Christian Benteke bags a hat-trick as Villa hit Sunderland for six to bolster their chances of beating the drop. Gabby Agbonlahor has a hand in three of the hosts’ goals, while Stephane Sessegnon sees red and is now suspended for the Wearsiders final three matches of the season:
Benteke Batters the Black Cats
Fantasy faith in Villa’s brilliant Belgian was high heading into last night’s encounter. With owners of suspended pair Luis Suarez and Olivier Giroud looking for a new forward for their three man frontlines, over 54,000 turned to Benteke despite back-to-back blanks against Fulham and United. Their decision was rewarded in spectacular style as he rattled in a hat-trick to move to 18 goals for the season – only Robin Van Persie, Suarez and Gareth Bale have found the net more often. While the likes of Michu was quick out the blocks this season, Benteke took his time to adjust to his new environment and scored just five times in his first 17 appearances but since the turn of the year, he has now scored 13 goals in just 15 fixtures. In 2013 alone, then, that’s 6.4 points per game – he now has trips to Norwich and Wigan and a home clash with Chelsea on his agenda and providing Villa secure their survival, he looks set to play a significant part in our Fantasy plans for next season.
Post-match, he was understandably the subject of his manager’s praise:
“He got man of the match and scored a hat-trick. The big guy has been absolutely brilliant for us right from the off. The fans love him. To be fair, I can’t speak highly enough of him. As long as he keeps his feet on the ground and keeps hungry, he can have a big career. People tend to forget he’s only 22-years-old. I just saw his goal from the corner. He actually jumped the height of the crossbar. He has been excellent. I thought we needed a striker like that – a big lad. Everyone can see his technique for a big lad is fabulous. The good thing is he’s played a lot of games for Genk, he’s Belgium’s main target player, he is playing fantastic for us. For someone of 22 with the amount of games under his belt and high-pressure games, he’s got a big, big career in front of him.”
Villa’s Flourishing Frontline
Once again, Gabby Agbonlahor was a key protagonist for the midlanders last night. Benteke may have rightly hogged the headlines yet Agbonlahor remains firmly under Fantasy radars in spite of a series of eye-catching recent displays. He produced a goal and pair of assists last night and has picked up attacking returns in five of his last six appearances, with four goals and three assists under his belt over that period – in spite of this, he has a mere 0.2% ownership in FPL. Andreas Weimann also found the net in the Black Cats rout and has now scored or assisted in four of his last seven –it seems that after chopping and changing formation for most of the season, Paul Lambert’s 4-3-3 shape, with Weimann and Agbonlahor on either side of Benteke and three ball-winners in the middle of the park, may well be the best approach.
Lowton’s Attacking Potential
Once again, Villa failed to keep a clean sheet last night as Lambert’s side conceded for the 19th match in succession. While defensive returns simply seem beyond the midlanders, Matt Lowton continues to impress from the back and picked up an assist last night – the third time in the past six Gameweeks he has returned attacking points. Lowton’s raiding runs from right-back have been a real feature of his side’s play over the last few matches and providing Lambert can clinch survival and inject a little more solidity into his side, Lowton could well be one to watch next season – he is almost 30 points ahead of any Villa defender in FPL thanks to his attacking endeavours.
Sessegnon on the Sidelines
Having produced back-to-back double figure hauls in his two previous appearances, the Sunderland playmaker was the subject of significant Fantasy investment ahead of last night’s match. Over 52,000 FPL managers had snapped up Sessegnon after the arrival of Paolo Di Canio had reignited his potential – goals against Newcastle and Everton highlighted his flourishing form but his new owners will now be looking elsewhere after he received a straight red for a challenge on Yacouba Sylla on 69 minutes. The Benin international will now miss the final three league matches (STO, SOU, tot) as Di Canio looks to steer his beleaguered side over the finishing line. Certainly, the two home clashes afford Sunderland a real chance of points but with Danny Graham still to find the net since arriving from Swansea, the likes of Adam Johnson will be key to the Wearsiders’ survival prospects. Post-match, Di Canio confirmed he will appeal the decision, persuading Sessegnon’s owners to hold until the FA review the case later this week.
