Sunderland provide Sir Alex Ferguson with a belated birthday present as the Martin O’Neill revival continues, while Everton’s defensive resilience leaves West Brom frustrated at the Hawthorns. It’s a short Scout Notes this morning:

Tony Hibbert
The right-back picked up any bonus for the second time in three games after his performance at the Hawthorns. While the goals still prove hard to come by for David Moyes’ side, Hibbert is part of a defensive unit that is growing in solidity as the gameweeks pass. Everton have now picked up three clean sheets in their last seven games, conceding just 4 goals, and priced at 4.8, Hibbert –as the cheapest Fantasy option in the Toffees back-four- is receiving plenty Fantasy investment prior to this morning’s deadline.

Simon Mignolet
Sunderland kept their first clean sheet of the Martin O’Neill era as the Belgian returned between the posts in yesterday’s surprise win over Man City. Injured since gameweek 10 with a facial injury, Mignolet performed heroics to keep the league leaders at bay and was one of four Black Cats to earn maximum bonus for his display. His presence in goal certainly seems to make a difference; Sunderland have 1 clean sheet in the eight games he missed and 4 clean sheets in the eleven he has played in. At 4.3, he’s one to consider, with Wigan, Swansea and Norwich to come in three of his next four.

Jack Colback
The youngster was fielded in defence as injuries disrupted Martin O’Neill’s plans but he stepped up to the task with relish. Colback’s midfield performance the previous week had seen him snatch the equaliser against Everton and pick up 3 bonus points and he repeated this bonus feat at the Stadium of Light yesterday with a resilient display at the back. His versatility looks a key quality as the Black Cats struggle to overcome injuries and Colback, at just 4.9, could prove to be a key player for O’Neill over the weeks ahead.

Stephane Sessegnon
An assist for Dong-Won Ji’s late, late winner continued a recent run of impressive form for Sessegnon. He has now scored or assisted in each of his last three matches- a feat he never achieved under Steve Bruce, as he flirted too often with inconsistency. He has now overtaken Seb Larsson as the club’s top-scoring Fantasy player this season and is finally showing the pre-season form that made many of us consider his talents prior to the campaign beginning. With a mere 5% ownership compared to Larsson’s 16%, he could prove a handy differential as the Black Cats continue their surge up the table since Bruce’s dismissal.

David Silva
For the first time this season, the Spaniard has seen a drop in price. Silva is down to 10.4 after City failed to score for the second game running- coming on as a second-half sub, his creativity wasn’t enough to make the difference as City suffered a shock defeat. Over the course of December, his influence has slightly waned- he scored or assisted just 2 of City’s 10 goals and though there’s no doubt his consistency will see Silva continue to gather the points, he’s being sacrificed as managers load up on Spurs and Everton midfield options ahead of the double gameweek.