Clean sheets are the order of the day once again as Southampton and West Ham play out a goalless draw in Sunday’s only fixture. While the two sides continue to impress defensively, their inability to find the net is a real concern – both have notched just twice over the opening four fixtures:
The Game Changer
Jussi Jaaskelainen’s heroics between the sticks were once again crucial to the Hammers’ prospects today. Helping his side to a vital point at St Mary’s, the Finnish star denied Mauricio Pochettino’s side with five saves to register his third clean sheet in four matches – with just a single goal conceded to Stoke so far, the London outfit have been superb at the back and somewhat atoned for the problems up front which have seen them fail to score in three successive matches.
Up next for the Hammers is a home game against an Everton side that have one goal in three before a trip to Hull – more defensive points look likely before the schedule takes a turn for the worse from Gameweek 7 onwards.
The Underused
Seemingly out of favour under Pochettino, Nathaniel Clyne returned to the Southampton first XI for the first time this term. The right-back turned in an impressive showing and with a couple of bonus points also on the cards, he could return to Fantasy radars after shedding over 24,000 owners and dropping down to 4.4 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) – at least 0.2 cheaper than any other regular in the Saints’ defence.
With four kind home games (CPL, SWA, FUL, HUL) and a trip to Stoke in the next seven, Clyne looks set for further returns as Pochettino’s look to continue a run that has now seen them concede just twice in the opening four Gameweeks.
The Selection Poser
Clyne’s return was one of three changes from Pochettino today as Luke Shaw and Jay Rodriguez were also named in the starting line-up. While Shaw’s return was expected after he proved his fitness for the England Under 21s over the last week, his owners will be concerned after he was subbed off towards the end of the match – the player has since taken to twitter to reveal his withdrawal was due to cramp but his propensity for picking up niggles and failing to last 90 minutes is clearly becoming an issue.
Pochettino’s decision to hand Rodriguez a chance proved frustrating for James Ward-Prowse’s new owners. The youngster had started all of the first three Gameweeks and with a share of set-piece duties and kindly price tag, he was acquired by an extra 57,000 new FPL owners over the two-week international break. Handed an 19-minute second-half cameo towards the end of the stalemate, Ward-Prowse could be set for an exodus if Rodriguez keeps his place.
For the visitors, the second-half introduction of Razvan Rat could be a sign that Sam Allardyce is set to alter his full-back options. The summer signing hadn’t featured in the league prior to today but was sent on just after the hour mark in a move that allowed the versatile Joey O’Brien to switch from left-back to the opposite flank and saw Guy Demel withdrawn instead – perhaps an ominous sign for the Ivorian’s owners over the weeks to come.
