Aussies abroad: Smith, Jedinak see EPL action

Crystal Palace skipper Mile Jedinak started consecutive Premier League matches for the first time since last season, while Australia's rising star Brad Smith came on for Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool.

UK

Jedinak completed 66 minutes for Palace in their 3-0 loss to Chelsea on Sunday (Monday morning AEDT) with the Socceroos captain having also played 90 minutes versus Swansea City to finish 2015.

Elsewhere in the Scottish Premiership, Tom Rogic played 63 minutes in Celtic's 1-0 win over Partick Thistle, who had Ryan Edwards on the bench.

Ryan McGowan played a full game as Dundee United lost their derby 2-1 to Dundee, while Jackson Irvine also completed 90 minutes in Ross County's 2-0 loss to Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

In the Premier League, goalkeepers Mark Schwarzer and Adam Federici both watched from the pine as Leicester City and Bournemouth completed a scoreless draw on Saturday.

Brad Smith was active for Liverpool, however, coming on in the 61st minute for Alberto Moreno and looking lively at left-back.

 

#LFC ⚽️

A photo posted by Brad Smith (@bradsmith_94) on

But the 21-year-old could not stop his side from losing 2-0 at West Ham.

Socceroos defender Rhys Williams made his first senior appearance in 364 days as he came off the bench for Charlton Athletic in a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest in the Championship.

Williams, who has suffered serious Achilles tendon injuries two years in a row, has joined Charlton on a 28-day loan from Middlesbrough.

Bailey Wright played the first half of Preston North End's 2-1 win over Rotherham United, while Neil Kilkenny watched from the bench, Tommy Oar was brought on in the 59th minute of Ipswich Town's scoreless draw with Burnley, while Massimo Luongo played the last five minutes of Queens Park Rangers' 2-1 loss to Hull City on Friday.

Elsewhere in the Championship, Jason Davidson (Huddersfield Town) and Shane Lowry (Birmingham City) stayed on the bench.

In the lower English leagues, Chris Herd played a full game as Chesterfield thumped Shrewsbury Town 7-1, James Meredith completed 90 minutes as Bradford City lost 3-0 at Gillingham, while Alex Cisak was in goals for Leyton Orient's 2-2 draw at Stevenage.

On Saturday, there were braces for Motherwell's Scott McDonald and Apostolos Giannou of Asteras Tripolis.

McDonald struck twice in Motherwell's 3-3 draw against Hamilton Academicals in the Scottish Premiership - one of three Aussies to play full matches in Scotland's top tier.

The former Socceroos striker opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a sharp volley at the near post.

After Hamilton fought back to lead 2-1, McDonald equalised just after half-time, with the 32-year-old producing the decisive touch as he lay on the ground in the penalty area.

Motherwell would go ahead soon after but a stoppage-time penalty ensured the match finished level.

In the Greek Super League, Giannou - a former Australia youth international, who has made one senior appearance in a friendly for Greece making him still eligible for the Socceroos - scored in the 41st and 74th minutes.

Asia

Socceroos forward James Troisi, who is expected to leave Saudi Arabia for the A-League, sat on the bench as Al Ittihad were eliminated from the Crown Prince Cup after a 1-0 loss to Al Ahli on Friday.