Three Friday night friendlies and it was perhaps Bolton’s 2-0 win over Osasuna which was the most significant. Owen Coyle’s side have put together an unbeaten flourish to their summer with three consecutive clean sheets coming their way. Johan Elmander and Chung-Yong Lee got the goals for the Trottes last night, with Kevin Davies earning the assists for both.
Coyle suggested before the game that his lineup last night would be a strong indication of the side that took the field against Fulham in the season kick-off at the Reebok. Elmander would have done himself no harm with his well-taken goal then, his third of the pre-season, and Coyle would seem set to keep faith with the Swede alongside Davies in a 4-4-2 which has been evident in Bolton’s previous few friendlies.
If the teamsheet against Osasuna is anything to go by we can expect to see Matt Taylor resigned to bench duty with Martin Petrov and Lee adopting the wide roles as was expected. However, as Coyle points out, Bolton will lose players to international duty this week casting a doubt over his and every Premier League manager’s lineup come next weekend…
Aston Villa’s stuttered pre-season continued with a 0-0 draw with Valencia. Although goalless, we did see a couple of standout performances – not least that of Ashley Young who was again employed in the auxiliary striker role in the centre of the park. That has recently seen Stewart Downing and Marc Albrighton occupying the wide roles and all three players again put in decent showings. Albrighton would surely be desperately unlucky not to make the starting lineup for the opening game of the season against West Ham and at a price of just 4.5 in the Fantasy Premier League game, he has emerged as a real contender for our budget midfield cash.
Albrighton’s cause is helped by the continued talk of James Milner’s departure and a series of injuries in the Villa camp which include striker Gabby Agbonlahor. O’Neill went on to confirm problems for Agbonlahor, James Collins and Carlos Cuellar who all missed out against Valencia. Collins and Cuellar seem the most doubtful for the season opener with West Ham judging from O’Neill’s comments; young Ciaran Clark, a starter last night, is set to benefit. We will keep you up to date on those injuries from our Injuries and Bans table as the week progresses.
Finally Stoke brought Friday’s pre-season events to an unceremonious end thanks to a straight red card for striker Ricardo Fuller in the 0-0 draw with Wrexham. Fuller was instantly dismissed for violent conduct just after the hour-mark after appearing to raise an arm to a Wrexham defender. There is now some doubt whether the Jamaican will face a three-match ban as a result; certainly Stoke boss Tony Pulis remains hopeful that he’ll remain available for the Wolves trip.
The game itself contained little of significance for Fantasy Managers other than perhaps the return from injury of Matt Etherington who played himself back into the starting lineup for the opening game of the season with 60 minutes yesterday. Rory Delap also proved his fitness so his long throws are set to be a feature from the off this term. In terms of form, Tuncay continues to look sharp up front and he would seem a guaranteed starter come next weekend. Once again he is available as a midfielder (5.5) in the Fantasy Premier League game and if you’re using pre-season form as a deciding factor, then his five goals over the summer speak do the talking for the Turk.
You’ll find all the lineups from last night’s games and updates on this weekend’s action right here in our Pre-Season Form guide.