic was an unused substitute as Celtic threw away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to Ross County.

Alex Baird was an unused substitute as Dundee FC drew 1-1 with Inverness, while Dylan McGowan was absent with an ankle injury as Hearts drew 0-0 with rivals Hibernian.

In the German Bundesliga, Robbie Kruse played a full game as Fortuna Dusseldorf twice threw away the lead to lose 3-2 to runaway league leaders Bayern Munich. Kruse had a few tidy touches in the first half but was largely quiet as Bayern had the better of the contest.

Elsewhere, Mitch Langerak was an unused substitute as Borussia Dortmund’s disappointing league season continued, losing 2-1 to Schalke, while Nikita Rukavytsya was absent from the match-day squad as FSV Mainz beat Bayer Leverkusen 1-0.

In the German Second Division, Mathew Leckie found the back of the net upon his return to the starting line-up as FSV Frankfurt remained in the hunt for promotion with a 6-1 thumping of VfR Aalen. Leckie scored the second goal on 35 minutes, striking home on his non-preferred left boot before the former Adelaide United speedster won a penalty deep in the second half which was converted by Zafer Yelen.

In the German Third Division, Mustafa Amini was an unused substitute as Borussia Dortmund II beat Unterhaching 2-1.

In the Dutch Eredivisie, Tommy Oar played a full game and set up the game’s only goal as FC Utrecht beat RKC Waalwijk 1-0. Oar, lining up on the left side of midfield, whipped in a superb cross on 77 minutes which was headed home by Jacob Mulenga on the six yard box. Michael Zullo was missing from the Utrecht match-day squad, while Adam Sarota was out with injury.

Jason Davidson was absent from the match-day squad as Heracles beat NEC Nijmegen 1-0, while Travis Cooper was also missing as VVV Venlo lost 1-0 to bottom-placed Willem II.

In the Italian Serie A, James Troisi was absent from the match-day squad as Atalanta beat Pescara 2-1.

In the Serie B, Carl Valeri was absent with a leg injury as Sassuolo beat Varese 4-3. Valeri is unlikely to play again this season.

In the Greek Super League, Giannis Simosis was an 83rd minute substitute as AO Kerkyra lost 1-0 to Panathinaikos.

In Turkey, Aziz Behich made his league debut for Bursapor, coming on as a 69th minute substitute as Bursapor were thumped 4-1 by Fenerbahce. Elsewhere, Kerem Bulut was an unused substitute as Akhisar Belediyespor drew 2-2 with Gaziantepspor.

In Austria, James Holland played a full match in midfield as Austria Wien drew 0-0 with Wiener Neustadt, ending their six game winning streak.

In Denmark, Brent McGrath played the final 20 minutes as Brondby beat AGF Aarhus 3-0.

In the Belgian Second Division, Kofi Danning was absent with a knee injury as CS Vise beat Oudenaarde 3-1.

In Russia, Luke Wilkshire was an unused substitute as Dinamo Moscow beat rivals Lokomotiv Moscow 1-0.

In the Chinese Super League, Michael Marrone made his debut for Shanghai Shenxin, starting and playing 67 minutes in their heavy 5-1 loss to reigning champions Guangzhou Evergrande. Elsewhere, Jonas Salley played 90 minutes in midfield as Guizhou Renhe lost 2-1 to Qingdao Jonoon.

Ryan McGowan played a full game as Shandong Luneng beat Dalian Aerbin 1-0. McGowan, who played the majority of his time in Scotland at right-back, lined up in the centre of defence for Shandong and was solid throughout.

Erik Paartalu played 90 minutes in midfield for Tianjin Teda in their 0-0 draw with Shanghai Shenhua, while Rostyn Griffiths started and played 62 minutes as Guangzhou R&F lost 4-2 to Liaoning Hunyong. Griffiths almost scored a stunning goal in the first half but his powerful strike at goal cannoned back off the crossbar.

Elsewhere, Matt McKay played 90 minutes as Changchun Yatai drew 1-1 with Hangzhou NG.

In South Korea, Eddy Bosnar played a full game in defence as Suwon Bluewings beat Gangwon 1-0.

Elsewhere, Adrian Madaschi returned from injury but could only settle for a place on the bench as Jeju United drew 1-1 with Seongnam, who were without Brendan Hamill, while Luke Devere was absent from the Gyeongnam side that beat Busan I’Park 1-0.

Robert Cornthwaite started and played 68 minutes as Chunnam Dragons drew 1-1 with Daegu FC. Matt Simon was not in the Chunnam match-day squad.

Alex Wilkinson was an unused substitute as Jeonbuk Motors beat Ulsan Hyundai 2-1, while Nathan Burns was absent from the Incheon United side that beat FC Seoul 3-2.

In the J-League, Josh Kennedy was absent from the Nagoya Grampus side that lost 1-0 to Urawa Red Diamonds.

In the UAE, Richard Porta returned to the scoresheet for the first time since November in Dubai’s 6-3 loss to Al Ahli. Dubai, who trailed 5-0 early in the second half, scored a series of consolation goals late in the second half, with Porta scoring the game’s final goal in stoppage time with a fine curling shot, beating Majed Naser in goal.

Elsewhere, Dino Djulbic played a full game in defence as Al Wahda drew 1-1 with Nick Carle’s Baniyas. Carle was an 85th minute substitute in the clash.

In Iran, Milan Susak was absent with a hamstring injury as Sepahan beat Saba Qom 2-0.