Loan round-up: Balogun on target again for Reims

Folarin Balogun netted his eighth Ligue 1 goal of the season to secure all three points for Reims against Nantes.

The striker tucked home a penalty on 82 minutes to score the only goal of the game and help his team up to 11th in the table, and extend their unbeaten run to six matches.

That was one of a hat-trick of success for our contingent in the French top-flight over the weekend, as Nuno Tavares was able to help Marseille get back to winning ways with a 1-0 win over Lyon and Nicolas Pepe played 86 minutes of Nice’s 1-0 win against Stade Brest.

However Ainsley Maitland-Niles couldn't prevent Southampton from losing 4-1 to Newcastle United at St Mary’s on Sunday afternoon, which saw the end of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s four-year tenure at the Saints.

After being named in the Championship Team of the Month for October, Auston Trusty helped Birmingham City beat Stoke City 2-1 to continue their impressive climb up the table.

Trusty came up against Harry Clarke when the youngster came on for the Potters in the 60th minute, and despite the American conceding a penalty he helped his team claim victory at the bet365 Stadium.

Charlie Patino could only manage 45 minutes of Blackpool’s 1-0 loss against Luton Town after struggling with illness, and now sits a place below Rotherham United in 17th position for whom Brooke Norton-Cuffy played all of their 2-1 loss against Norwich City.

It was the FA Cup first round over the weekend and Arthur Okonkwo kept a clean sheet to see Crewe Alexandra into the next round as they beat Leyton Orient 1-0, while Tim Akinola was part of the Chesterfield side that beat Northampton Town to also advance. Joining them in the hat for round two is Ovie Ejeheri, who helped Chelmsford City snatch an injury-time equaliser to force a home replay against Barnet.

In Scotland, Ryan Alebiousu played all 90 minutes for Kilmarnock as they were beaten 3-2 at home to Livingston, while Alex Kirk scored for the second time in four games but saw his Ayr United side pegged back to draw 1-1 with Morton in a game featuring the top two sides in the Scottish Championship, but the result means Ayr stay three points clear of their nearest rivals.

Back in Europe, Nikolaj Moller played all of Den Bosch’s 2-1 win over De Graafschap, while Alex Runarsson was beaten three times in Alanyaspor’s 3-1 defeat at the hands of Umraniyespor.