In the English Premier League, Brett Holman scored his first goal for Aston Villa as the Villans drew 1-1 away to Queens Park Rangers.

Holman struck in the 8th minute, as his left foot rocket from outside of the box proved too hot to handle for Rangers ‘keeper Robert Green.

Holman was industrious throughout his 71 minutes on the pitch, his clever reverse-pass set up Gabriel Agbonlahor but the striker’s curling shot was well saved by Green.

Chris Herd returned to the starting line-up after suffering a knee injury back in late October. Herd, who was replaced on 66 minutes, was utilised in a back three employed by Villa boss Paul Lambert as Villa moved two points clear of the relegation zone.

Mark Schwarzer had a moment to forget in Fulham’s 3-0 loss to fellow Londoners Tottenham. With the game delicately placed at 0-0, Schwarzer was beaten by Sandro’s low long range effort inside his near post with the ball appearing to bounce over Schwarzer’s outstretched hands.

Adam Federici played a full game in goal as Reading twice gave up the lead to lose 4-3 to Manchester United. Federici conceded four goals in the opening 30 minutes and could have perhaps done better for United’s first goal, as Anderson’s powerful effort beat the Aussie at his near post. Federici appears to have the number one position at Reading sewn up with fellow ‘keeper Alex McCarthy expected to miss the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury.

Elsewhere, Brad Jones was an unused substitute as Liverpool returned to the winners list with a 1-0 defeat of Southampton.

In the English Championship, Scott McDonald scored again for Middlesbrough in their disappointing 3-2 loss to struggling Birmingham.

McDonald nearly found the back of the net just after half time with a delicate lob but was denied by Brum ‘keeper Jack Butland although the Aussie didn’t have to wait long, scoring from close range following some calamitous defending to give Boro the lead.

It was short-lived though as Birmingham scored twice in the final 25 minutes to steal the points. Rhys Williams missed the clash through injury.

Neil Kilkenny started but was replaced at half time as Bristol City’s season sunk to a new low, thumped 4-1 at home by the previously out of form Wolverhampton. Elsewhere, Mile Jedinak played 85 minutes as Crystal Palace beat Brighton 3-0.

Shane Lowry played the full 90 minutes as Millwall played out a disappointing 0-0 draw with Charlton Athletic. Lowry continues to develop his attacking game at left-back and had some decent moments going forward. Patrick Kisnorbo was again absent from the match-day squad as Leeds United beat Huddersfield 4-2.

In League Two, Aaron Downes played a full game in defence for Torquay in their 2-1 win over Dagenham & Redbridge.

In the FA Cup, Curtis Good made his debut for Bradford City in their 1-1 draw with Brentford. Good, on loan from Newcastle United, played the full 90 minutes, while fellow Aussie James Meredith also put in a full shift. Meredith played a role in his side’s equaliser, as his cross caused bedlam in the box and it was eventually hit home by James Hanson.

Elsewhere, Alex Cisak returned to the Oldham Athletic starting line-up following a brief loan spell at Portsmouth and made a super save in the first half with Oldham already trailing 1-0. That save proved crucial as the Latics equalised shortly after before scoring twice in the second half to defeat Doncaster Rovers 3-1.

James Wesolowski also played the full 90 minutes in midfield, while Liam Jacob was an unused substitute and Dean Bouzanis missed the clash through suspension.

Shane Cansdell-Sherriff played the full 90 minutes as Preston North End advanced to the third round with a 2-0 win over Gillingham. Bailey Wright was absent from the match-day squad.

Bradden Inman was an unused substitute as Crewe Alexandra crashed out of the competition with a 1-0 home loss to Burton Albion.

In the Scottish FA Cup, Ryan McGowan played the full 90 minutes as Hearts lost 1-0 to bitter rivals Hibernian. Brother Dylan McGowan was missing due to a hip injury.

Alex Baird was an unused substitute as Dundee FC beat Livingston 2-0, while Francesco Stella was absent from the match-day squad as Rangers beat Elgin City 3-0.

In the German Bundesliga, Robbie Kruse was injured in the warm-up and didn’t take his place in the side as Fortuna Dusseldorf thumped Eintracht Frankfurt 4-0. Kruse pulled himself out of the side as a precaution with some hamstring soreness.

Elsewhere, Mitch Langerak was an unused substitute as Borussia Dortmund drew 1-1 with league leaders Bayern Munich, while Nikita Rukavytsya was absent from the match-day squad as FSV Mainz beat Hannover 96 2-1.

In the German Second Division, Mathew Leckie played 90 minutes for FSV Frankfurt in their 2-1 loss to Eintracht Braunschweig. Leckie had some good moments in the second half as his side were forced to chase the game after falling 2-0 behind in the first half, the highlight being a pinpoint cross which was headed wide by Yannick Stark.

In the German Third Division, Mustafa Amini was an unused substitute as Borussia Dortmund II drew 1-1 with VfL Osnabruck.

In the Dutch Eredivisie, Tommy Oar, Adam Sarota and Michael Zullo all put in full shifts for FC Utrecht in their 2-1 win over AZ Alkmaar.

Oar was lively throughout the match, hitting a shot from range which just missed the target in the first half. It was Oar’s corner that led to the winner as his inswinger was initially cleared only for Jacob Mulenga to spectacularly volley home with 83 minutes on the clock.

Sarota had a tidy game in midfield and delivered an inch perfect free kick in the second half only for AZ ‘keeper Esteban Alvarado to keep out Nana Asare’s bullet header, while Zullo had a solid game at left back, getting forward on numerous occasions.

Elsewhere, Jason Davidson was a 57th minute substitution as Heracles lost 2-0 at FC Groningen. Davidson played as a part of a back three which was breached just after the hour mark, as Groningen scored twice in three minutes to effectively end the contest.

Travis Cooper was absent from the match-day squad as VVV Venlo played out a 0-0 draw with PEC Zwolle.

In the Dutch Second Division, Corey Gameiro was a half-time substitute and provided the assist for the game’s equaliser as FC Eindhoven drew 1-1 with Fortuna Sittard. Elsewhere, Andrew Marveggio was absent as SC Telstar lost 3-2 to Cambuur.

In the Italian Serie A, James Troisi returned to the bench after providing an assist in the mid-week cup clash as Atalanta crashed to a 2-1 defeat against Bologna.

In the Serie B, Carl Valeri was absent from the match-day squad as Sassuolo drew 3-3 with Bari.

In Austria, James Holland was missing through suspension as Austria Wien remained five points clear at the top of the table after a 0-0 stalemate with second placed Red Bull Salzburg.

In the Danish Superliga, Brent McGrath was a 61st minute substitute as Brondby were beaten 3-0 by FC Nordsjaelland.

In the Belgian Second Division, Kofi Danning was an 80th minute substitute as CS Vise lost 3-2 to Heist.

In the Greek Super League, Giannis Simosis was an 84th minute substitute as AO Kerkyra lost 2-0 to Levadiakos, while Apostolis Giannou was a 77th minute substitute as PAOK drew 0-0 with Veria.

In the Russian Premier League, Luke Wilkshire was absent with injury as Dinamo Moscow beat Rubin Kazan 3-0.

In Croatia, Tomi Juric started and played 73 minutes as Inter Zapresic lost 2-0 at home to RNK Split. Elsewhere, Steven Lustica was an unused substitute as Hajduk Split drew 1-1 with HNK Rijeka.

In Serbia, Matthew Byrne was absent from the match-day squad as Donji Srem lost 2-0 to FK Jadodina.

In the J-League, Josh Kennedy was absent through injury as Nagoya Grampus missed out on the Champions League with a 2-0 loss to Urawa Red Diamonds. Elsewhere, Jade North was absent from the match-day squad as Consadole Sapporo’s nightmare season came to an end with a 4-1 loss to Albirex Niigata.

In the final round of the K-League, Adrian Madaschi played the full 90 minutes in defence as Jeju United played out a 0-0 draw with Jeonbuk Hyundai. Former Central Coast Mariners skipper Alex Wilkinson also played the full 90 minutes for Jeonbuk.

Eddy Bosnar put in a full shift as Suwon Bluewings were beaten 3-0 by Pohang Steelers, while Luke Devere was absent with a knee problem as Gyeongnam went down 3-1 to Ulsan Hyundai.

Robbie Cornthwaite and Matt Simon were absent from the match-day squad as Chunnam Dragons lost 1-0 to Gwangju to finish the season in third spot.

Nathan Burns was also absent as Incheon United lost 2-1 to Gangwon, despite the defeat, Incheon still finished top of the relegation group, while Matt McKay was absent as Busan I’Park lost 2-1 to FC Seoul.

In the UAE Pro-League, Alex Brosque continued his good form, providing two assists as Al Ain remained top with a 2-1 win over Al Shaab. Brosque teed up Asamoah Gyan in the first half with a neat pass after holding the ball up nicely in the box, before helping his side double their lead in the second half as Brosque’s cross found Ali Al Wehaibi who lashed the ball home from 12 yards.

Elsewhere, Lucas Neill was absent with a hamstring injury as Al Wasl beat Ittihad Kalba 3-1.

In the Qatar Stars League, Mark Bresciano played the full 90 minutes as Al Gharafa lost 1-0 to home to Al Sadd.

Elsewhere, Sasa Ognenovski played the full 90 minutes as Umm Salal lost 3-2 to Qatar SC, while Matt Spiranovic returned from injury as Al Arabi lost 3-1 to Lekhiwya, a result which sees Al Arabi drop to the bottom of the table.