Loan round-up - Carter-Vickers lifts Scottish League Cup, Sarr on target for Metz
Mon 20 December 2021, 15:11|
Tottenham Hotspur
Cameron Carter-Vickers tasted Scottish League Cup glory on Sunday afternoon as he helped Celtic to defeat Hibernian 2-1 at Hampden Park.
Already enjoying an impressive campaign north of the border, Cameron picked up the first winner's medal of his career as the Celts came from behind in Glasgow to lift the maiden Scottish honour of the season.
Played out in a crackling atmosphere with almost 50,000 spectators in attendance at the home of Scottish football, Hibs took the lead on 51 minutes but, within 60 seconds, forward Kyogo Furuhashi had the Bhoys level. The Japanese international then got his second, and ultimately the match-winner on 72 minutes, with a delightful lob. Cameron played the full 90 minutes - the 21st time he has done so already this season in the Hoops - as Celtic lifted the cup for the 20th time in their history.
In France, Pape Matar Sarr registered his first goal of the season in a huge win for FC Metz last Sunday (12 December). Hosting fellow Ligue 1 strugglers FC Lorient, Metz cantered to a comprehensive 4-1 victory to leapfrog their opponents and put themselves within a point of safety. Pape opened the scoring for his side in the fifth minute as Dango Ouattara’s attempted clearance cannoned off the midfielder and flew in. An own goal from Moritz Jenz and a sublime free-kick by Farid Boulaya then made it 3-0 with just 19 minutes gone. Jenz did pull one back for the visitors, but Ibrahima Niane made sure of all three points, heading home with 10 minutes remaining. Pape completed the full 90 minutes for his side and is yet to miss a single game for them, appearing in all 18 of their games so far this campaign.
Elsewhere on the continent, there were jubilant scenes for Alfie Whiteman in Sweden as Degerfors IF retained their Allsvenskan status with a final day victory away at Ostersund on 4 December. Having started each of his side’s last 13 games ahead of their meeting with their already-relegated opponents, an injury picked up ahead of the game unfortunately left Alfie only fit enough for a place on the bench for the must-win clash. There were euphoric scenes come the final whistle at the Jamtkraft Arena though, as an 87th-minute winner gave Degerfors a 1-0 win while Halmstad, who had gone into the game above Degerfors on goal difference, could only earn a draw away to Malmo which saw them drop into the relegation play-off.
Meanwhile, in England, Jamie Bowden has started each of Oldham’s last four outings in League Two and registered two assists last time out as the Owls incredibly came from 4-1 down to draw 5-5 at home to league leaders Forest Green Rovers last Saturday (11 December).
At the start of that run of games, Jamie went head-to-head with fellow Spurs loanee Kion Etete as Oldham travelled to Northampton Town on 23 November. In a closely fought encounter, it was Kion and the Cobblers who came out on top 2-1 with the forward scoring the match-winner – his sixth of the season - in the 38th minute. Kion then started Town’s following game – a 1-0 win over Leyton Orient – but was forced off after 20 minutes through injury and has been unable to play since.
Meanwhile, in League One, Troy Parrott has continued to produce for MK Dons as he provided the assist for MK's sole goal in their 2-1 defeat away to Oxford United last Saturday (11 December). The Irishman has now been involved in eight goals (three scored, five assisted) in 12 league starts.
Spurs Women’s Gracie Pearse suffered disappointment on Wednesday evening as she missed her side’s final spot-kick in Crystal Palace Women’s 5-4 penalty shootout defeat at home to Bristol City in their final group game of the FA Women’s Continental League Cup. Heading into the game unable to progress in the competition, the Eagles drew 0-0 with City in normal time before ultimately narrowly losing out in the shootout with Gracie’s spot-kick cannoning off the crossbar. So far in south London, the defender has made 10 appearances in all competitions, completing the full 90 minutes on eight occasions.
