An Anelka-inspired Chelsea power past Watford. A patched up Everton are too much for Villa. United rest and rotate but still have far too much for Championship Derby. The rest get draws, stay in the hat and must fight it out again. Here’s the notes on the weekend’s cup action…
Swansea 1 Fulham 1
Hodgson’s side came away with a draw and were lucky to do so. Once again they rarely threatened away from the Cottage and will be thankful to get the tie back to home turf where are they are a far more potent outfit. The Fulham boss made four changes to his lineup with Paintsil and Dempsey rested after long-haul international exertions in the week. Gera and Stoor came into the side. Dacourt earned a Fulham debut for the injured Etuhu in midfield. Perhaps more significantly, Nevland was handed a start up front with Johnson as the expense of Zamora. It will be interesting to see if he can hold down that starting role for the trip to Old Trafford on Wednesday. I’m expecting a return for Zamora though, along with recalls for Paintsil and Dempsey.
Sheff United 1 Hull 1
Phil Brown made four changes to his Hull City lineup, welcoming back Gardner to the defence for the first time since September. Folan returned from injury to come in for Fagan up front, Mendy returned from suspension for the cup-tied Kilbane and Myhill made a return in goal with Duke rested. Gardner’s inclusion could be of interest, with Zayatte retained in the side but pushed into a midfield role. Club skipper Ashbee was rested to make way so it’s unlikely that this will be a common tactical move by Brown but it’s one worth monitoring. Barmby returned from injury to claim a place on the bench here but faces a battle to regain a starting role. I’d expect changes again for the league game with Spurs at the KC. Mendy should keep his starting role on the right but Ashbee, Duke, Kilbane and Fagan all seem likely to return.
Blackburn Rovers 2 Coventry City 2
Allardyce made six changes to the lineup that took the field against Villa last time out. Simpson, Khizanishvilli and Givet came into the defence, while Villanueva and Tugay earned starts in midfield, with Warnock shifted forward alongside them. Up front, Big Sam paired Santa Cruz and Roberts for the first time. McCarthy was left on the bench, which should see him start at Old Trafford next time out, although it’s anyone’s guess whether he’ll be paired with Roberts or Santa Cruz. After today’s smart opening goal, it would seem likely to be the latter although given the noises he’s making in the press right now there still some doubt over his attitude.
Elsewhere I’d also expect returns for Nelsen, Gamst-Pedersen and Grella for the United game although Big Sam could keep Givet at left-back with Warnock keeping a midfield berth. Khizanishvilli should also keep his place, as Samba earned his fifth booking in this one and will now miss the trip to United next weekend. With Simpson unable to play against United, Ooijer wil likely return to right-back with Khizanishvilli filling in in the centre.
Watford 1 Chelsea 3
With Hiddink in the stands, it was Wilkins who took charge for this tricky tie at Vicarage Road. There was some brave moves made in the starting lineup with Mancienne coming in for his debut for the rested Bosingwa at right-back. More significantly, Drogba started up alongside Anelka. Cech returned from injury to replace Hilairio in goal. Terry missed out through suspension, Carvalho through injury so Ivanovic and Alex were paired in central defence.
Chelsea started in a 4-3-3 but ended up in a more traditional 4-4-2 and it was that switch, with Anelka paired with Drogba, that signalled the flurry of goals from Chelsea. The hat-trick for Anelka, still the Premier League’s leading scorer, offered a reminder to all that, on his day, he a finisher supreme and should be enough to maintain his starting role for the Villa Park trip next weekend. My bet is that the lineup here was more than a little inspired by Hiddink and that we’ll see the front two start together again next weekend, with Kalou up with them in the 4-3-3.
Hiddink will be forced in changes next week though. Terry will return from suspension, while Carvalho may come into the reckoning but is likely to be saved for Champions League action. Ashley Cole picked up his fifth booking of the season in this game and will certainly miss out. His replacement for that one is far from clear-cut. Belletti would seem likely to get the nod in his place, although Alex or Ivanovic could also be shifted to the left to fill in.
West Ham 1 Middlesbrough 1
Zola made just one change to his starting lineup from the side that took on United last weekend. Behrami missed out with a hamstring problem so Boa Morte earned a start. Meanwhile, Southgate reverted to a 4-5-1 with O’Neil adding an extra body to the midfield. He came in for the cup-tied Marlon King. Hoyte came in for Riggott at the back as expected, with Wheater shifting alongside Huth.
The Hammers have shown strong form in the league but they were fortunate here. Boro, with Downing catching the eye in particular, were the better side and should have progressed. Downing’s goal was his first of what has been a disappointing season from a player who struck 9 league goals last term. He was deployed in a central midfield role in this one, with Johnson occupying the left-wing berth.
It seems bizarre to be considering Boro players in their current run of form (just a single league goal in the last 8 games) however, if Southgate’s side could just summon up a semblance of form, this pair could be worth considering. With Boro’s fixtures looking exceptionally kind right through to gameweek 33 (WIG LIV tot POR stk bol HUL FUL), Downing could yet provide an effective fantasy differential for those willing to take a gamble. If he’s too rich for you in the mid-price bracket, then maybe Johnson, now pinning down a regular start, could be worth a look as a budget midfield option (4.3 in the FPL).
As reported yesterday, the Hammers lost Carlton Cole to an ankle injury after just 33 minutes. Zola mentioned in his post-match conference that this looked like a minor injury but we’ll have to wait until Monday for a full prognosis on this. According to Zola, Cole is due to have x-rays.
“We don’t know how bad it is yet,” said Zola. “He is going to have an X-ray in the next 24 hours and hopefully it will be just a twist.”
Boa Morte could be out for a while however. He suffered a hamstring injury in this game and is set for a month or so on the sidelines as a result. Noble earned his fifth booking of the season in this game and he will now miss the trip to Bolton next weekend.
Everton 3 Aston Villa 1
David Moyes was hampered by injuries to Fellaini, Osman and Pienaar, while Jo was cup-tied. That meant a recall for “all is forgiven” Anichebe up front, while Rodwell came into the midfield, with Gosling keeping his place. As for Villa, they were without Achilles victim Heskey up front, while Barry served a one-match ban. Carew and Sidwell both earned recalls then while Luke Young recovered from a toe injury to start at left-back. Gardner came in for the injured Cuellar at right-back.
A decent cup-tie and another fine display and result for Everton. Little we didn’t already know here – Arteta prompted majestically from central midfield and Cahill was a constant menace up front. Villa, stretched by injury and suspension, looked ordinary and lacked ideas. They will need to get their act together and players fit for the arrival of Chelsea at Villa Park this weekend.
As for Everton, they are surely where the smart fantasy money is going over the next few weeks. Their fixtures and form are strong and the likes of Arteta, Jagielka and Baines must all be key targets. You can add Cahill to that list, although he will miss next weekend’s trip to Newcastle along with Hibbert. Both picked up their fifth bookings here. Their absence could see Jacobsen start at right-back if Everton’s midfield injuries don’t clear up. Anichebe could well keep his place given Cahill’s absence.
As a side note, both Milner and Sidwell dropped onto the suspension tightrope with their fourth bookings in this one. They need to avoid bookings against Chelsea to avoid a one-match ban.
Derby 1 Man United 4
Not surprisingly, Ferguson made a string of changes to his starting lineup, as the fixtures begin to pile-up. There were welcome returns from injury for Evans and Evra who both started. Foster, Gibson, Nani and Fletcher all started while perhaps surprisingly, Giggs and Ronaldo kept starting roles, the latter leading the attack. Berbatov was out of the squad then – reassuringly for his fantasy owners. He is surely set to return to the starting lineup against Fulham on Wednesday as will Vidic, Van der sar, Carrick and either Tevez or Rooney. Giggs may well be rested given that he completed 90 minutes here.
We can take little from the performance in truth. United were rarely stretched always had the game in the bag once Ronaldo had headed them 3-0 in front. He was far from sparkling but could have easily ended the game with a couple of goals before being subbed on the 70 minute mark.
The Replays
The bulk of the FA Cup replays will take place between gameweek 26 and 27 on Tuesday 24th February, while the Hull vs Sheffield United game will take place on Thursday February 26th. They won’t have any impact on existing Premier League games, although they will of course increase the risk of injury and suspension going into gameweek 27 – a gameweek which already sees fantasy managers without players from United, Portsmouth, Sunderland and Spurs due to the Carling Cup.