Alexis Sanchez grabs a goal and assist as Arsenal open their defence of the FA Cup with a win over Hull. Angel di Maria returns from injury to help United knock out Yeovil, Christian Benteke fires Villa into the fourth round, James Milner bags a brace as City overcome Sheffield Wednesday, whilst Alan Pardew opens his tenure as Palace boss with an emphatic win at Dover.
PARDEW’S PALACE ON THE OFFENSIVE
Alan Pardew rolled out a 4-3-3 in his first match in charge of the Eagles against non-league Dover. The Palace boss made five personnel changes in the process – Barry Bannan slotted into central midfield and notched two assists, and with Dwight Gayle, Glenn Murray and Wilfried Zaha starting as the front three, Jason Puncheon was an unused substitute. Centre-back Scott Dann grabbed a first-half brace before Gayle and Kevin Doyle wrapped up the 4-0 win as Pardew’s reign at the London club got off to an ideal start.
Post-match, the Eagles’ boss explained his alteration in tactics, and spoke of his attacking intentions for the remainder of the season:
“I really did change my formation today, really and truly to say to the team, that we need to put the ball at risk. I was trying to get the message to the team that we need to have a bit more attacking oomph, so to speak. We are not going to stay in the Premier League unless we express ourselves.”
VAN AANHOLT SUNDERLAND’S SAVIOUR
Gus Poyet made six changes to his Sunderland side in yesterday’s 1-0 win over Leeds United, with Liam Bridcutt recovering from a head knock to earn a recall in midfield and Emanuele Giaccherini and Ricardo Alvarez starting either side of Steven Fletcher in attack. The Scot was once again absent from the scoresheet, however, as it was left to full-back Patrick van Aanholt to fire his side through to the next round; the 4.2-priced Dutchman, making an earlier-than-expected return from a dislocated shoulder injury, is now firmly back on our radars ahead of a great set of fixtures for the Black Cats from Gameweek 23 onwards (BUR, swa, QPR, WBA), which hands Poyet’s side the perfect opportunity to climb the table. Sunderland have now collected six clean sheets in their last 10 in all competitions and with a pair of assists in the first 10 Gameweeks, the Dutchman’s strike underlines his propensity for points at both ends of the pitch.
HAPLESS HOOPS CUT DOWN BY BLADES
Harry Redknapp opted for seven changes to his starting XI as QPR slipped to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of League One side Sheffield United. Regulars Charlie Austin, Leroy Fer, Steven Caulker, Karl Henry all kept their places in a 4-4-1-1 formation, and though the Hoops’ fringe players failed to take their chances, Austin’s sluggish performance was the biggest point of concern, with the striker taking his tally to three straight home blanks.
Redknapp spoke post-match of his dissatisfaction with the performances of his starting side, seemingly asserting that those who dropped out yesterday should expect to find themselves recalled for the trip to Burnley next weekend:
“We had to make some changes because of the number of games we’ve played. The lads you bring in, you hope they’ll come in and do a job. But I felt we only started playing when the two Chilean lads (Eduardo Vargas and Mauricio Isla) came on, we played football, we passed and moved, and we looked brighter. Before then, there was a lack of movement with us. There aren’t many positives I can take from today. There aren’t any, in fact.”
SCHNEIDERLIN SECURES REPLAY FOR SAINTS
Ronald Koeman made just two changes as Southampton were held to a 1-1 draw by Ipswich in their FA Cup tie. Shane Long returned to the starting XI to partner Graziano Pelle up top, whilst Morgan Schneiderlin marked his comeback from suspension to score and earn his side a replay.
Post-match, Koeman confirmed that winger Saido Mane will be sidelined for the next four to six weeks with the calf problem sustained against Arsenal on New Year’s Day and will miss the African Cup of Nations, though the Saints boss expects Nathaniel Clyne to return next weekend after the right-back sat out yesterday’s encounter with an ankle complaint. After making such minimal changes to his side for the cup clash, Koeman also took the chance to underline his general reluctance to rotate:
“We have no reason to change more, maybe one or two players. But the best message as the manager I think you can give is when you start the strongest team. If not the people can say ‘he changed a lot’ and that I don’t think seriously about the game. My message was I take this very seriously and for that it’s a pity we didn’t win.”
POTTERS RALLY LATE AGAINST WREXHAM
Marko Arnautovic netted in the 80th minute before Stephen Ireland notched a late double as Stoke came from a goal down to overcome non-league Wrexham in the cup. The Potters’ form is starting to pick up, with four wins and two draws in their last seven in all competitions, and with their fixtures improving from Gameweek 22 onwards, their assets could start to appeal. Mame Biram Diouf’s departure to the Africa Cup of Nations (ACoN) will free up a spot in their attack, which the 4.7-priced Ireland could now be hopeful of securing as a result of his brace, though Liverpool loanee Oussama Assaidi will be competing for the berth as well after also making a rare start yesterday. Hughes took no chances with Bojan Krkic, though, as the Spaniard missed out once again due to a hamstring problem.
CITY SURVIVE SHEFFIELD SCARE
James Milner’s brace saw Man City through to the next round of the cup with a 2-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday. Manuel Pellegrini made six changes to his side from their last league outing, with Bacary Sagna, Aleksander Kolarov, Dedryck Boyata and Eliaquim Mangala forming the back four as their defensive problems continue – the Blues went behind in the 14th minute and have now conceded five goals in their last three at home in all competitions. Stevan Jovetic started in the lone forward role once again, whilst Frank Lampard replaced David Silva in the starting XI, though the Spaniard emerged from the bench to continue his fine recent form and provide both assists as Pellegrini reverted to a false nine set-up for the latter stages of the encounter. Silva’s performance strengthened his claim as the stand-out Yaya Toure replacement, with the Ivorian playing his final match yesterday before jetting off to the ACoN.
VILLA RELY ON BENTEKE
Paul Lambert made five changes to his Aston Villa side for their cup clash with Blackpool, as Brad Guzan, Ron Vlaar, Leandro Bacuna, Gabby Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann all dropped out. However, with the fringe players failing to deliver – Joe Cole and young Jack Grealish amongst them – it was left to Christian Benteke to find the winner. The big Belgian has endured a frustrating last few Gamweeks, but yesterday’s strike may well persuade his owners to hold for an enticing clash with Leicester next weekend. At the back, the Villains registered their third consecutive home shut-out in all competitions, but with a tough schedule on the horizon beyond the Foxes encounter, they look hard tasked to replicate that form in the coming weeks.
DI MARIA NETS ON REDS RETURN
Man United advanced through to the next stages of the FA Cup with a 2-0 win over League One side Yeovil Town. Louis van Gaal fielded a 3-5-2 set-up to begin with, but was forced into changes at half-time as Luke Shaw (ankle) and Rafael (cheek) both picked up injuries, leading to the Dutchman switching to four at the back in the second half, with Tyler Blackett and Patrick McNair in the full-back positions. Ander Herrera was introduced to the starting line-up for the first time in six outings and took full advantage by putting his side in the lead with a superb strike, whilst Angel Di Maria climbed off the bench to seal victory with a goal on the break late on. United’s kind upcoming fixtures will bring the 9.4-valued Argentine into contention for our midfields as a great differential just in time for the January Wildcards, and offer Toure’s owners another exit route as the Red Devils prepare for a kind run of upcoming fixtures.
Post-match, Van Gaal confirmed that the prognosis doesn’t look too good for either Rafael or Shaw:
“Rafa has a fracture, so it’s not looking good, and Shaw has an ankle problem. I had to change, and I don’t have more defenders, so I have to change the shape also. Rafael had a fresh injury so it was fantastic that he had the guts to play through. He has a fantastic mentality, it’s unbelievable. But I had to change him and Shaw because they aren’t 100 per cent fit.”
BLUES EASE PAST WATFORD
Jose Mourinho made eight alterations to his side as Chelsea ran out 3-0 victors over Watford. Only Cesar Azpilicueta, Gary Cahill and Oscar kept their places from the side that lost at Spurs last week, whilst Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard and John Terry were given the day off entirely. Didier Drogba and Loic Remy started up front together for the first time, with the latter grabbing a goal in between strikes from half-time substitute Willian and young centre-back Kurt Zouma.
Willian, on at the break alongside Diego Costa, came in for particular praise from Mourinho after the final whistle:
“Willian is the kind of player that without scoring goals he gives so much to the team. He creates, he always has a good dynamic. When the team lose the ball he’s probably the first defender because he reacts in a very effective way, he presses immediately and recovers balls. Willian always gives us a performance.”
SANCHEZ SINKS TIGERS
Theo Walcott was handed his first start in a year as one of five changes to the Gunners’ starting line-up for yesterday’s 2-0 win over Hull. Nacho Monreal was reinstated at the back, whilst Joel Campbell made a rare start up top for the north Londoners. However, Alexis Sanchez was the man once again making the headlines; the Chilean had reportedly been offered the day off by Arsene Wenger, but insisted upon playing, and in doing so contributed the assist for Per Mertesacker’s headed opener before scoring his side’s second. Undoubtedly still the star attraction in the Gunners’ team, the 11.4-priced midfielder served up a reminder of his capabilities yesterday at a time when some were considering ditching his services with their Wildcard after two successive blanks in the league.
With home clashes against Stoke, Villa and Leicester allied with a trip to Burnley in the next six, Walcott’s return also brings him into contention as a far cheaper alternative, at a price of 8.9. Post-match, his manager discussed the winger’s return to the fold:
“You cannot expect much [from Walcott yet] but fitness-wise he was good. He had good chances, made some good runs. He has to get used to contact again and that will take a little bit of time. Overall it was a positive first game.”
TIGERS FAIL TO REPLICATE CUP RUN
With their recent league troubles clearly in mind, Steve Bruce showed no fear in terms of rotation yesterday and made ten changes for the Gunners clash, with only centre-back Curtis Davies keeping his place in the starting XI. With the likes of Sone Aluko and Tom Ince failing to take their chances in a repeat of last year’s cup final, however, another overhaul of the line-up looks likely for next weekend’s crucial trip to fellow strugglers West Brom. Michael Dawson returned from injury to take his place on the bench, and now looks likely to put a question mark over the pitch time of Alex Bruce from here on in. Elsewhere at the back, Bruce looks set to lose Andrew Robertson and Liam Rosenior for a number of weeks through injury, whilst midfielder Gaston Ramirez is sidelined until mid-February with an ongoing groin problem.
