Clint Dempsey bags a brace as Fulham ease to victory at Bolton. Nikica Jelavic gets amongst the goals again for Everton with a double in the draw at Norwich. Juan Mata notches a late winner at the Bridge, Luis Suarez picks up the points at Anfield again, while West Brom return a third clean sheet in four at the Hawthorns as they see off Blackburn.
Clint Dempsey
With Pavel Pogrebnyak ruled out through injury, the American was handed the chance to lead the line for Fulham at the Cottage. Dempsey had scored just three goals on the road before yesterday but his remarkable Fantasy season continued against Owen Coyle’s in-form Trotters, with a deadly double bringing Bolton’s three-game winning streak to an emphatic end. The US international has now bagged 179 points pre-bonus, with a lead now firmly established over Gareth Bale at the top of the midfielder rankings. As mentioned in yesterday’s Knee Jerk, Dempsey’s Fantasy owners now have plenty to consider. Many had pencilled in a transfer out in light of his upcoming blank and double Gameweek 36 trips to Liverpool and Everton but, with his form going from strength to strength, shipping out Dempsey is a move many will reject for fear of more explosive points returns before the season is out.
Ryo Miyaichi
Owen Coyle had spoken of his fears of over-playing the on-loan Arsenal man in midweek and yesterday we saw an indication of his thinking. Miyaichi started the game against Fulham but, with Bolton two goals down by half-time, made way for Chris Eagles as the Trotters attempted to claw back the deficit. With set-piece duties also in the bag, many Fantasy managers have been mulling over a move for Miyaichi in light of Bolton’s two upcoming double Gameweeks but Coyle’s decision to remove him from the action after forty-five minutes may well have them thinking twice. Martin Petrov, on the other hand, was granted his third full appearance in succession – priced at 5.1 to Miyaichi’s 4.9 and with spot-kick duties in his locker, the Bulgarian may well be the least frustrating route into Bolton’s midfield over double Gameweek 35 and 36.
Branislav Ivanovic
With both John Terry and Ashley Cole missing through injury, Chelsea’s run of three consecutive clean sheets at the Bridge came to an end yesterday. Ivanovic’s eye for goal ensured he returned eight points for his Fantasy owners, though, with the right-back notching the Blues’ opener in the 2-1 win over Wigan. Having bagged a brace in last week’s triumph at Aston Villa, he’s suddenly come to the fore and has now returned 24 points in the last couple of Gameweeks – incredibly, this is more than his total from Gameweeks 15-30.
Juan Mata
The Spaniard continues to flourish under Roberto Di Matteo and is picking up in consistency as Chelsea go from strength to strength. Mata’s late winner means he has now produced attacking returns in four of his five games since the departure of Andre Villas-Boas and, with the Blues finishing the season in strong form, looks set for major investment in Gameweek 36, with home clashes against QPR and Newcastle affording plenty chance for further Fantasy points. While Di Matteo has hinted at rotation, it seems he can ill-afford to do without the services of the former Valencia man if Chelsea are to stay in the running for a fourth place finish.
Luis Suarez
A late equaliser against Villa ended Liverpool’s three-game losing streak and maintained the Uruguayan’s recent strong Fantasy form at Anfield. Suarez has now returned attacking points in each of his last three home games, with a couple of assists in the Merseyside derby with Everton and a goal against Wigan also thrown in. He has a trip to Blackburn and a blank up next but, with three matches at Anfield over Gameweeks 35-37,Suarez has the potential to pick up the points as the season comes to a close, if he continues his recent exploits.
Nikica Jelavic
A Carrow Road brace took the Croatian’s record to four goals in just five starts since joining Everton from Glasgow Rangers in January. Incredibly, Jelavic is already joint-top scorer for the Toffees and, as his manager recently admitted, has adapted into the Toffees’ first XI quicker than anticipated. With the likes of Steven Pienaar resultantly picking up a second successive assist, 6.0 priced Jelavic’s clinical finishing has clearly boosted Everton’s potency up front – they have now netted twice in each of the last three Gameweeks, their most consistent goal run so far this season.
Wes Hoolahan
Paul Lambert rolled out a 4-4-1-1 for the visit of Everton, with Hoolahan afforded the role in the hole behind lone forward Grant Holt. The Canaries playmaker created plenty of chances for his side and maintained his recent rise in attacking returns with yet another assist. Hoolahan has now started four of the last five for Norwich and scored or assisted in each of those first-team appearances and, with Anthony Pilkington still sidelined with an ankle problem, he has proven to be the main source of points from Lambert’s midfield. With Spurs and City up next, though, Hoolahan’s short-term prospects don’t look too prosperous.
Grant Holt
Back from a one-game suspension, Holt wasted little time in returning to his goalscoring ways by bagging his thirteenth of the season. His tally is the equal of the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor and Edin Dzeko and with a price of 5.2, leaves Holt as the top forward in terms of “value” so far. His away form has been poor – just two goals in his last seven on the road – but yesterday’s goal means Holt has now netted in three of the last four in front of his own fans, with United the only side to win at Carrow Road over than run of games.
Liam Ridgewell & Gareth McAuley
The former Birmingham man helped himself to a 12 point return yesterday, with a goal and clean sheet return at the Hawthorns. A 3-0 victory over Blackburn maintained West Brom’s strong home form since Ridgewell’s arrival from St Andrews in January; the 4.5 priced left-back has averaged 7.25 points per game over his four home appearances in a run that has seen him pick up three clean sheets, a goal, an assist and a couple of bonus points.
McAuley continued to underline his cut-price potential, with an assist and clean sheet helping him to nine point haul. Priced at 4.2, he has proven even better value than Ridgewell over the last four home matches, averaging 7.75 per game in comparison. With home games against QPR and Villa up next, both players are looking strong options amongst Roy Hodgson’s backline right now.
Chris Brunt
The Irishman rewarded his Fantasy owners with an assist in the win over Rovers – his second in four starts since returning from an ankle injury. With James Morrison possibly out for the season, Brunt’s creativity is crucial for the Baggies and with Hodgson’s side offering a route into the Gameweek 34 (QPR) and Gameweek 36 (AVL) conundrum, Brunt’s 3% ownership makes him a decent differential, given his proven Fantasy pedigree.
Stoke Defence
In what has been a thoroughly disappointing Fantasy campaign, Robert Huth served a reminder of his potential with an all-important equaliser in the 2-1 win over Wolves. Ryan Shawcross’ assist – his second in the last four – also boosted his tally but, having conceded in each of their last five, Tony Pulis’ side are struggling for clean sheets right now. While they are one of only two teams to have a couple of home matches in double Gameweek 36, Pulis’ side face Arsenal and Everton, suggesting returns could well be minimal if their poor form at the back continues.
Peter Crouch
While Jonathan Walters’ Fantasy returns have long since dried up, the former Tottenham man was amongst the goals once again yesterday. Crouch’s winner against Wolves means he has now scored in three of his last four home games, including that goal of the season contender against City in Gameweek 30. With a trip to QPR and home clash against Bolton to follow Stoke’s double Gameweek, the 6.3 priced forward could perhaps be the best positioned Potter to prosper from the end of season schedule.
Michael Kightly
The winger’s opener at the Britannia was his second goal in successive Gameweeks for the basement-dwellers. Kightly’s overall returns have been decent since returning from a loan spell at Watford- he has been afforded the full 90 minutes on just four occasions and scored in three of them. Although Terry Connor’s side look doomed, they are still managing to grab goals, though with (ARS, sun, MCI) next, Kightly’s brief flourish may be coming to an end.
