Papiss Cisse steals the show with a pair of outrageous finishes at the Bridge. Alan Pardew opts for a 4-4-2 as Newcastle pick up yet another clean sheet, while Chelsea taste defeat at home for the first time under Roberto Di Matteo. Emmanuel Adebayor bags a brace at Bolton, with Rafael Van der Vaart and Gareth Bale both getting amongst the points, as Spurs deliver a huge blow to the Trotters’ survival hopes:
Papiss Cisse
Having twice hit the woodwork at Wigan last weekend, the Newcastle forward returned to goalscoring ways in sensational style at the Bridge last night. Partnered by Demba Ba up top in a switch to 4-4-2, Cisse grabbed two goals of the highest quality as Alan Pardew’s side picked up their seventh win in the last eight to boost their chances of a fourth place finish. Cisse has now scored 13 times in just 12 appearances since moving to Tyneside in January and, with a pair of assists and 20 bonus points also thrown in for good measure, has averaged a sensational 8.4 points per game thus far, way ahead of second placed Robin Van Persie’s 7.0. The transfers in will continue to roll, although Cisse’s final two games are far from straightforward – City arrive on Sunday having returned three clean sheets in four, while a Gameweek 38 trip to Goodison could prove tricky; Everton have picked up seven clean sheets in their last eight at home.
Newcastle Defence
With Danny Simpson missing out for the first time this season, James Perch slotted into the right-back role last night. Bearing in mind that Chelsea had hit six past QPR on Sunday and Newcastle had been thrashed 4-0 at Wigan, an away clean sheet was perhaps unexpected, but the Magpies once again excelled at the back, returning their sixth clean sheet in the last eight Gameweeks. Pardew’s side now welcome Man City to the Sports Direct Arena on Sunday and, given the Magpies’ form at both ends of the pitch, Roberto Mancini’s men will need to deliver a big performance if they are to remain on course for the title.
Rafael Van der Vaart
The Dutchman picked up where he left off against Blackburn on Sunday as Spurs swept aside Bolton at the Reebok. Van der Vaart had grabbed a goal and a couple of bonus points at the Lane in the first match of his double Gameweek and followed that up with a goal, an assist and X bonus points last night. After a barren winter period, he’s been a crucial part on Spurs’ push for fourth with three goals in his last seven starts– with a trip to Villa up next before a home game against Fulham to see out the season, Van der Vaart looks in the mood to rack up more points before the campaign comes to a close.
Gareth Bale
While his goalless streak may have extended to 12 games last night, Bale picked up a couple of assists against the Trotters. With an assist also provided against Blackburn, the Welshman returned a respectable 14 point score for his Fantasy owners over the double Gameweek. Bale has now closed the gap on Clint Dempsey at the top of the midfield rankings; he’s now just 11 points behind the Fulham man and, with those above-mentioned fixtures to follow, is afforded a chance to perhaps overtake Dempsey as the pair go head to head at the Lane in Gameweek 38.
Emmanuel Adebayor
There’s no doubt the on-loan forward can be a frustrating Fantasy option. Adebayor arrived at the Reebok having scored in just one of the previous nine Gameweeks but found his scoring touch to grab a couple of goals against Owen Coyle’s strugglers. The fourth top scoring forward to date this term, he’s still owned by less than 10% of Fantasy managers despite the fact that Adebayor, with 15 goals and 12 assists, has had a hand in more goals for Harry Redknapp’s side than any other player.
