Eden Hazard and Frank Lampard grab the goals as Chelsea move above Tottenham into third. Dimitar Berbatov nets for the fourth time in five appearances as Fulham upset the odds at White Hart Lane, Arouna Kone nets a last-gasp winner for Wigan over Newcastle, while Sunderland and Norwich share the spoils at the Stadium of Light.
Hazard’s Home Form
A goal and assist in the straightforward home win over West Ham continued Eden Hazard’s superb form at Stamford Bridge. While Juan Mata’s owners will be somewhat satisfied with an assist, the Spaniard has now delivered just one goal and two assists in nine home matches under Rafa Benitez – by comparison, Hazard has produced four goals and three assists at home since the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo and has registered double figures in four of his last six starts in front of his own supporters. With maximum bonus points also in the bag, the gap is down to just 11 points between the pair but with an FA Cup Sixth Round replay against United following just two days after their next league game, the prospect of rest and rotation may prevent many from investing in Chelsea’s assets right now.
Lampard’s Consistency
Subbed off in last weekend’s FA Cup clash against United, the midfielder was also rested for Thursday’s Europa League showdown with Steaua but came back into the reckoning with a bang against his former club. Lampard grabbed the opener in the 2-0 win and continued a superb run of form which has seen him start each of the last 11 Gameweeks and has produce eight goals. While Mata and Hazard occasionally drop to the bench for domestic games, Benitez’s selection policy seems to suggest that he is keen to have the veteran fully fit for league matches – Lampard may well be the most secure route into the Chelsea midfield, though with Benitez, it’s always a gamble. The case of Branislav Ivanovic sums this up. Omitted from the previous two in all competitions, many had expected the Serbian to return to the starting XI yesterday but he warmed the bench again; Cesar Azpilicueta was preferred at right-back, with Gary Cahill partnering David Luiz in central defence. Having started all but one of the 16 league games since Benitez’s arrival, major question marks now hang over Ivanovic’s role within the Chelsea first-team.
Post-match, Benitez revelaed he was optimistic on his central defenders after both picked up problems during the game. Cahill sustained a knock while Luiz limped off to be replaced by John Terry with 12 minutes left on the clock:
“Cahill I think is okay. I think everybody will be available, but I’m not sure. I spoke to David but the doctor has not seen him yet.”
Berbatov in the Goals Again
While most of the mid-price focus has been on the likes of Christian Benteke and Romelu Lukaku in recent weeks, Fulham’s man forward continues to rack up the goals and is proving crucial over the run in. Berbatov’s match-winner at the Lane means he has now scored in each of the previous three matches for Martin Jol’s side – indeed, he has now netted in four of his last five appearances and is almost single-handedly clinching his side’s top-flight survival. With QPR and Villa in the next three and a double Gameweek still to be factored in somewhere along the line, a Berbatov bandwagon could be on the horizon once again.
Riether’s Attacking Potential
The unexpected 1-0 win over Tottenham scuppered many a Fantasy plan, with Gareth Bale failing to provide attacking points for the first time since Gameweek 23. Fulham’s defensive form has been impressive, though – this was their third clean sheet in the last four and once again, Sascha Riether was a pivotal figure for the Cottagers. The right-back supplied the assist for Berbatov’s clincher and has now produced attacking returns in each of the last three, with an assist against Stoke followed by a goal at Sunderland last time out. Coming in at just 5.0 in FPL, he continues to climb the standings and looks the one Fulham defender capable of producing, with both John Arne-Riise and Brede Hangeland proving hugely disappointing this term.
Dempsey out of Favour
Despite recovering from a calf injury, Clint Dempsey warmed the bench for the first-half of Tottenham’s clash with his former club. With Aaron Lennon sidelined due to a hamstring problem, Gylfi Sigurdsson was shifted to the right but Andre Villas-Boas preferred Benoit Assou-Ekotto ahead of the US international on the opposite flank. Indeed, Dempsey’s introduction after the break was only down to a muscle problem for Michael Dawson, indicating he may find himself on the periphery of the Tottenham first-team from here on in. Both Dawson and Lennon have since been withdrawn from England’s squad for the upcoming internationals.
Defensive Worries Pile Up for Pardew
With Tim Krul and Fabricio Coloccini still unavailable, Newcastle were dealt further blows yesterday after both Mathieu Debuchy and Massadio Haidara were forced off with injuries in the first 45 at the DW. Debuchy – who was ineligible for the midweek Europa League win over Anzhi – limped off on 13 minutes after sustaining a hamstring injury, while Haidara’s introduction as his replacement saw Davide Santon move to right-back. The substitute lasted just 12 minutes before being stretchered off following a dreadful challenge by the Latics Callum McManaman; post-match, the Magpies revealed he has suffered knee and thigh injuries. His withdrawal saw Santon move back to the left, with James Perch coming on, and the Italian picked up attacking returns for the third time in six matches by grabbing Newcastle’s consolation.
Kone Key for Latics
Last week’s Watchlist candidate vindicated our show of faith by grabbing a last-minute winner as Roberto Martinez’s side earned a second win in the last three. Kone has now scored five times in his last six starts, with an assist also thrown in, yet despite his flourishing form, the Ivorian remains in just over 1% of FPL teams right now. With upcoming games against Norwich and QPR on his agenda and with a double Gameweek 36 further along the line, Kone will surely be targeted by more Fantasy managers as the Latics’ annual escape bid gets underway. While Kone hogged the headlines, Jean Beausejour notched the opener to suggest he could offer an alternative to those eyeing up Shaun Maloney in the Latics midfield. The Chilean has now scored or assisted in three of the last five and is now level with Maloney in the FPL standings – at 5.3, he is priced just 0.4 more than the Scot.
Gardner’s Spot-Kick Appeal
While the likes of Steven Fletcher, Danny Graham and Stephane Sessegnon all failed to produce in yesterday’s crucial home clash, Sunderland’s propensity for picking up penalties once again came to the rescue of Craig Gardner. Classified as a midfielder yet fielded at right-back for the vast majority of the season by Martin O’Neill, Gardner continues to rack up the points in spite of his role in the back-four – his spot-kick equaliser was the fourth time he has converted a penalty in the last eight Gameweeks. Given that Sunderland have scored nine times over those matches, with Fletcher and Sessegnon notching three and two goals, Gardner’s contribution has been crucial. Coming in at 5.0 in FPL, he looks a decent shout for those on the lookout for a cut-price fifth midfielder but the Black Cats’ upcoming schedule is likely to see Fantasy managers look elsewhere, with O’Neill’s men now facing United, Chelsea, Newcastle and Everton in the next four.
Bunn Ban Concern
Sent off for handling outside the box at the Stadium of Light, Mark Bunn now faces a one-match suspension and will miss the Canaries’ trip to Wigan in a fortnight’s time. More worryingly for his 6% FPL owners, his ban arrives on the back of Chris Hughton’s admission that John Ruddy could be back by the end of the month. Such a scenario would allow Ruddy to slot seamlessly back into the Norwich first XI, taking his place between the sticks for the first time since Gameweek 13 – even if Ruddy fails to make it in time for that one, though, Bunn’s security of starts may well be coming to a close. It adds to the uncertainty surrounding a number of keepers right now, with injuries and/or poor form affecting the number one spots at Arsenal, Everton, Liverpool, Newcastle, Wigan, Reading and QPR in recent weeks, shopping for a new stopper – however unglamorous – may be a priority for many.
