Roy Hodgson takes the positives from a last-gasp draw in West Bromβs crucial bottom-of-the-table showdown with Wolves. The Tevez-Dzeko partnership shows signs of success at The Guvnorβs expense, Klasnic comes to Boltonβs rescue to dump Sparky out the cup and Orient provide the fairytale element to earn an Emirates replay. Here’s the notes from Sunday’s league and cup action…
For the first Black Country derby in nigh on two years, Roy Hodgson made just one alteration from the side that threw away a three goal lead against West Ham last week; Gabriel Tamas replaced Youssouf Mulumbu, who missed out due to a hamstring injury. That change pushed Paul Scharner back into a midfield role. Hodgson had on-loan Arsenal man Carlos Vela to thank for an injury-time equaliser, with the Mexican coming off the bench to score the goal that ensured the visitors stay rooted to the bottom of the table. Up until then the Baggies had again been wasteful in front of goal, with Peter Odemwingie and Marc-Antoine Fortune particularly culpable.
With just two points from two home matches against two of their main relegation rivals this gameweek, new boss Hodgson has failed to boost the clubβs survival chances, and Fantasy Managers who invested in the likes of Chris Brunt and Peter Odemwingie will feel let down by their returns. Both had opportunities to register points; Bruntβs set-pieces in particular were a threat all afternoon but came to nothing. The Baggies have a testing run of fixtures on the horizon and thereβs no doubt those who drafted in their players in light of this double gameweek will now be looking to get rid, fairly sharpish.
Mick McCarthyβs side stopped a run of four straight away defeats with the Hawthorns draw, though in fairness Wolves owed a debt to keeper Wayne Hennessey, who defied their hosts time and again, ending the match with eleven saves but, surprisingly, no FPL Bonus Points. On-loan Spurs midfielder Jamie OβHara gave Wolves the lead and bagged the maximum 3 Bonus Points instead, for his performance, with Matt Jarvis awarded 2.
Subject of Big Duncβs recent Spot the Differential article, OβHara was something of a Bonus Point darling last season during his time at Portsmouth -he picked up 25 Bonus Points- and with Blackpool up next at Molinuex, could easily get amongst the points again, as Wolves look to pick up from their last home game, the 2-1 win over Man United.
Roberto Mancini fielded a strong Man City XI for the Fourth Round FA Cup replay with Notts County, handing starts to the likes of Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli, with the young Italian returning from injury. Aleksandar Kolarov again started left of a front three, suggesting Mancini will continue to field him there as opposed to left-back.
Following a lethargic opening, it was Patrick Viera who steadied the City ship with a double to set them on their way to the next round. Carlos Tevez came on for Balotelli just before the hour mark and his partnership with Dzeko came good, much to the visitorβs chagrin. First, Tevez ran on to a Dzeko through ball to squeeze home the third, then the Argentine returned the favour, floating over a cross for Dzeko to nod home at close range. Micah Richardsβ fifth was unfair on Paul Inceβs visitors, who troubled Joe Hart on a number of occasions at the other end.
Fulham failed to take their home league form into the tie with Bolton and were made to pay. Mark Hughesβ side have chalked up four league clean sheets on the trot at Craven Cottage but, with key midfielder Simon Davies missing, could not find a way past Owen Coyleβs side. Good news for the club is the return to first-team action of Bobby Zamora, who appeared midway through the second half as a substitute, in his first appearance since gameweek 4.
Owen Coyle benched the misfiring Johan Elmander, allowing Ivan Klasnic to join Kevin Davies up front for the Trotters. With Daniel Sturridge cup-tied, Klasnic provided the decisive goal, his second winner in the last week. Stuart Holden came back into midfield and at the back, Marcos Alonso stepped in for the injured Sam Ricketts and proved an able deputy, helping Bolton to chalk up a rare away clean sheet.
Alex Song was the only survivor from Arsenalβs midweek triumph over Barcelona as the Gunners travelled to Orient yesterday evening. Tomas Rosicky gave Arsene Wengerβs side the lead in a match they completely dominated from start to finish but misses from Andrei Arshavin and Marouanne Chamakh proved costly in the end, as the home side equalised at the death to earn the right of a replay. The Emirates re-match will take place on Wednesday March 2, extinguishing any hope that the league fixture with Spurs would drop into gameweek 28. The blank gameweek for Arsenal and Spurs is confirmed then.

