Modest returns for Ronaldo, another struggle for Arsenal and a blank for Zaki against a previously fragile Boro defence. Not the best fantasy Saturday in living memory then. Let’s get it over with and get on with Sunday and some proper points.

Here’s the notes…

Sunderland 1 Arsenal 1

Keane gave Dwight Yorke a first start of the season. He replaced Miller who was out with a groin injury. Reid came in for Diouf as Keane elected to shut up shop with just Cisse pushed up front.

Wenger made just the one change from Tuesday’s Champions League lineup, Song came in but not for Denilson, he kept his place and Nasri slipped on to the bench.

Fabregas saved the Gunners then – somehow getting his head in first on a Van Persie corner to equalise in injury time. It was a uncharacteristic first goal of the season for the Spaniard, rewarding those fantasy managers who had kept faith. Again, he looked involved in Arsenal’s attacking play – Song’s recall in the holding role handing him more licence to influence things further forward. Somehow though, he returned a blank when it came to FPL bonus – very odd considering he normally fetches this by the bucketload for lesser contributions. Adeabayor and Van Persie took the bulk of the bonus – both played well, but most of that decent play was outside of the box which failed to trouble Keane’s men. Another baffling call by the FPL bonus boys – this time with Fabregas on the wrong end of the decision.

Just like a week ago, the Gunners failed to convert their possession into goals and Sunderland’s negative approach to the game proved more than effective – almost earning them the win. Having said that, Van Persie had a perfectly good goal ruled out by the linesman – that would have turned this game on its head.

Wenger’s men have two home games in three approaching now, with Everton and Spurs coming to the Emirates. Both of those sides are short on confidence and Arsenal should dispose of them with plenty of profit for their attacking players. The solidity at the back, evident early on in the season, appears to have deserted them however, and Clichy owners will be a getting a little twitchy as the likes of United enter a potentially strong period of fixtures defensively to offer good alternatives.

As for Sunderland – they were effective on the day and could offer some value when it comes to cheap defenders. Fulham, Stoke and Newcastle over the next three may offer clean sheet potential. Until Jones is back however, there’s little in attacking terms on offer.

Lineup
Sunderland: Gordon, Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney, Malbranque (Chopra 87), Whitehead, Yorke (Leadbitter 84), Reid, Richardson, Cisse (Murphy 88).
Subs Not Used: Fulop, Bardsley, Diouf, Healy.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Walcott (Bendtner 66), Denilson (Nasri 73), Fabregas, Song Billong (Vela 87), Van Persie, Adebayor.
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Silvestre, Djourou, Eboue.

West Brom 1 Fulham 0

Mowbray brought Miller in for the injured Kim and shifted to a 4-4-2 for the first time this term.

On the opposite side, Hodgson opted for Dempsey up front as the replacement for the suspended Andrew Johnson.

A successive win and clean sheet for the Baggies who, like Hull, continue to hold their own. Despite a shift to a new formation, Mowbray’s side adjusted and kept their flowing style. Morrison was lively out wide and Greening linked the play effectively through the middle. Bednar meanwhile, struck his third goal of the season and hit the bar with another effort. He’s emerging as another decent budget prospect along with the likes of West Ham’s Cole.

West Brom go to United next – a fixture which is likely to bring an abrupt end to their run of wins and shutouts. After that though, they face Hull, Newcastle and Blackburn – games which offer profit for the defence with Carson and Olsson looking the most viable, and the attacking players I’ve mentioned of course.

Fulham are struggling again but should get the help they need from the fixture list. Its four of the next six at the Cottage for Hodgson’s men, a run which should see them pick up form. Those home games – against Sunderland, Wigan, Newcastle and Spurs all appear to offer returns – it could be worth sticking with Bullard, Gera and Zamora then, despite the dismal recent returns.

Lineups
West Brom: Carson, Zuiverloon, Donk, Olsson, Robinson, Morrison (Cech 79), Koren, Greening, Borja Valero, Miller (Moore 64), Bednar.
Subs Not Used: Kiely, Hoefkens, Barnett, MacDonald, Pele.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil (Stoor 82), Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Davies, Bullard, Murphy (Andreasen 87), Gera, Zamora (Ki-Hyeon 71), Dempsey.
Subs Not Used: Zuberbuhler, Nevland, Kallio, Baird.

Wigan 0 Middlesbrough 1

Cattermole shrugged off a hamstring strain to line up against his former club, while Scharner came in for Boyce in the centre of defence.

Boro were boosted when O’Neill recovered from illness to take his place in the lineup but lost both Huth and Taylor to ankle and hip injuries respectively. Riggott and Grounds both came into a makeshift back four.

A first away win in 2008 for Boro, who came into this one on the back of four straight defeats – in contrast Wigan were unbeaten in the last four. The form book pointed to the home win then, particularly with the injuries to the Boro defence but the form book was ripped up as Southgate’s men nicked it with an Aliadiere finish from a Downing header.

Wigan dominated but failed to convert their chances – Zaki on the end of most of the home sides attacks, had numerous efforts on goal without a return, much to the frustration of his fantasy owners. Palacios caught the eye in midfield – he appears to have added a new dimension to his game and is bombing forward a lot more often and, while we’re still waiting for some goal/assist returns, he came away with the three FPL bonus points here.

Bruce’s side have a couple of tricky games coming up, with a trip to Anfield and a home game with Villa. Clean sheets will be hard to come by in those games and Zaki will likely find the Liverpool defence tough to crack. In the longer term however, Wigan’s fixtures remain strong once the Villa game is out of the way.

As for Boro – they are just so hard to read. It’s Chelsea at home next and it will be just like them to cause an upset. Despite the win here, I can’t see too much interest in their players, although they’ll be a few looking at Wheater again. With Chelsea and City in the next three though – more clean sheets look a big ask.

Lineup
Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Scharner, Figueroa, Valencia, Cattermole, Palacios (De Ridder 85), Kapo (Koumas 67), Zaki (Camara 81), Heskey.
Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Taylor, Kilbane, Brown.

Middlesbrough: Turnbull, Hoyte, Wheater, Riggott, Grounds, Aliadiere, O’Neil, Shawky (Digard 58), Downing, Alves (Johnson 79), Mido.
Subs Not Used: Jones, Emnes, John Johnson, Walker, Craddock.

Injuries and Bans
Shawky picked up an injury and was subbed just before the hour mark.

Blackburn 0 Man United 2

Ooijer came in for Danny Simpson who was ineligible against United. Pedersen was restored to the starting lineup with Villanueva dropped to the bench having started at Newcastle. Derbyshire kept his place up front with Santa Cruz with Roberts kept on the bench. Apparently Ince changed his lineup when he was told that Rooney was starting – I’m not really how Rooney over Tevez would have effected things unless he was expecting Ronaldo to play down the middle. That may have had something to do with Warnock starting in central midfield.

Rooney was fit to start for United so Tevez had to make do with the bench again. Brown was restored at right back with Neville still struggling for fitness. Fletcher and Anderson were the central midfield pairing with Carrick, Hargreaves and Scholes all sidelined. Giggs came in with Nani dropping to the bench. United started with Giggs playing just of Berbatov (the new role that Ferguson hinted at a week or so ago) and Rooney out on the right, Ronaldo on the left.

United had their easiest time at Ewood in a good few seasons – strolling to the win, despite dreadful conditions. While Ferguson’s side were lucky with Brown’s opener, they wasted countless chances to widen the gulf.

Ronaldo was particularly wasteful – he had several opportunities that, last season would have been mercilessly despatched. While he has the fitness to get himself into goalscoring situations – his sharpness is just lacking for now at least. He still came away with the assist for Rooney’s second half effort to bring some returns to those managers who have invested early.

Around Ronaldo, both Rooney and Berbatov looked imperious and were at the heart of all the good stuff thrown at Blackburn on the night. Although Ferguson has threatened to rotate his combinations, it appears that those two, along with Ronaldo, are his first choice option. Tevez looks set to struggle for starts then. Elsewhere, Fletcher got a recall and had a decent first half chance – he could be worth a look over the next three to four games with Ferguson’s central midfield options restricted by injury.

Defensively United were rarely threatened here and with three home games in four against West Brom, West Ham and Hull, to come, their defence looks just as good an investment as their attacking players. We have to consider that Neville may struggle to displace Brown after his return though, so that United defender may cost you dear.

As for Blackburn, they were downright disappointing. The loss of Santa Cruz early in the second period removed their chief threat. With three of the next four away from home, they will need him back if they are to make inroads. Even so, there appears to be little value in the Rovers lineup right now.

Lineup
Blackburn: Brown, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Olsson, Emerton, Kerimoglu (Andrews 68), Warnock, Pedersen (Treacy 58), Derbyshire, Roque Santa Cruz (Roberts 50).
Subs Not Used: Bunn, Mokoena, Villanueva, Fowler.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra (O’Shea 71), Ronaldo, Fletcher, Anderson, Giggs (Tevez 66), Berbatov, Rooney (Park 77).
Subs Not Used: Amos, Nani, Rafael Da Silva, Evans.

Injuries and Bans
Santa Cruz picked up a knock and was subbed early in the second half. It’s hamstring trouble apparently – more on this in the week no doubt.