Arouna Kone and Shaun Maloney play pivotal roles in Wigan’s win at West Brom. Gareth Bale’s late winner clinches a crucial victory over former club Southampton, Gabby Agbonlahor’s form earns the points for Villa at Norwich, Theo Walcott helps Arsenal get the better of QPR, while Michu’s season looks to be over following a hamstring injury.
Wigan’s Front Three All Deliver
Wigan’s chances of survival are very much in their own hands after a superb second-half comeback at the Hawthorns. Arouna Kone vindicated the show of faith that earned him over 56,000 new FPL owners prior to yesterday’s deadline by notching for the first time in five appearances, while Shaun Maloney – also subject to significant investment – supplied a pair of assists for the Latics. Callum McManaman grabbed the winner with 10 minutes left on the clock and has now scored in each of his last two appearances and with Roberto Martinez’s front three all flourishing, Fantasy faith will be high ahead of Tuesday evening’s home showdown with Swansea. Wigan are now just three points behind Norwich and Newcastle but a win of any kind would be enough to take them above both sides on goal difference – given they have dropped just two points in their last three at the DW, Martinez’s men will be in buoyant mood heading into the midweek clash.
More Injury Worries for Martinez
Last week it was Maynor Figueroa – the weekend before that, Antolin Alcaraz. Yesterday, it was the turn of Jean Beausejour to succumb to injury, as the Chilean was stretchered off with a hamstring problem against the Baggies. Martinez all but ruled him out of both Tuesday’s game with Swansea and next weekend’s FA Cup final. While Alcaraz could potentially return in midweek, with Figueroa out for the season, Beausejour’s likely absence will place major question marks over Wigan’s left hand side for the Swans game. The latter was fielded at left-back yesterday but with no obvious alternative, Martinez may have to rethink his tactics as he plots to clinch a vital victory that may ultimately prove fundamental to his side’s top-flight survival.
Lukaku Kept In Check
Steve Clarke continued with his 4-3-3 formation as Markus Rosenberg was handed a chance alongside Romelu Lukaku and Shane Long, with Marc-Antoine Fortune suspended for the rest of the season. While Rosenberg and Long chipped in with an assist and goal respectively, Lukaku returned a rare blank in what was perceived as the most profitable fixture of his double Gameweek – over 164,000 FPL managers snapped him up after a 15 point return last weekend but he now faces a tricky trip to City on Tuesday evening. While his owners will be concerned after he was subbed off on 64 minutes, Lukaku continues to be handed starts by the Baggies boss – he’s now featured in the first XI in 11 of the 13 league games he’s been available for.
Post-match, Steve Clarke admitted his choice of formation was partly to blame for his side’s defeat – a sign he’s having second-thoughts over the shape of his side ahead of the midweek trip to City. With Wigan flooding the midfield (some reports suggesting Martinez operated with a shape more akin to 2-5-2-1 at times) West Brom resultantly suffered – a fact the Baggies boss manager acknowledged:
“We played an attacking line-up, I chose to go with that so I have to be the one that carries the can for this. I’m sure for people watching it was a good game to watch and Wigan are a difficult team to play. Fortunately we are in a position where we can try different things and we scored another two goals but we were a bit exposed at the back.”
Bale’s Scoring Streak Continues
He left it late but once again Gareth Bale came up trumps for his Fantasy owners as Spurs got their double Gameweek up and running with a win. Handed a central role behind a lone striker as Andre Villas-Boas shifted back to 4-2-3-1, the Welshman’s 86th minutes strike against former club Southampton was the fourth appearance in a row he has found the net and continues an incredible run of form which has seen him produce attacking points in nine of his last 10 games. Indeed, Bale has only failed to deliver below eight FPL points on one occasion from Gameweek 24 onwards – little wonder he was the runaway winner of this week’s Captain Poll.
City Stumble at the Liberty
Despite scoring more than a single goal in just one of their previous five ahead of yesterday’s trip to Swansea, Roberto Mancini’s side were still expected to pick up the points in their opening match of the double. The City boss dropped Carlos Tevez for the first time since Gameweek 27, handing Sergio Aguero the chance to lead the line but watched his side fail to take advantage of a number of opportunities to clinch the points. While Tevez is expected to return to the first XI after a brief 13 minute run out at the Liberty, many believe Mancini will heavily rotate for Tuesday’s home game with West Brom due to next weekend’s FA Cup Final. The City boss could well hand many of his main men a starting role against the Baggies as he looks to rack up the points that would ensure his side finish second this season – a fact he acknowledged post-match:
“I think we played well and we deserved to win, but we missed five incredible chances. Nasri, Silva and Dzeko all had good opportunities to score. We were motivated to win this game because we want to secure the second position. We have the final on Saturday and if we won today it would have been better for us.”
Mancini also explained his decision to sub off Yaya Toure at half-time. The Ivorian picked up a knock prior to kick-off and with the cup final only a few days away, it may well be that his manager decides to show caution and keep him on the sidelines against West Brom as he attempts to end the season with some silverware:
“Yaya had a problem in the warm-up and he was not 100 per cent. We had a big problem in the middle to stop their counter attack. We took him off because we didn’t want to take a risk for the next game.”
Michu Concern for Swansea
Subbed off after 68 minutes in yesterday’s goalless draw, Michu’s season is now be over according to some reports. After the game, Michael Laudrup conceded his top scorer has sustained a hamstring injury which is set to end his season:
“He has a hamstring problem. I am not sure if he has torn it but, even if it is less than that, I think that this will be his last game of the season.”
While that statement seems conclusive, quotes from other reports seem more vague:
“It probably will be his last game he plays this season because there’s only two weeks [left] and I don’t think he’ll recover in two weeks.”
With a trip to Wigan still to follow in the second fixture of his double, Michu’s likely absence will have a real impact on Fantasy midfields this week – given that he resides in over 46% of FPL teams, his current three point return will be hugely frustrating. On the other hand, if he is confirmed as ruled out, his absence will give Fantasy managers to throw the dice for one last time and turn to some midfield differentials over the remaining couple of Gameweeks.
Agbonlahor Key for Villains
For once, Christian Benteke took a back seat as Villa took a massive step towards safety in yesterday’s win at Carrow Road. Agbonlahor has been hugely instrumental in recent weeks and continued his significant contribution by bagging both goals as Paul Lambert got the better of his former side to move to 40 points for the season. Agbonlahor has now registered attacking returns in six of his last seven – producing six goals and three assists over that period – and with Lambert’s side finally starting to click, he looks a real differential option over the last two Gameweeks against Chelsea and Wigan, with a FPL ownership of just 0.2%. Agbonlahor broke Dwight Yorke’s Premier League goalscoring record for club with yesterday’s goals and Lambert was, understandably, full of praise for his rejuvenated striker in his post-match comments:
“Gabby has been playing ever so well. He’s an absolute threat. He has speed and power. He is playing excellently for us. He’s got the speed to hurt teams. Today I thought his goals were fantastic. As I said, he has incredible speed. He’s one of the quickest lads I have ever seen. But allied to that, he has the power. And his goals? To break the Dwight’s record is a terrific achievement. He’s playing really, really well at this moment in time.”
With Villa clawing themselves closer to safety, their promising assets look set to be available to us next season. While full-back Matt Lowton has drawn attention in recent weeks, Ashley Westwood’s contribution has also been boosted recently and he is another who perhaps warrant monitoring as part of our pre-season plans. Westwood returned both assists in yesterday’s game to ensure that he’s fetched seven assists for the season, four in his last two league outings.
Walcott Picking Up in Consistency
The winger’s early opener proved the difference as Arsenal climbed back to third with a narrow triumph at Loftus Road. Walcott’s strike against United last week was his first since Gameweek 24 but with his eye for goal restored, he troubled the R’s time and again and was somewhat unlucky not to add further goals. With Michu owners looking for a replacement due to the Spaniard’s likely absence, Walcott will surely be set for a hike in ownership this week as the Gunners prepare for a home clash with Wigan. Owned by just 10% of FPL managers, Walcott also has a final day trip to Newcastle and with points vital in their chase for a Champions League finish, game time is guaranteed. With Lukas Podolski misfiring again up top, Arsene Wenger may even be tempted to hand Walcott the lone forward role against the Latics as Giroud serves the last of a three-match suspension – given that the Gunners have scored a single goal in each of their last three, an upturn in attacking output could be a priority.
Gunners Defensive Solidity
Despite Kieran Gibbs missing out through a thigh injury, Arsenal continued their run of impressive displays at the back. Wenger’s side have now produced three clean sheets in the last four Gameweeks, with a single goal conceded during that run of fixtures – with Laurent Koscielny now seemingly established as the preferred central defensive partner to Per Mertesacker and with Bacary Sagna looking secure at right-back, Wenger’s side have now registered 13 clean sheets for the season. If they can continue this form into the following campaign, they’ll undoubtedly find their way onto many a pre-season watchlist.
Another Clean Sheet for Hammers
It was something of a surprise that West Ham failed to find the net at home to Newcastle, given they had scored in all but one of their previous Upton Park encounters. While Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan were unable to find a way past their former employers, Sam Allardyce was once again thankful for another solid defensive display as Jussi Jaaskelainen and his rearguard delivered their 11th clean sheet of the campaign. Having started the season at 4.5 in FPL, Jaaskelainen is now joint-top with Joe Hart for goalkeepers – a significant price hike can be expected next time out, with an initial cost of around the 5.5 mark perhaps on the cards.
Sissoko Concern for Magpies
Once again, Newcastle were hit by another injury ahead of the trip to West Ham. While Alan Pardew was able to hand Fabricio Coloccini and Hatem Ben Arfa their first starts since Gameweek 27 and 16 respectively, the Tyneside team had to make do without Moussa Sissoko for yesterday’s stalemate. The January signing called off with an ankle injury picked up in training, with Pardew now sweating over his fitness ahead of a crucial trip to QPR next week. The Magpies have now scored just twice in the last six Gameweeks and while Sissoko has suffered from a loss of form, he could well prove crucial in his side’s bid to beat the drop if he can recover in time for the Loftus Road visit.
Ruiz at the Double
A home game against relegated Reading looked the ideal platform for fit-again Dimitar Berbatov to return to form but it was his strike partner who grabbed the goals in yesterday’s home defeat. With nine assists to his name, Ruiz’s creativity has been his main source of points this season -prior to yesterday’s clash the Costa Rican had found the net just twice but he managed to double his tally for the campaign thanks to a brace against Brian McDermott’s side. The 5.0 priced Ruiz looks key to the Cottagers’ prospects over the final two games against Liverpool and Swansea – having picked up just a single point in their last six, Martin Jol admitted he’s now looking over his shoulder, with results in recent weeks suggesting Fulham’s survival may not quite be assured just yet:
“Maybe we reached the 40 point mark too soon. In hindsight, if we hadn’t, then maybe we would be playing with a little more determination than we are at the moment. Today’s performance was a bit embarrassing, especially in the first half. We have two tough games to come. But sides down at the bottom have to play each other, so we will see what happens.”
Robson-Kanu Bags a Brace
It was too little, too late for Reading yesterday after they swept aside Fulham at the Cottage. With relegation confirmed the previous week, Brian McDermott’s side played with a freedom that had rarely hinted at on the road – prior to yesterday’s 4-2 win they had scored 14 times in 17 matches on their travels. Hal Robson-Kanu’s double took his tally to seven for the season – only Adam Le Fondre has found the net more often for the Royals. Indeed, with a goal and assist in just 17 minutes after emerging from the bench, Le Fondre certainly staked a claim for a starting role over Reading’s final two fixtures but with a home clash against City and trip to West Ham to follow, few will be looking to acquire the Royals’ assets.
