A frustrating day for Fantasy managers as the season reaches the halfway stage. Wayne Rooney misses United’s win over Norwich with a groin injury. Yaya Toure warms the City bench as David Silva earns the caution which hands him a one-match ban. Hull hit Fulham for six, the forgotten talents of Nicolas Anelka and Kevin Nolan plunder the points at Upton Park, whilst Jordan Mutch and Fraizer Campbell grab a goal and assist apiece as Cardiff share the spoils with Sunderland.

Rooney Groin Problem Sours United Win at Norwich
The runaway winner of this week’s Captain Poll was an unexpected absentee as United scraped a 1-0 win at Carrow Road. Sidelined with a recurrence of the groin strain that forced him out of the recent cup win at Stoke, Rooney is expected to return for Wednesday’s home clash against Spurs, according to the club’s official website. While Rooney missed out altogether (thus bringing the vice captaincy rule into play for those who handed him the armband), Danny Welbeck’s eye for goal proved the difference for the champions. Despite being named amongst the subs, the England forward needed just 12 minutes to make his mark after climbing off the bench to notch his fourth goal in as many matches.

After the game, David Moyes discussed Rooney’s absence in a little more detail than we’ve become accustomed to:

“I am hopeful and I think he will be fit for New Years’ Day. I just need to wait and see. He has got the same injury that kept him out at Stoke. It is an abductor injury to his groin, it is not serious but ideally we could have given him a couple of weeks or three to recover completely. But he has been so influential for the team and we want to get him back playing.”

Silva Topples off the Tightrope as City Squeeze Past Palace
Many were expecting a rout as Tony Pulis’ side rolled up to the Etihad yesterday afternoon. In the end, though, the hosts had to settle for their least-convincing home win of the season after managing to breach the Eagles’ backline just once over the 90 minutes. Whilst Edin Dzeko proved a decent differential with the only goal of the game, it was a day of real frustration for owners of Yaya Toure, David Silva and Alvaro Negredo. The Ivorian was unexpectedly benched for the full 90 minutes, whilst his fellow midfielder earned a fifth caution of the campaign in the dying minutes for a needless foul and is now set to serve a one-match ban for the New Year’s Day trip to Swansea. Negredo – second to Rooney in the Captain Poll – was handed a 35 minute-sub appearance and served up no more than a single point as Manuel Pellegrini’s festive rotation hit hard.

Nolan Back in the Points but Hammers Defensive Concerns Grow
A stint on the sidelines seems to have refocused the Hammers’ skipper’s attacking sensibilities. Prior to being dismissed against Liverpool earlier this month, Nolan had managed just one goal and three assists in the opening 15 Gameweeks – having served a three-match suspension, he has mirrored that output in his last two appearances alone. Nolan grabbed an assist against Arsenal on Boxing Day and played a part in all three of his side’s strikes in a 3-3 draw against West Brom, scoring once and providing a pair of assists in yesterday’s early kick-off. At the back, though, Sam Allardyce continues to be hampered by injuries. James Tomkins lasted just 10 minutes before being withdrawn due to a groin problem and, with James Collins also sidelined, the Hammers conceded three or more goals for the fourth time in the last five Gameweeks.

Anelka Finally Opens Baggies Account
Handed a first appearance since Gameweek 9, the Frenchman proved an unlikely source of goals for the visitors at Upton Park. Caretaker boss Keith Downing once again retained a three-man backline and shifted from 3-5-1-1 to 3-5-2 against the Hammers, partnering Anelka with Saido Berahino – the duo netted three times between them, with Anelka bagging a brace as Downing stretched his unbeaten run to three games. Stephane Sessegnon was once again utilised as a late sub and continues to look a peripheral figure since the departure of Steve Clarke.

For those eyeing up a possible transfer, it’s worth noting that Anelka could face FA action over an alleged gesture made after his first goal. Reports suggest he could be banned for a minimum five games if found guilty.

Tigers Maul Cottagers at the KC
Steve Bruce switched from his usual 3-5-2 formation and opted for a 4-5-1 as Hull responded to their Boxing Day home loss to United in sensational style. Hull had previously notched 16 goals in their opening 18 games but served up a 6-0 thrashing to end a five-game winless streak as Fulham were torn apart at the KC Stadium. The Tigers backline were in the points yet again – yesterday’s result was their six clean sheet at home but the day was all about their midfielders, with each of the five starters picking up the points. Both Tom Huddlestone and Robert Koren earned their first double figure hauls of the season, whilst the likes of Ahmed Elmohamady, Jake Livermore and George Boyd showcased their attacking potential in a one-sided affair against Rene Meulensteen’s side. With Liverpool and Chelsea up next, though, any short-term investment looks likely to be postponed.

Villa and Swans Fail to Impress Ahead of Tough Schedules
With Christian Benteke still sidelined due to a knee problem, Paul Lambert opted for a 4-4-2 as Villa played host to Swansea. Libor Kozak dropped to the bench as Gabby Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann led the line instead – the latter two combined for the hosts’ solitary strike in the 1-1 draw, with Agbonlahor scoring for just the second time this term. With Ron Vlaar still missing, Villa’s struggles at both ends of the pitch look no nearer to being solved – it’s one point from five now for the midlands outfit and, while a midweek trip to Sunderland still offers hope, they then have Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton in three of the following four as the fixtures turn nasty.

Swansea also have similar issues. With Michu injured, Michael Laudrup is more reliant than ever on big-money signing Wilfried Bony but the Ivorian failed to impress once again yesterday and has now scored in just one of his last eight appearances. In just his third start for the Swans, Roland Lamah’s first goal of the campaign earned a point as Pablo Hernandez picked up an assist – his first attacking points since Gameweek 3. With City, United and Spurs now on their agenda, the New Year looks set to prove a testing time for the Welsh outfit.

Mutch and Campbell in the Points as Bluebirds Blow Two-Goal Advantage
In the first match since Malky Mackay’s departure, Jordan Mutch and Fraizer Campbell were quick to pick up the Fantasy returns. The Bluebirds looked to have a tough task against a Sunderland side that had produced three successive clean sheets but needed just six minutes to find a way past Vito Mannone, with Campbell providing the assist for Mutch’s opener. The duo then reversed roles just before the hour mark as Campbell grabbed the second against his former club – both player now have four goals apiece for the season (double the number of Peter Whittingham) and with a trio of assists also accrued, Mutch, as a mere 4.5 in FPL, is definitely a cut-price contender worthy of our consideration. The issue, though, is Cardiff’s upcoming fixtures – with Arsenal, City and United in the next four, we’ll be giving their main protagonists a wide berth until the schedule smiles a little kinder.

Fletcher Helps Salvage Late Sunderland Draw
For the Black Cats, a stunning late comeback highlights the extra resilience instilled by Gus Poyet. In a day where many a Fantasy manager found themselves cheering on the prospects of a Cardiff clean sheet with far greater relish than we could have imagined, Steven Fletcher proved the villain of the piece. On as a half-time sub for Fabio Borini, the Scot served a reminder of his predatory instincts by sparking a late revival which took his side’s unbeaten run to four matches. With four strong home games (AVL, SOU, STO, HUL) and a trip to Fulham in the next six, the Black Cats certainly are showing plenty spirit as we assess their key assets ahead of the winter wildcard.