An inspired display from Antonio Valencia helps stretch United’s lead at the top over City. Ashley Young also gets amongst the goals as the champions leave it late at Blackburn, while Wayne Rooney draws a blank for the second time in three Gameweeks.
Antonio Valencia
A goal and assist from the Ecuadorian continued an outstanding run of form that has firmly established him as United’s prime midfield Fantasy asset. Since cementing a role on the right flank back in Gameweek 14, Valencia has produced attacking returns in nine of his fourteen appearances, with five double figure points hauls indicative of his explosive performances. Having missed three games with a hamstring strain, his price dropped as low as 7.5 as recent as Gameweek 29 but Valencia has already risen 0.6 since, with his paltry 10% ownership continuing to rapidly climb. He’s now level with Gareth Bale in terms of point per game, with an average of 5.8, and with (QPR, wig, AVL, EVE) up next, the points look set to keep flowing.
Ashley Young and Wayne Rooney
With Nani still sidelined, Young looked to be the main contender for the left wing position but yesterday’s team sheet caused consternation, with Rooney moved to the flank as Young sat on the bench. Although Rooney was switched centrally later on, his Fantasy managers will be far from enamoured with last night’s turn of events ahead of United’s upcoming run. The same applies to Young; although the former Villa man sealed the victory with a late second, he was afforded just 12 minutes by Sir Alex Ferguson at Ewood Park last night and, with the likes of Danny Welbeck also filling in on the flanks in recent weeks, it appears his game time is far from guaranteed.
Jonny Evans
Still with under 12% Fantasy ownership, the centre-half continued his superb recent run of returns with a fourth consecutive clean sheet at Ewood Park. With a goal, assist and four bonus points also accrued over those matches, Evans has returned 37 points since the start of Gameweek 28; Rooney, in comparison, has picked up 26 points. Evans is now up to 5.2, and with almost 100,000 bringing him in over the last fortnight, a hike in price is again on the cards as more arrive late to the party.
Rafael
Finally free from injury, the Brazilian maintained his recent starting berth against Blackburn. Despite the likes of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling both offering alternatives for the right-back role, Rafael has now started the last three for United and seems to be cementing his place as first-choice under Ferguson. An assist for Valencia’s opener last night means he has now picked up attacking returns or bonus in each of those three appearances – with three clean sheets also thrown in, an average of 9 points per game and ownership of less than 1% could be tempting for those Fantasy managers who have yet to invest in Evans.
