Scout Notes – Gameweek 34 – Saturday

Dame N’Doye was the unlikely source of the early double Gameweek dividends as Hull City ran out winners at Selhurst Park. Elsewhere, Liverpool’s attack was kept at arms length by a resolute Baggies, while Jamie Vardy’s one-yard tap-in was enough to appease his new owners and earn Leicester a fourth straight victory. Here’s the notes from Saturday’s events…

N’Doye at the double as Tigers’ bite returns

Dame N’Doye – one of our differential for the Gameweek – delivered for the 6000 managers that elected to draft him in for Hull City’s trip to Selhurst Park: the Senegalese frontman recorded a brace as the Tigers ran out 2-0 victors over Crystal Palace. Gaston Ramirez and Robbie Brady picked up the assists, with the visitors registering their second shut-out in eight matches – much to the delight of the 12,000 managers that had gambled on Hull’s defenders for their double.

Steve Bruce’s men now gear up for their game in hand on Tuesday when they play host to Liverpool. Considering only four teams have breached the Reds in the past 13 Gameweeks, N’Doye has his work cut out repeating his feat. Furthermore, a brutal subsequent quartet of matches (ARS, BUR, tot, MUN) limits our interest in Hull assets during the run-in.

Baggies Rearguard Stands Firm

Unsurprisingly, Tony Pulis tightened things up having conceded seven goals in their previous two outings at the Hawthorns. The Baggies 0-0 stalemate with Liverpool earned them back-to-back clean sheets following their shut-out at Selhurst Park last weekend. The 18,000 managers that sold or benched either Craig Dawson or Joleon Lescott in the lead up to Gameweek 34 are doubtless cursing at the West Midlanders’ upturn in form. That being said, West Brom arguably face the most difficult final four fixtures (mun, NEW, che, ars) of any side, dissuading investment.

Reds Attack Kept At Bay

The 530,000 managers that drafted in either Raheem Sterling, Philippe Coutinho or Jordan Henderson for their double were given little to cheer about in light of Liverpool’s inability to find a Hawthorns breakthrough.

Coutinho served as the Reds’ principal attacking outlet, tallying nine of Liverpool’s 22 shots. Conversely, Sterling – deployed on the left flank in a 4-2-3-1 set-up that was spearheaded by the returning Mario Balotelli – failed to fire in a single goal attempt throughout the encounter.

The Merseysiders travel to Hull on Tuesday in what could be a more free-flowing affair, conducive to attacking returns. Those who invested in Henderson will be hoping that Brendan Rodgers elects to rest Steven Gerrard for the midweek trip – thus increasing Henderson’s role from dead-ball situations.

At the back, Alberto Moreno missed the Hawthorns trip after picking up a knock, presumably in training. Those that plumped for Martin Skrtel or Simon Mignolet for Liverpool defensive cover were rewarded when the Reds picked up their ninth clean sheet in the past 13 Gameweeks.

Foxes Make It Four In A Row

Burnley paid the price for Matt Taylor’s missed penalty in the 59^th minute of their head-to-head against Leicester City, with Jamie Vardy scoring at the other end less than a minute later to earn the Foxes a fourth consecutive win. The 4.6 FPL option attracted over 110,000 new owners in the lead up to the Foxes’ double Gameweek and now boasts three goals and two assists in five starts. A home tie against Chelsea on Wednesday – given that the Blues have conceded just seven goals in their previous 12 encounters – promises to pose a greater test of Vardy’s output.

Leicester recorded back-to-back clean sheets for the first time this season, vindicating the 20,000 managers that recruited Kasper Schmeichel, Wes Morgan or Robert Huth for Gameweek 34. Jeffrey Schlupp’s 22,000 new owners were dealt an unfortunate blow, though, with the Ghana international missing out due to a “knock”. Schlupp could, however, return to the reckoning against Chelsea, along with David Nugent who again missed out with a calf problem.

Pelle brace marks return to form

Graziano Pelle notched a brace against Tottenham Hotspur as Saturday’s early kick-off ended in a 2-2 stalemate. The Italian frontman now has three goals in as many outings for Saints, having banished a 14-match goal drought in Gameweek 32. This marked Pelle’s first double figure return in the FPL since the famed Gameweek 8 victory over Sunderland.

Southampton conceded more than one goal for only the second time in 19 fixtures, starving their high-ownership defenders of valuable clean-sheet points. However, Ronald Koeman’s outfit now face a favourable run over the next three (sun, lei, AVL) – setting the platform for further positive results – before a tough trip to Manchester City rounds off their campaign. Toby Alderweireld will likely return to a central defensive role for the trip to Sunderland, with Victor Wanyama free to return to the engine room following a two-match suspension.

Chadli salvages draw for Spurs

Nacer Chadli netted for the second match running, reaching the 10-goal mark in the process. The 6.2-priced Belgian winger remains a strong differential pick yet is unlikely to attract a great deal of investment with managers turning their attention towards Arsenal’s midfield in the build up to their double Gameweek 37.

Harry Kane bagged the assist for Spurs’ first of the afternoon (Erik Lamela’s second goal of the campaign) yet offered little goal threat of his own, attempting just one (blocked) shot throughout the 98 minutes. Ranking 24^th among all forwards in terms of penalty box touches (20) over the last four matches, Kane is clearly being starved of service in the final third. Nonetheless, by virtue of his 6.5 price tag and Tottenham’s decent trio of fixtures (sto, HUL, eve) beyond Man City’s visit next Gameweek, few will contemplate showing Kane the door.

Sigurdsson Back At Number Ten

Gylfi Sigurdsson carded his first goal in six outings as Swansea City recorded a 3-2 win over Newcastle United at St James’ Park. The Icelandic midfielder complemented his close-range finish with the assist for Nelson Oliveira’s first goal in English football. The Benfica loanee was handed a second consecutive start in light of Bafetimbi Gomis’ hamstring injury, lining up as the lone striker in manager Garry Monk’s 4-2-3-1 set-up. This saw Sigurdsson return to the “number ten” role having recently been deployed at the tip of a midfield diamond behind a front two.

Despite the victory, the Welsh club’s remaining fixtures discourage investment in their personnel, with a trip to Arsenal and home tie against Manchester City looming in their final three (ars, MCI, cry).

Magpies Plumb New Depths

Despite succumbing to a seventh consecutive defeat, Newcastle showed some fight and scored more than one goal for the first time since Gameweek 23 (a 3-0 away win over Hull). Ayoze Perez snapped a 15-game goalless streak with the Toon’s opener, before Siem de Jong – who returned from an array of injuries that have kept him sidelined since Gameweek 3 – offered hope of a late comeback when he struck with three minutes to spare.

De Jong (6.8) scored at a greater rate than once every three appearances during his eight-year stint at Ajax and could emerge as a surprise differential in the coming weeks – particularly when Newcastle’s run-in (Lei, WBA, qpr, WHU) throws up a bevy of favourable match-ups.

QPR lament Austin Miss

In a contest that Queens Park Rangers dominated – notching 18 shots to West Ham United’s eight – Charlie Austin failed to deliver the coup de grace, after Adrian blocked the R’s striker’s first half spot-kick with his legs. The Loftus Park showdown ended goalless, meaning the Hammers have just one victory to their name in 12 Gameweeks.

Next on the agenda for the Hoops are back-to-back road matches against Liverpool and Manchester City, followed by two more-winnable clashes against fellow relegation-threatened outfits (NEW, lei). Both Austin and Matt Phillips delivered attacking returns in QPR’s most recent pair of away ties, perhaps encouraging their ownership to hold fire on exit plans for now.

Adam prolongs hot streak

Charlie Adam earned Stoke City a point with his third goal in four matches. Since being handed a run in the side from Gameweek 27, the 5.4-priced midfielder has now delivered attacking returns in five of his last eight appearances. Poring over the underlying statistics for the last six Gameweeks reveals that Adam’s spike in productivity is no fluke – no midfielder has tallied more goal attempts than the former Liverpool man in that window.

Mark Hughes’ outfit face a mixed schedule from here on out, with two decent away ties (swa, bur) offset by two less-forgiving home fixtures (TOT, LIV), rendering Adam a leftfield punt at best.

Wickham strike Earns A Point

Connor Wickham reaffirmed his candidacy for selection in Sunderland’s upcoming double Gameweek 37, tallying his second goal in as many starts. Head coach Dick Advocaat opted to switch to two up front for their visit to the Britannia Stadium, fielding Wickham and Jermain Defoe as the strike partnership, with the pair combing for eight attempts on goal throughout the encounter.

The Black Cats slipped into the relegation berths due to results elsewhere going against them. The Wearsiders have the benefit of a game in hand over their rivals but will do well to accrue many points in an unforgiving run-in that includes three testing trips away from the Stadium of Light (eve, ars, che).

Aguero Leads Golden Boot Race

Sergio Aguero netted for the third match in succession as Manchester City secured a dramatic 3-2 win over Aston Villa courtesy of an 89th-minute winner from Fernandinho. Aguero, who now boasts three goals in four starts, has well and truly cast aside his barren run and appears to be the prime pick among the forwards roster for the run-in. Tottenham away next weekend – on paper – is the most competitive fixture left on City’s agenda, yet Aguero will relish that meeting considering he’s bagged seven goals in his last three appearances against the North London club.

Aleksandar Kolarov vindicated our decision to name him as a Differential, scoring the hosts’ second of the night and assisting Fernandinho’s last-gasp effort. The Serbian left-back is profiting from a run in the side by virtue of Gael Clichy’s injury and has chalked up an impressive 18-points in his two starts.

Despite staging a spirited two-goal comeback by way of strikes from Tom Cleverley and Carlos Sanchez, Aston Villa ultimately fell to their third defeat in five. Christian Benteke drew a blank for only the second start in seven yet was named the man of the match for another threatening display. Benteke’s remaining owners will also be encouraged by a run of three home matches over the final four fixtures as Everton, West Ham and Burnley pay visit. Jack Grealish will also come into consideration for that run: the 19-year-old has now started the last four in all competitions and is available as a 4.3 midfield enabler in the FPL.