Christian Benteke inspires a superb display of attacking football from Villa that blows away a bewildered Black Cats, dragging them into the relegation scrap as Stephane Sessegnon sees red. Here’s the Stock Check on Monday night’s events.
On the Up
Christian Benteke
A stunning hat-trick from the hugely impressive Belgian forever scribed his name in Villa folklore and left his faithful Fantasy owners beaming. Benteke has arguably been the signing of the season, registering 18 goals that have almost single-handedly kept Villa afloat. His consistency in a struggling side is quite extraordinary: Benteke has now struck 13 goals in his last 15 league starts, returning incredible value having started the season priced at just 6.5 in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL).
Matt Lowton
While Benteke will, quite rightly, take the plaudits, Lowton’s recent performances from right-back deserve recognition. Tonight’s assist was his third in six league matches, a spell which also brought that stunning strike in the 3-1 win at Stoke. Villa’s survival this season will assure Lowton of a place on our pre-season watchlist for next term.
Gabby Agbonlahor
Whilst, inevitably playing second fiddle to the mighty Benteke, Agbonlahor has produced some stunning recent form that have boosted Villa and directly translated into hefty Fantasy profit. Tonight’s goal and brace of assists ensured that Agbonlahor has returned attacking points in five of his last six starts, with four goals and three assists in that spell.
Going Down
Stephane Sessegnon
A straight red for violent conduct brought the Benin international’s recent run of form to an abrupt end and was perhaps the biggest blow to Sunderland on a miserable evening. The spark in Sunderland’s recent revival under Paolo Di Canio, unless there is a successful appeal, Sessegnon will miss the remainder of the season. His Fantasy owners will now be pushed to get rid to swap for double Gamweek assets, while Di Canio will have to hope that he has the attacking resources to compensate for the loss.
Simon Mignolet
Di Canio’s rearguard simply had no answer to the pace and industry of Villa’s flanking forwards, whilst they buckled under the presence of Benteke. Having kept back-to-back clean sheets, tonight’s damaging defeat is ill-timed. Sunderland could yet be lured into the relegation scrap, although with home fixtures against Stoke and Southampton to come, Mignolet and his defence have the opportunity to rediscover their resolve.
