Scout Notes – Gameweek 34 – Saturday

The sublime finishing of Sergio Aguero allows City to coast victory at Stamford Bridge. Elsewhere, Andros Townsend carries Newcastle to a vital three points and Heurelho Gomes defies the odds to earn Watford a win at West Brom. Here’s the notes from Saturday’s events…

Aguero Runs Riot At the Bridge

Man City tightened their grip on a top-four berth with a 3-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Sergio Aguero netted a hat-trick (one penalty) that elicited anguish from all those who opted to ignore the Argentine for the Gameweek armband.

Moreover, Aguero’s 17-point haul ahead of a tantalising trip to Newcastle played into the hands of managers who declined to adopt a bench-boost strategy and instead bestow Aguero with their triple captain chip.

On the creative front, Kevin De Bruyne, Samir Nasri and Fernandinho supplied the assists in the Stamford Bridge stroll.

De Bruyne has now delivered attacking returns (three goals, one assist) in four of five outings across all competitions, while Nasri has produced (one goal, two assists) in three consecutive league starts. However, the Frenchman has been immediately ruled out of Tuesday’s trip to Tyneside having suffered a muscle injury that forced him off on 75 minutes.

The improved City rearguard recorded their third straight clean sheet on the road, instilling confidence in their shut-out prospects on Tuesday night. The fact they’ve conceded just two goals in four match-ups since Vincent Kompany suffered an injury setback promotes investment in their most secure starters: Nicolas Otamendi and Joe Hart.

Having said that, with Gael Clichy missing Saturday’s win and Tuesday’s trip to Newcastle with a back problem, Aleks Kolarov could now be in line for three consecutive starts. It would seem likely that Clichy will be preserved for the Madrid tie even if fit to return against Stoke in Gameweek 35.

That encounter with the Potters takes place three days before their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid and looks an obvious hotspot for rest and rotation across the City teamsheet.

Courtois Sees Red for Humbled Blues

Chelsea succumbed to successive defeats as they were comprehensively outclassed by Pellegrini’s men at the Bridge.

Thibaut Courtois received his marching orders for denying Fernandinho’s goalscoring opportunity, which – because he’s already claimed a red this season – will rule him out of Chelsea’s trip to Bournemouth and home tie against Tottenham.

Diego Costa and Willian returned from injury, placing them on our radar for the Blues’ double Gameweek 37 (sun, liv). For now, Gus Hiddink’s plans to experiment and Chelsea’s general malaise make it difficult to pinpoint their key assets for those back-to-back road matches.

Townsend Inspires Toon Victory

Newcastle United move to within three points of safety by virtue of a 3-0 win over Swansea City.

Scooping a goal and assist, Scout Pick Andros Townsend proved to be a superb differential for the 7,000 who drafted him in for Newcastle’s two home fixtures.

The former Spurs recruit has notched two goals and two assists in his previous trio of starts and looks crucial to the Magpies’ quest for survival – offering a direct goal threat and seemingly hogging dead-ball duties.

Looking beyond this Gameweek, upcoming meetings with Crystal Palace (home) and Villa (away) provide the perfect platform for Townsend to finish the campaign strongly as he bids to earn himself a place in Roy Hodgson’s Euro 16 squad.

Despite laying claim to three goals in as many appearances, Aleksandar Mitrovic was consigned to bench duty at St James’ Park, ripping up the best-laid plans of 23,000 managers that bought him in over the last fortnight.

Nonetheless, the Serbian marksman etched his name onto the scoreboard with an assist and did enough in his 12-minute spell to suggest that he could now earn a recall for Tuesday’s clash with Manchester City.

Gomes the Hornets Hero

Watford snapped a six-match winless streak with a 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.

Heurelho Gomes had an astonishing afternoon, scoring 19 points courtesy of the clean sheet, two penalty saves, one save point and three bonus points.

Although the Hornets will struggle to repel the advances of West Ham at the Boelyn Ground in midweek, Gomes’ 9,000 new owners will be content with a two-point display following Saturday’s extraordinary haul.

Ben Watson acted as a profitable enabler for nearly 2,000 managers as he netted his first goal (Adlène Guedioura assist) of the term.

Sunderland Put The Heat On Norwich

Sunderland revived their survival bid with a priceless 3-0 away win over fellow relegation-battlers Norwich City.

Fabio Borini opened the scoring from the penalty spot, before teeing up Jermain Defoe (5.1 in the FPL) to double the Black Cats’ advantage. Duncan Watmore then applied gloss to the scoreline with his third goal (Sebastian Larsson assist) of the campaign.

The victory looks certain to ensure that the relegation battle involving the Black Cats, Norwich and Newcastle goes to the wire – a crucial factor for Fantasy managers ahead of the Gameweek 37 double.

Both Sunderland and Norwich play twice in that Gameweek, with Jermain Defoe continuing to stand out as a key attacking asset and perhaps a captain candidate over two crucial home fixtures with Chelsea and Everton.

Defoe has registered three goals in his last five starts and, over the season, has either scored or assisted 43% of Sunderland’s goals. Interestingly, 10 of his 13 goals this season have come away from the Stadium of Light – a factor to consider ahead of those two Gameweek 37 home ties.

The emphasis on Defoe is unfortunate for Borini (5.4) who would otherwise emerge as another attacking target in the Black Cats’ squad; the Italian picked up his first double figure haul at Carrow Road and remains Sunderland’s designated penalty taker.

Having ended a 16-match run without a clean sheet, the Wearsiders now boast two shut-outs in three fixtures and have allowed just four goals in their last five outings.

Patrick van Aanholt remains their prime defensive pick-up by virtue of his marauding instincts (five goals, three assists). The Dutchman has currently fired in more attempts on goal than any other defender in the league (38).

Canaries Dragged Back Into the Mire

Norwich are now just one point off the relegation berths following defeat at Carrow Road.

Four blanks in six match-ups illustrate the Canaries’ lack of attacking spark. They’ve also struggled to keep it tight at the back of late, conceding six goals in three outings.

Given recent form, there are currently no standout candidates at either end of the pitch for the Norfolk outfit’s double Gameweek 37 (MUN, WAT). A return from injury for Timm Klose (4.2) could offer one potential option – the giant Swiss defender missed Saturday’s defeat with a knee injury.

Rashford On Target in Rooney Return

Manchester United kicked off their double Gameweek with a largely uneventful 1-0 victory over Villa.

To the chagrin of over 200,000 managers that recruited him prior to this wave of fixtures, Anthony Martial joined Jesse Lingard on the bench, with Wayne Rooney earning a somewhat surprising recall in behind lone striker Marcus Rashford.

There’s still time for Martial to emerge as a shrewd acquisition, though, considering that the Red Devils next host a Crystal Palace outfit that ranks fourth for goals conceded (34) since Gameweek 20. The Frenchman would seem likely to replace Memphis Depay in Wednesday’s starting lineup.

Rashford repaid the faith we invested in him as one of our differentials this Gameweek, grabbing his fourth goal in six league outings. Despite his form, Louis van Gaal may now elect to rest him ahead of United’s FA Cup semi-final with Everton, preserving Rashford against the Eagles.

At the right-back slot, Antonio Valencia – who bagged an assist – got the nod over Matteo Darmian and Timothy Fosu-Mensah, frustrating the latter’s 90,000 new owners.

Ultimately, Chris Smalling and David De Gea are still the most secure starters in United’s defence as they go in search of their fourth shut-out in five outings on Wednesday. Indeed, Van Gaal offered assurance to those who invested in Smalling ahead of the double Gameweek, emphasing that, currently, he is unable to rest him or his central defensive partner, Daley Blind.

Weakened Toffees Disappoint Again

Everton stretched out their winless streak to six matches with a 1-1 home draw against Southampton.

Romelu Lukaku’s omission from the starting XI was the chief talking point prior to kick-off. Owing to his poor form (four successive blanks) and Roberto Martinez’s midweek pledge to rotate, 270,000 Fantasy managers anticipated this outcome and cut ties with the Belgian frontman before the deadline.

Lukaku’s remaining 38% ownership will now hope for an improved showing in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday, with the under pressure Martinez almost certain to recall the Toffees’ heavy hitters.

Ross Barkley and Aaron Lennon owners were also victims of the fixture congestion. The former went on to record a half-hour cameo, while Lennon seems set to miss Wednesday’s derby and remains a doubt for Everton’s FA Cup semi-final date with Manchester United next weekend.

Highlighting his attacking prowess, Ramiro Funes Mori bagged his fourth goal of the season and fired in three more efforts on goal.

Seamus Coleman’s 8% ownership were not so fortunate: the raiding right-back was forced off on 54 minutes with a hamstring injury. Martinez has confirmed that, like Lennon, he is now a major doubt for the Wembley date with United.

Mane Delivers Once More

Southampton rescued a point at Goodison Park to consolidate their spot in the top half of the table.

Sadio Mane restored parity for Saints in the 76^th minute – netting his third goal in his last four league appearances – while Dusan Tadic recorded his third assist in six appearances.

Once again Mane is using the end of season spell as a platform to showcase his talents. Although he could serve as a fine differential for Southampton’s trip to Aston Villa next weekend, their subsequent two fixtures (MCI, tot) and lack of a double Gameweek diminishes the Senegal winger’s appeal.

Jose Fonte was subbed off at the 38-minute mark with a head injury making him an early minor doubt for the Villa meeting. Fonte led a Southampton defence that has now gone eight league matches without a shut-out after keeping six consecutive clean sheets prior to this run.