Scout Notes – Gameweek 15 – Sunday

Andy Carroll bags a brace and assist as West Ham defeat Swansea. Diafra Sakho returns from injury to notch again, Wilfried Bony nets his seventh in nine appearances, whilst Villa’s unbeaten run stretches to five thanks to goals from defensive duo Ciaran Clark and Alan Hutton.

Carroll Breaks His Duck

Partnered by Enner Valencia up front as Sam Allardyce returned to a midfield diamond, the big target man opened his account for the campaign in emphatic fashion. Carroll was simply unplayable against the Swans and bagged two goals and an assist in the 3-1 win as Allardyce’s side triumphed for the third successive Gameweek, though with Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho also in the mix after recent injuries, the Hammers boss has considerable strength in depth to deal with the festive schedule. On this form, though, it’s difficult to see him being dislodged.

Fit-Again Sakho Back in the Goals

The Senegal striker was handed a bench role against Garry Monk’s side but, having replaced Valencia at the break in his first appearance since Gameweek 11, was amongst the goals yet again. Impressively, Sakho has now scored in seven of his eight Premier League starts, and at time when Sergio Aguero is a major doubt and Charlie Austin is suspended for the weekend, the 5.7-priced Hammers forward has to come back into the reckoning as he prepares to face Sunderland, Leicester and West Brom in the next five Gameweeks. Whilst rest and rotation may still blight his pitch time, yesterday’s display underlined his ability to deliver with limited minutes.

Another Assist for Downing

The Hammers midfielder emerged victorious in yesterday’s battle of the playmakers. Whilst Gylfi Sigurdsson blanked for the sixth successive road trip, Downing grabbed his sixth assist of the season to help the Hammers come from behind to clinch the points, and with the fixtures still favourable, a price of 6.1 continues to look outstanding value. Downing has now racked up a goal and three assists in his last five appearances and sits fifth in the midfield standings.

Bony Strikes Again

After stumbling at home to QPR in midweek, the Swansea frontman grabbed his seventh goal in nine Gameweeks at Upton Park yesterday. Owned by just 9% of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers, Bony’s excellent form brings him onto our radars as a possible short-term replacement for Aguero before he departs for international duties in next month’s African Cup of Nations. Priced at just 8.4 in FPL, he now faces Spurs, Hull, Villa, Liverpool and QPR in the next five, and whilst his lack of explosive potential (one double-figure haul this season) limits his potential as a captaincy contender, he looks one of the most reliable forwards around right now.

Villa Defenders in the Points

Paul Lambert’s side are now unbeaten in five after coming from behind to get the better of Leicester yesterday afternoon. Christian Benteke went into this one highly fancied, and whilst the Belgian managed an assist in the 2-1 triumph, it was Ciaran Clark and Alan Hutton who proved the unlikely goal heroes for Paul Lambert’s side.

Despite the loss of Ron Vlaar, Philippe Senderos and Nathan Baker in recent matches, Villa have now conceded just three goals in the last five Gameweeks ahead of back-to-back clashes against Man United and Swansea. With Sunderland, Palace and Leicester in the following three, though, further returns could be on the cards before the festive period is out.

Ulloa Worry for Deflated Foxes

The Argentine rolled up to Villa Park in decent Fantasy form, after serving up an assist in each of his previous two appearances. Ulloa was in the points once again for the visitors after scoring his first goal since the Gameweek 5 win over United but a first-half knock meant he was replaced at the break by David Nugent. Yesterday’s defeat means Nigel Pearson’s side have taken just two points in 10 league matches since that famous victory over the Red Devils, and with doubts over their top scorer’s availability, the Foxes could be set for further misery as they square up to City, West Ham and Tottenham next.