Last weekend saw some big performances near the foot of the table with the battle for relegation intensifying. Sunderland, for example, are now mathematically safe courtesy of a fantastic display by Frazier Campbell: a goal, an assist and two Bonus Points saw the youngster pick up eleven points as the Black Cats hammered another nail in Burnley’s Brian Laws-shaped coffin. Campbell is currently the top-scoring forward for this gameweek.
Two of the three top-scoring midfielders this week are from relegation-threatened clubs; Matt Taylor and Charles N’Zogbia. Both players played pivotal roles in their respective team’s wins as Bolton and Wigan climbed closer to safety.
Bottom line is there’s clearly some decent Fantasy Premier League (FPL) points hauls available at the bottom of the table, as certain teams and players step up to the mark…
Mathematically, at least, third-bottom Hull City (currently on 28pts) can still rack up forty points, meaning there are four clubs above them still unsure of safety. Here’s some examples of the in-form players from those clubs who will be looking to replicate their recent points-scoring performances in these final gameweeks:
Bolton
Matt Taylor– £6.1m, 2.7% owners. 17pts in last two games.
Surprisingly, the last two gameweeks have been Taylor’s only 90 minute league appearances since the arrival of Owen Coyle, and the midfielder’s weekend performance at Stoke must have cemented his place in the Bolton starting XI till the end of the season.
As the chalkboards below shows, Taylor had four shots at goal against Chelsea followed by five shots at goal in the 2-1 win at Stoke. Given that the club had 23 shots in total over the two games, Taylor’s nine attempts is indicative of his threat.
The weekend saw two goals and three Bonus Points earning the midfielder fifteen FPL points, the largest haul to date this week. Considering Bolton had failed to score in their last four league games, Taylor’s performance was as vital as it was impressive.
Bolton are on 35 pts, and another win should realistically see them safe. With two of their final three games at home (POR, spu, BIR), there’s every chance their Premier League safety will soon be confirmed. This upcoming gameweek, at home to Pompey, will be targeted by Coyle as a survival-clincher, and Taylor’s form suggests he is the man for the occasion.
Wigan
Charles N’Zogbia £6.1m, 9.6% owners. 16 pts in last two games.
Following a great first half to the season, the winger had really tailed off in recent matches, but yesterday’s game was the perfect time for N’Zogbia to announce his return to form. His winner against Arsenal was only his second goal in eighteen league games; given such lowly returns of late, the fact that he’s the club’s joint-top FPL scorer is indicative of their recent struggles.
There was an indication of N’Zogbia’s form improving last midweek when he picked up three Bonus Points (his first in nine games) in the draw at Portsmouth, but yesterday’s display saw him score one and pick up three Bonus Points again, for a total haul of ten points.
As these chalkboards from Wigan’s last two games show, N’Zogbia has had plenty of shots at goal (eleven in the two games), though his accuracy is clearly on the up.
Almost as impressive was Ben Watson, playing at the expense of Paul Scharner in midfield. At just £4.8m and with 0% of owners, Watson had previously played just six minutes before yesterday’s win over Arsenal. Ninety minutes later, he had a goal and seven points for a display that deserved -but did not obtain- a share of the Bonus Points.
Wigan are also on 35pts, with their final fixtures being (whm, HUL, ch). Another win should be enough for Martinez, given that two of those last three games are against fellow strugglers.
Wolves
Jody Craddock: £4.6m, 12% owners. 27pts in last 5 games.
Roland Zubar: £3.8m, 2.2% owners. 31 pts in last 5 games.
Michael Mancienne: £4.7m, 0.6% owners. 25 pts in last 5 games.
It’s a rarity to praise the defensive merits of a relegation-threatened team, but Wolves have been racking up the clean sheets of late. Anyone looking for a bargain-basement defender could perhaps run the rule over the Wolves back-line; three of their last four games have seen Marcus Hahnemann unbeaten, though considering they’ve failed to find the net even once in these games, it’s just as well.
Mick McCarthy’s side have developed a real tough streak in recent times, with just one defeat in their last seven games. Much of this steelier side has been down to both Michael Mancienne and George Elokobi being re-installed to the starting XI, following stop-start seasons for both players. Since he returned to the starting line-up against West Ham, Wolves have conceded just one goal in five matches when Mancienne has been on the pitch.
Wolves have, arguably, the most straightforward run-in of all those at the bottom, with their last three fixtures reading (BBR, por, SUN).
West Ham
Ilan: £5.5m, 0% owners. 11 points in last two games.
Carlton Cole: £6.1m, 3.1% owners. 10 points in last two games.
Gianfranco Zola’s decision to allow the team some recent time off seemed to have worked wonders, as the Hammers came back refreshed from a break with a couple of spirited performances. A draw at Goodison with an Everton side that had previously won seven in a row in front of their own fans was followed up with win at home to Sunderland.
Ilan, one of the forwards bought in the January transfer window, has proved too be an unlikely hero. Two goals in the last two games have been pivotal in the club’s drive for Premier League survival, gaining the Hammers four points in the process.
Carlton Cole hasn’t found the net since February, but seems to work well in tandem with Ilan, which resulted in an assist and three Bonus Points in the vital win over Steve Bruce’s side.
West Ham have just 31 points, though play tonight at Anfield as part of gameweek 35. They have two home games still to follow, with their fixture reading: (WIG, ful, MC).