While Jacko’s shrine was unveiled at the Cottage, the Fulham faithful fell at the feet of Bobby Zamora as he returned from a leg break to fire the home side to a convincing win over Blackpool. Up at Eastlands meanwhile, City broke off the shackles and put a statuesque Sunderland to the sword. Here’s the notes on Sunday’s action…
Brought back into the Fulham lineup by Mark Hughes with devastating effect. A strong finish following a 40-yard run and a glancing header from a Damien Duff delivery were enough to remind us all of the qualities of the former Spurs striker. Having brought him to the attention in Saturday morning’s “Differentials”, Fantasy Managers will surely be marking Zamora for consideration for the season run-in. Sadly, fixtures do not fall kindly for Zamora or Fulham in the short-term. It’s a trip to Old Trafford next, followed by a gameweek 33 blank. Things do improve from then on however, (wol/BOL sun LIV bir) with gameweek 34’s double fixture surely a milestone with Zamora hunters will look to.
Mark Hughes has transformed Fulham into a resolute outfit. Although Sunday’s result was their first clean sheet in four, Fulham have now kept five clean sheets in their last seven league games at the Cottage. The fixture list won’t translate that form into Fantasy investment but, again, gameweek 34 will surely see renewed interest in Brede Hangeland and his back four colleagues.
Charlie Adam
Ian Holloway’s side failed to score for only the seventh time this season. Worryingly however, that’s two of the last three away games that Charlie Adam and company have drawn a blank. Fortunately for Blackpool, they now face an incredible run of four consecutive home matches from gameweek 32 onwards. That run will surely see huge investment in Charlie Adam, despite returning just a point from Sunday’s game. Incredibly, that was the first time that Adam has returned a total blank since gameweek 14. He has fetched either a goal, assist or Bonus in his last 13 league starts.
Roberto Mancini opted for a fluid 4-4-2, pairing Mario Balotelli with Carlos Tevez in attack and starting with Adam Johnson and David Silva. Johnson, another player tipped in this week’s “Differentials” duly justified his recall to the starting lineup with the opening goal. That signalled the rout as City simply swept Sunderland aside. City had scored just three goals in their previous four league matches prior to Sunday; Mancini hinted post-match that his side may well now go on the attack as they look to compete for a top four finish.
The Argentine Fantasy favourite returned to scoring ways, albeit unconvincingly, with his first-half penalty after he was brought down by Phil Bardsley. That may restore some faith in Tevez, although almost 150,000 Fantasy Premier League managers had sold him on prior to gameweek 31. With a trip to Anfield followed by a gameweek 33 blank to come, that trend looks likely to continue. A double fixture for City and Tevez is on the horizon, but not until gameweek 36 (eve/TOT).
The Serb remains hopelessly fragile in defensive terms but if Mancini is intent on going on the attack for the remainder of the season, Kolarov looks set to be a key figure. His frequent raids down the left were again in evidence, and also played a role at set-pieces. Kolarov was denied an assist for Patrick Vieira’s goal, somewhat harshly, thanks to the merest deflection on his cross by Joleon Lescott. Some sources, including our own OPTA data, still assigned that assist to Kolarov. It remains to be seen if the Press Association revise their assessment for the FPL – it seems unlikely.
Steve Bruce’s side are suffering having failed to score in four consecutive league games. At the back meanwhile, confidence will have taken a nosedive having kept a superb clean sheet at the Emirates on their previous away trip. The current form will prove a frustration for Fantasy Managers. In terms of fixtures, Sunderland look ripe for investment. Their run of three home matches in the next four looks tempting and should offer them the platform for recovery (WBA bir WIG FUL). Interest in the likes of Danny Welbeck, Asamoah Gyan and even defensive offerings – Simon Mignolet and Phil Bardsley, will pick up as a result of that run. Yesterday’s showing will surely cause concern however, stalling investment for gameweek 32.
