Silkeborg were the visitors to MCH Arena with FCM looking for a seventh straight league win. Emiliano gave the hosts the perfect start with a powerful header after 15 minutes. Rasmus Nicolaisen doubled that advantage inside the final 20 minutes before Emil Holten pulled one back late on. Victory means FCM are guaranteed to top the table heading into the winter break in a fortnight’s time. Their penultimate test ahead of that break comes on Sunday away at fourth-placed Brondby.

Another player on target over the weekend was Reece Cole. The young midfielder netted his third goal in four matches, but it proved to be just a consolation as ten-man Partick Thistle were hammered 5-1 at Dunfermline Athletic. A tough task for Championship strugglers Partick got even harder as they were reduced to ten-men inside five minutes. Dunfermline took full advantage with four first-half goals before adding a fifth shortly after the restart. Reece provided The Jags faithful their only bright spot with a superb late free-kick but defeat leaves Partick rock-bottom, four points from safety, with a trip to Queen of the South up on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Halil Dervişoğlu played the final half-hour as Sparta Rotterdam were beaten 4-0 on the road at Willem II in the Eredivisie while Canice Carroll and Carlisle United face a potential Emirates FA Cup Third Round tie at Cardiff City should they get past Forest Green Rovers in their replay. Canice played the full 90 minutes on Saturday as the two sides drew 2-2 at The New Lawn.

Both Halil and Canice will be in league action again this weekend with Sparta hosting Heracles on Sunday while Carlisle head to Morecambe in Sky Bet League Two on Saturday.

In the National League, Justin Shaibu played 75 minutes as Boreham Wood moved up to ninth, three points off the Play-Offs with a 1-0 win over Woking. Neither Jayden Onen nor Jaden Brissett were involved in the respective matchday squads as Bromley drew 1-1 at home to Yeovil Town while Maidenhead United were beaten 4-0 by Barrow. All three are on the road this Saturday with Boreham Wood at Dover Athletic while Bromley travel to Chesterfield and Maidenhead United head to Dagenham and Redbridge.

Ellery Balcombe also didn’t feature during Viborg FF’s 4-3 defeat to Vejle BK this weekend as he served the final game of his suspension. Defeat means VFF head into the NordicBet Liga Winter break in third, five points off top spot.

AFC Wimbledon’s FA Cup exit meant no action for Marcus Forss either. The Dons head to fellow strugglers Bolton Wanderers in Sky Bet League One this Saturday.