Easter Loan Report: Rak-Sakyi nets, Esse assists & Ozoh wins Player of the Match

Club

7 Apr 2026

As is tradition, Easter weekend has seen clubs up and down the country face back-to-back games on Good Friday and Easter Monday - including nearly all of our loanees. Find out how they all got on in the Loan Report below!

Stoke City – Jesurun Rak-Sakyi

Rak-Sakyi was one of the standout Palace loanees of the weekend, scoring in Stoke City’s 2-0 Good Friday victory over Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship.

Restored to the starting XI, the 23-year-old made an immediate impact, going close inside 20 minutes when Lamine Cisse’s cutback was scrambled clear just before it could reach him.

The winger opened the scoring on 30 minutes, arriving at the back post to convert Sorba Thomas’ curling cross and finish a swift counter-attack. Rak-Sakyi nearly doubled his tally soon after, weaving through the area before forcing a save that tipped his effort onto the post. He was withdrawn on 57 minutes.

That display earned him another start on Monday against Derby County. Despite a 2-0 defeat, Rak-Sakyi remained heavily involved in Stoke’s attacking play – creating an early opening for Thomas and twice setting up Million Manhoef with chances from inside the box.

Overall, Rak-Sakyi’s efforts over the Easter weekend leave Stoke three points outside the Championship top ten on 54 points.

Coventry City – Romain Esse

Esse marked his return to Coventry’s starting XI – his first start in four games – by registering an assist in a 3-2 win over Derby County.

Having featured as a late substitute in three of his previous four matches, Esse made an immediate impact. After an early effort was saved, he delivered a precise pass for Frank Onyeka, who finished into the far corner inside 12 minutes to open the scoring.

Esse continued to influence play, linking midfield and creating another chance for Josh Eccles, which was saved, before being withdrawn on 63 minutes.

He was an unused substitute in Coventry’s goalless draw with Hull City on Bank Holiday Monday, which extended the Sky Blues’ lead at the top of the Championship table to 12 points.

Check out Esse's assist, below!

Derby County – David Ozoh

Ozoh took his league tally to 28 appearances across the Easter weekend and was named Player of the Match on Monday for his excellent performance against Stoke.

On Good Friday against Coventry, Ozoh battled relentlessly in a high-intensity contest, using his strength and anticipation to disrupt play and recover possession, helping Derby create key attacking moments, including a first-half corner from a turnover.

He backed that up on Bank Holiday Monday in Derby’s 2-0 win over Stoke with a dominant all-round display.

Ozoh completed four successful dribbles, three interceptions, nine ground duels won – all ranking first in the game – and made three tackles, ranking second. He also came close to opening the scoring before half-time, bursting into the box after a knockdown before seeing his effort blocked at the near post.

His pressing and defensive work forced turnovers and allowed Derby to control the game, contributing directly to their fifth consecutive home win and keeping them eighth in the Championship, level with Southampton.

Sheffield Wednesday – Tayo Adaramola

Adaramola featured in both fixtures across the weekend, beginning with a second-half appearance in the 2-0 defeat to Stoke on Good Friday.

Introduced on 58 minutes in place of Max Lowe, the change ended a run of nine consecutive starts since his January arrival. Adaramola added energy down the flank as Wednesday produced their most threatening spell of the match late on.

He returned to the starting XI on Monday, playing the full 90 minutes in the 1-1 draw with Leicester City and producing a decisive moment deep into stoppage time with a last-ditch challenge to deny the Foxes a late winner and secure the Owls a point.

West Bromwich Albion – Danny Imray

Imray completed two more full matches over the Easter weekend, extending his run to six consecutive 90-minute appearances.

He featured throughout Good Friday’s 2-2 draw before helping West Brom secure a clean sheet in Monday’s goalless draw at Blackburn.

Imray has now featured in 11 of the 12 matches he has been eligible for across all competitions, establishing himself as a regular starter in recent weeks.

SV Beveren – Aziz Ouedraogo

Ouedraogo started at the heart of the defence as SV Beveren secured a 5-0 victory over RSCA Futures on Saturday, earning a clean sheet for his efforts in the Belgian Challenger Pro League.

The 20-year-old, who joined in the summer of 2024, has spent the past two seasons on loan with the Belgian side.

West Bromwich Albion – Hindolo Mustapha

Mustapha was not involved on Good Friday but returned to the matchday squad on Monday, remaining an unused substitute in the stalemate with Blackburn.

Exeter City – Joe Whitworth

Whitworth remains unavailable through injury and did not feature in either of Exeter City’s Easter fixtures.

Barnsley – Owen Goodman

Goodman returned to the starting XI on Bank Holiday Monday following international duty with the Canada senior squad, featuring between the sticks in Barnsley’s defeat to Plymouth Argyle.

AFC Totton – Jake Grante

Grante was forced off with injury in the 25th minute of AFC Totton’s Good Friday win over Salisbury, ruling him out of Monday’s fixture against Chippenham Town.

The appearance came following his recent step up to the National League South – Step Two of the English football pyramid – after a successful spell with St Albans City.

Raynes Park Vale – Marcus Hill

Hill started both Easter fixtures for Raynes Park Vale in the Isthmian South-Central Division – Step Four of the English Football Pyramid – featuring in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Westfield and Monday’s 2-1 loss to Kingstonian.

Hassocks – Zach Henry

Henry did not feature in Hassocks 2-1 win over Hastings on Good Friday but played 70 minutes in Bank Holiday Monday’s 4-0 defeat to Three Bridges in the Isthmian South East Division (Step Four of the English Football Pyramid).

Loan Life

Last season, Owen Goodman, Danny Imray, Tayo Adaramola and Joe Whitworth all featured featured in the Palace TV series Loan Life, where our cameras gained an unprecedented insight into their time adapting to new clubs and developing in the Football League.

Watch every episode on Palace TV now!

Related News

More News