United extend the gap over City to 15 points but Reading limit the league leaders to a solitary Wayne Rooney strike at Old Trafford. Rotation at the back and another blank from Robin Van Persie leaves most Fantasy managers frustrated, though:
On the Up
Wayne Rooney
An avalanche of goals was expected this evening but it was down to the former Everton man to prove the difference. Rooney took his tally to five in the last six and with a couple of assists also thrown in over that period, he’s proving key to Sir Alex Ferguson’s side at a time where many other attacking options are failing to flourish.
David De Gea
While Sir Alex Ferguson made changes aplenty in the back-four, the Spaniard was handed a fourteenth successive start as United made it five clean sheets on the spin. Drafted in by almost 30,000 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers last week, De Gea’s consistency of game time looks set to keep the bandwagon rolling over the international break.
Going Down
Robin Van Persie
Saturday’s results were bad enough from a Fantasy perspective before this evening’s match at Old Trafford. Van Persie was heavily backed to deliver but his poor form continued with another blank stretching his run to a single goal in six – runaway leader in this week’s Captain Poll and most captained in the FPL game, his failure could prove significant in many a mini league if the likes of Gareth Bale or Juan Mata can produce tomorrow.
Ian Harte
The left-back dropped to the bench for this evening’s visit to Old Trafford, ending a run of 12 consecutive starts for the Royals. While it’s likely that Reading will have a new manager in place by the time they travel to Arsenal in a fortnight’s time, his omission will be a concern, with Nicky Shorey looking back in the mix again.
Adam Le Fondre
Again, it’s perhaps misleading to look too much into Reading’s line-up, with Eamonn Dolan surely set to step aside for a full-time boss before the end of the international break. Despite scoring twice the number of goals than any Royals team mate this season, Le Fondre was afforded just 20 minutes off the bench at Old Trafford as Noel Hunt led the line. With Pavel Pogrebnyak now set to return from a three-game suspension, his chances of securing a regular role look further diminished.
United Back-Four Rotation
Ferguson’s decision to freshen up his back-four proved hugely frustrating to Fantasy managers. Only one player – Nemanja Vidic – kept his place from the side that line up against Norwich in the previous Gameweek; all the more annoying given the Red Devils delivered yet another clean sheet. It remains to be seen just how much more tinkering is on the cards but when the likes of Patrice Evra is rested to the bench for just the second time this term, it’s clear Ferguson has no qualms in utilising his squad options at the back.
The Bap Chap Bonus Predictions
Re-produced with kind permission from the man himself…
Villa 3 QPR 2 – Weimann 3, Agbonlahor 2, Jenas 1 (in the mix Benteke, Lowton)
Southampton 3 Liverpool 1 – Lambert 3, Rodriguez 2, Schneiderlin 1
Stoke 0 West Brom 0 – Odemwingie 3, N’Zonzi 2, Ridgewell 1 (in the mix Shawcross)
Swansea 0 Arsenal 2 – Monreal 3, Gervinho 2, Jenkinson 1 (in the mix Cazorla)
Everton 2 Man City 0 – Osman 3, Fellaini 2, Mucha 1 (in the mix Baines, Coleman)
Man United 1 Reading 0 – Rooney 3, Ferdinand 2, Giggs 1 (in the mix Smalling)
