Baggies up to fourth, Bale fails to bring his European form to home matters, Drogba “captaincy fail” shocker and Andy Carroll gives his landlord a helpful nod.

Rafael Van der Vaart continued his record of scoring in every game he’s played at White Hart Lane, with Peter Crouch yet again assisting the Dutchman, as Spurs came from behind against Everton. Gareth Bale suffered a post European hangover, as he once again failed to replicate his Champions League form domestically. Alan Hutton impressed on the right with a series of threatening crosses that proved problematic to David Moyes’ men, particularly in the first half.

With Mikel Arteta injured, Leighton Baines got his chance to illustrate his set-piece prowess and duly obliged with a fantastic free kick to give Everton the lead. Young Seamus Coleman had a quiet game, as Everton looked to double mark Bale in order to nullify the Welshman’s threat on the left. Phil Jagielka and Sylvin Distin were awarded 5 of the 6 Bonus Points between them, a reflection on the Toffees defensive display as they repelled Harry Redknapp’s side. Everton now have four of their next six games at home and approach next week’s match with Stoke in increasingly impressive form.

In keeping a clean sheet against Blackpool, Birmingham became only the third team- after Arsenal and Chelsea- to do so. Nikola Zigic, one of Mark’s Scout Picks this weeks, was given a rare start and showed his class as he scored once, assisted a Liam Ridgewell goal and picked up all 3 Bonus Points in a performance that delighted Alex McLeish and gave the Blues their first win in seven.

Blackpool will be hoping for good news on Charlie Adam, who was taken off after 65 mins, limping from an (as of yet) unknown injury. No doubt clarification of the situation will be round the corner. The Seasiders spurned many good chances during the match and despite registering 20 shots at goal, failed to find a way past Ben Foster in the Birmingham goal. Holloway’s side may be taking the plaudits for their attacking displays but it doesn’t hide the fact they have now lost four of their last five. Holloway admitted afterwards,

“We were beaten by the better team and the manager beat me with his tactics”.

Chelsea racked up yet another clean sheet in the comfortable 2-0 home win over Wolves, and have conceded one goal in their last five league games. To huge surprise, Didier Drogba was not involved in either goal, a fact which will disappoint a great deal of Fantasy managers. Florent Malouda opened the scoring with his first goal in four games for the Champions, with Salomon Kalou, his replacement on 71mins, grabbing the second. Yet again, Ashley Cole picked up all 3 Bonus Points, for the third time this season, and despite his price of £8.1m for a defender, he is continuing to look great value for money..

Mick McCarthy’s men have taken just one point from their last six games and although 2-0 could be seen as a damage-limitation exercise, Wolves actually had the majority of possession and has 10 shots on target, double the amount of their hosts. With their next three games being (MCY, mun, ARS) Wolves have little to smile about as they sink to second-bottom.

Sunderland’s 1-0 win over Aston Villa propelled Steve Bruce’s side up to seventh in the table and took their unbeaten run to seven games. Beaten just once this season, Bruce’s 4-5-1 formation definitely offers more defensive solidity, but comes with a lack of goals right now; although this was their third clean sheet in succession, they have scored just once in these three games, only adding to the appeal of Out Of Position defender Elmohamady, whose 2 Bonus Points takes his tally to 22 points in those last three games, oustanding value for his £4.9m price as a defender..

Gerrard Houllier replaced John Carew with Emile Heskey up front but despite bossing the second half, Villa left the Stadium of Light with nothing to show for their toils. Young Marc Albrighton remained on the bench, with Stephen Ireland once again failing to shine in midfield. Villa failed to build on last week’s draw with Chelsea, as a Richard Dunne own goal condemned them to their fourth defeat of the season.

West Brom again showed their steely side in coming from behind at home to defeat Mark Hughes’ Fulham 2-1. Chris Brunt was once again at the heart of things, assisting a Youssouff Mulumbu goal and picking up 2 more Bonus Points as Marc-Antione Fortune’s winner both proved they can win without Peter Odemwingie and took the Baggies unbeaten run to seven games. Roberto di Matteo showed himself to be a master of the understatement as he put the club’s recent great form down to “Just hard work“.

Having started the season unbeaten in their first seven games, Fulham have now lost two on the trot, as injuries deplete Mark Hughes first-choice XI. They travelled to the Hawthorns without Damien Duff, Danny Murphy, Bobby Zamora, Dickson Etuhu and Simon Davies and despite taking the lead courtesy of a Scott Carson own goal, were overhauled by their determined hosts. Fulham will look to pick themselves up next weekend with a home tie against Wigan.

Wigan recalled Hugo Rodallega to the starting XI and the forward took his chance by scoring and picking up all three Bonus Points. The Bonus judges also continued their recent courting of Charles N’Zogbia, awarding the winger another 2 this week for his troubles.

Bolton’s Johan Elmander continued his habit of scoring away from home, grabbing his fifth goal in as many games on the road with the equaliser at the DW Stadium. Currently on a five match unbeaten run, Bolton face Liverpool next week and with the form of both teams, could feasibly be regarded as favourites for the showdown at the Reebok Stadium. Owen Coyle’s side now have four of their next six games at home and sit three points off third place.

West Ham’s four match unbeaten run came to an end at the hands of Newcastle, as the visitors came back from a goal down to win 2-1. Victor Obinna again looked a real handful, but following Carton Cole’s first goal of the season, the Hammers were no match for Chris Hughton’s side and remain rooted to the bottom of the table.

Andy Carroll put his terrible off-field week to one side as his winner for the Magpies at Upton Park took Newcastle up to ninth in the table. Carroll also played a part in the equaliser as his nod down, albiet slightly deflected, was lashed home by current landlord Kevin Nolan to equalise. Nolan was awarded two Bonus Points for his performance, though whether Carroll will be belatedly given an assist for his contribution in the goal is yet to be seen. Chris Hughton was delighted with both Carroll’s response and the team display, calling it “Probably the best performance of the season“.