Scout Notes – Gameweek 37 – Saturday

Edin Dzeko scores twice as City win at Everton, though Sergio Aguero is forced off after firing his side’s opener. Sunderland’s form continues with a narrow win at United, Andreas Weimann scores twice as Villa see off Hull, Loic Remy racks up the points as Newcastle relegate Cardiff, whilst Marko Arnautovic and Peter Odemwingie grab a goal and assist apiece as Stoke send Fulham into the Championship:

Dzeko at the Double as Aguero Limps off at Goodison
The title is now firmly in City’s hands after a hard-fought win at Goodison but it’s fair to say the result didn’t come without a cost. Sergio Aguero picked up yet another injury after firing his side’s first in a 3-2 victory, whilst Yaya Toure was withdrawn in the second-half – after the game, Manuel Pellegrini admitted he doesn’t know whether the Argentine will play in the final two fixtures, though confirmed Toure’s substitution was merely precautionary. Nonetheless, given the duo’s recent injuries, a possible absence for one or both in the midweek home encounter against Villa could have huge repercussions across the Fantasy games – we’ll be waiting patiently on Pellegrini’s midweek press conference and any injury updates coming out of the Etihad.

Aguero gave Fantasy managers cause for optimism, however, after taking to twitter late yesterday evening to reveal:

“Thank you for your concern. I left just as a precaution. Fortunately I’m fine, happy for the goal, the win and keeping our dream alive.”

Fortunately for Pellegrini, Edin Dzeko carried on from where he left off against Palace last weekend by getting amongst the goals again. The Bosnian’s brace helped him to the maximum bonus and earned his owners a 12-point haul (his third double-figure tally in eight appearances), though the City manager will be hoping his in-form forward hasn’t sustained any damage to a shoulder, after he received extensive treatment on the sidelines with the problem. Proving he remains injury-free, Dzeko – at just 7.2 – could be set for major investment as City look to go on the offensive and fire their way to the title, whilst David Silva’s late introduction off the bench in the second-half suggests the Spaniard still has a part to play in what has been a hugely underwhelming double Gameweek so far.

Toffees Lose Out on Champions League Place
Despite a spirited showing yesterday evening, a third defeat in four means Everton now sit four points behind Arsenal with just one match remaining. Roberto Martinez began the game with a 3-4-3 formation, handing Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines the wing-back roles – the latter earned an assist to continue the form which has delivered attacking returns in three of his last four. Ross Barkley’s sixth strike of the season will keep him on Fantasy radars for next term, whilst the inconsistent Romelu Lukaku ended a four-game drought by firing the Merseysiders’ second and frustrating the 147,000 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers who parted company with the big Belgian ahead of the double Gameweek deadline. With Spurs losing at West Ham, the Toffees are now set for Europa League duties next season barring a miracle next weekend – Everton are three points ahead of Tim Sherwood’s side and have a superior goal difference of +19. Martinez’ recent midfield rotation policy suggests that we can expect much more of the same next term as his side look to balance European and domestic duties, with Baines and Coleman perhaps our safest bets once again.

Black Cats’ Form Continues
Few eyebrows were raised after Sunderland emerged victorious from Old Trafford yesterday. Gus Poyet’s side maintained the remarkable run of displays that had earned them a draw at City and win at Stamford Bridge in recent matches – a solitary Seb Larsson strike, with in-form Connor Wickham supplying the assist, means the Wearsiders are now on the verge of safety. A midweek home game against West Brom, followed by another Stadium of Light match against Swansea, hands Poyet’s side the chance to seal their great escape – already, Fantasy managers will have one eye on the likes of Wickham and Vito Mannone for next season after their stunning turnaround. After the match, Poyet revealed he withdrew Wickham on 65 minutes as the forward has hardly trained all week due to a series of knocks and is clearly looking to manage the youngster’s minutes, given his recent importance.

Giggs Hopeful on Rooney Fitness
The air of optimism harvested by last week’s 4-0 hammering of Norwich was quickly quashed as United were brought back down to earth by their in-form visitors. Robin van Persie managed a brief second-half run-out to signal his return from a knee injury, whilst Ryan Giggs confirmed after the match that there’s a good chance that Wayne Rooney will be ready in time for the midweek visit of Hull. The Tigers match will be United’s final home game in what has been a massively underwhelming season since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure – Fantasy managers will be hoping a Rooney-Van Persie partnership will be handed the chance to start up front and help atone for yesterday’s dire display.

Hammers Defence Helps Secure Safety
Sam Allardyc’s side finally clinched their survival courtesy of a 2-0 win over Spurs in the early lunchtime kick-off. Stewart Downing picked the perfect time to notch his first goal of the season, with Mark Noble and Andy Carroll chipping in with an assist apiece against their 10-man visitors after Younes Kaboul was dismissed with the game goalless on 25 minutes. Having conceded in each of their previous 10 matches, West Ham served up their first clean sheet since Gameweek 26 – this was their fourteenth shut-out of the campaign (seven at home and seven on the road), though with a trip to the Etihad seeing out the season, it’s fair to say their backline assets will be warming our benches.

Remy Back in Form as Bluebirds Bow Out
Newcastle ended their run of six straight losses with a comprehensive hammering of Cardiff, which consigned the Welsh outfit to the Championship. Loic Remy was back in the points, delivering a goal and assist in the Magpies’ 3-0 win – the on-loan Frenchman has now scored 14 times in just 24 starts for Alan Pardew’s side and will surely be on Fantasy radars next term if he can secure a move from QPR to the Premier League, with Arsenal rumoured to be eyeing up a bid. Next week’s trip to Anfield will ensure Fantasy managers will steer clear of Pardew’s troops, despite a fine showing in their final home match of the season.

Weimann at the Double
Having taken just a single point from their previous six league games, Paul Lambert’s side finally found their form after a sorry run of performances. Andreas Weimann had scored just three times before yesterday’s 3-1 win over Hull but stepped up when it mattered most – owned by less than 2% of FPL managers, the 5.7-priced Austrian fired a brace in the first match of Villa’s double Gameweek, whilst Ashley Westwood netted for the third time this term. A midweek trip to City, followed by a visit to Spurs on the final day, suggests Fantasy returns may be hard to come by – if Norwich fail to win at Chelsea later today, though, Villa will be safe for another season, meaning Lambert won’t need to take any unnecessary risks and go for broke.

Chester Concern for Tigers
The centre-half limped off just before the break with another hamstring injury and looks almost certain to miss the second match of the Tigers’ double Gameweek away to United. With an FA Cup Final against Arsenal just around the corner, Steve Bruce is unlikely to take any risks if Chester has a chance of making the Wembley match – in a disappointing day for Hull, Liam Rosenior picked up an assist for their only goal and has now delivered attacking points in three of his last seven.

Lambert Fires Saints to Victory
The Southampton striker ended a three-match scoring drought with the only goal of the game at Swansea. Lambert was fit enough only for the bench as Mauricio Pochettino opted for young Sam Gallagher as the lone frontman but, after replacing Adam Lallana on 62 minutes, was in the goals once again – it’s now 12 strikes and 11 assists ahead of the final match of the season at home to United. Up to 170 points, Lambert is placed fifth amongst forwards in his second campaign in the top-flight and has once again proven superb value, though still sits at his starting price of 7.5 in the FPL game.

Potters Too Strong for Sorry Fulham
Stoke atoned for last week’s home loss to Spurs with a convincing Britannia win that sent Felix Magath’s side crashing into the Championship. Marko Arnautovic’s fine recent form continued as the Austrian chipped in with a goal and assist in the 4-1 win – a 13-point haul was his highest of the season and takes his recent tally to three goals and four assists in the last eight matches, suggesting he’ll be one to watch next term. Having mainly been utilised on the right flank since arriving at the Britannia, Peter Odemwingie was moved to the lone forward role and also grabbed a goal and assist to serve notice of his potential for the Potters, whilst on-loan Oussama Assaidi, in his first start since Gameweek 25, also netted as Stoke ended their home schedule with 36 points – only the top five have managed more in front of their own fans.