Scout Notes – Gameweek 5 – Monday

Dimitri Payet scores both West Ham’s goals as Slaven Bilic’s men earn a first home victory of the season. The Hammers also earn a third clean sheet of the campaign as visitors Newcastle fail to find the net for the fourth successive league outing.

Payet at the Double

West Ham secured their third win of the campaign courtesy of a brace from Dimitri Payet. The France international steered the ball into the top corner from 20 yards for the Hammers’ opener, before claiming his second with a rebound from a Victor Moses strike. Payet now boasts three goals and one assist in five outings, having contributed to 11 goals (four goals and seven assists) in his previous 13 league appearances (including Ligue 1).

Priced at 7.6, Payet is sure to enjoy an increase on his 8.4% ownership in the wake of his double against the Magpies. Although the Irons next face a Manchester City rearguard that’s yet to concede this term, a strong trio of fixtures (NOR, sun, cry) beyond Gameweek 6 look more conducive to attacking returns. Certainly, many Fantasy managers will be eager to source coverage from Slaven Bilic’s outfit, given that they rank joint-top – alongside Man City and Leicester City – for goals scored (11) this term.

Victor Moses (5.3) and Mark Noble (5.5) served up the assists, with the former making his debut for the club. Moses looks to have edged ahead of fellow new boy Michail Antonio in Bilic’s first-team plans but Noble is making a strong case for investment in light of his recent productivity (two goals and one assist). The newly instated West Ham captain benefits from penalty duty and has tallied the same number of shots inside the box (four) as Payet.

Having conceded six goals in their two match-ups at the Boleyn Ground, the Hammers were much tighter at the back this time around, registering their second clean sheet on the trot and third of the campaign. A shut-out on the Sky Blues’ home turf will likely be a step too far, yet their trips to Sunderland and Crystal Palace offer encouragement on the defensive front, considering they’re one of four sides not to concede on the road.

Magpies Woes Continue

Newcastle slumped to their fourth successive defeat on Monday night, underlining their current irrelevance on the Fantasy scene. The Toon have now lost eight of their last 10 away clashes and – with Man City next on their road schedule – that inglorious statistic is unlikely to change any time soon. Furthermore, the Tynesiders have tasted victory just three times in 24 matches this calendar year.

Next on the agenda for Steve McClaren’s beleaguered troops is a home tie against Watford. The Hornets have proved to be a tough nut to crack on their travels this term, conceding just 14 shots inside the box and two big chances, and arrive on the back of three clean sheets in the last four matches – only City have scored against them over that period. Given that the Magpies have now failed to find the net since Gameweek 1, those holding Watford defenders will fancy their chances of earning another shut-out.