Victor Anichebeโs late leveller breaks the Chelsea resilience, though Branislav Ivanovic serves up attacking returns once again for the Blues. West Ham rack up their thirteenth shut-out of the season as James Collins gets amongst the goals against Norwich, Jose Fonte is Southamptonโs match-winner at Hull, while Cardiffโs home clash with Villa ends goalless:
Anichebe Breaks the Blues Resilience
The Nigerian dropped to the bench last night as Pepe Mel opted for a front three in order to hand Thievy his first start for the Baggies. Anichebe needed little time to make an impact, though โ thrown into the fray with just 18 minutes remaining, his late equaliser denied Jose Mourinhoโs side the three points and continued the form which has now seen him score two and assist one of West Bromโs last three goals across the previous trio of league fixtures. The former Everton man certainly seems to be benefitting under Mel but his lack of consistent game time is undermining his budget potential โ Anichebe has yet to start back-to-back matches since the Spaniard took the Hawthorns helm.
Ivanovic in the Points Yet Again
A goal and maximum bonus points helped the Serbian register a third consecutive double figure haul last night as his climb up the Fantasy rankings continues at pace. Ivanovic has now delivered two goals and an assist over the last three Gameweeks and with eight bonus points also thrown in over that period, is now up to 105 points โ just 11 behind John Terry. The Chelsea skipperโs absence proved pivotal as Jose Mourinhoโs side were denied a fourth straight shutout but with a mere three goals against in 10 league matches, those who chose Ivanovic as part of their Blues backline double-up plan were still firmly rewarded last night.
Bluebirds Blank Once More
A change of formation saw Ole Gunner Solskjaer move away from his preferred 4-2-3-1 last night as Fraizer Campbell was handed a role alongside Kenwyne Jones up top. With Craig Bellamy suspended, Craig Noone recovered from a muscle problem to take up his regular role on the right flank once again but the Bluebirds were unable to find the net for the fourth time in six matches under their new manager. Indeed, they have David Marshall to thank for keeping their own sheet clean. A string of saves helped the hosts to a first shutout since Gameweek 16, whilst home games against Hull and Fulham in the next three suggest further defensive returns could be on the menu.
Vlaar the Villa Rock
Paul Lambert also move to 4-4-2 in order to hand Marc Albrighton a start, after he impressed off the bench last weekend. The midlanders also welcomed back skipper Ron Vlaar from a hamstring injury and the Dutchmanโs presence at the heart of the back-four ensured his side registered a seventh clean sheet of the season. With Vlaar in the starting line-up, Lambertโs side have shipped 25 goals in 19 appearances (1.3 per game), whilst without him they have shipped 11 in six, or 1.8 per game. With Norwich, Stoke, Fulham, Southampton and Hull still to visit Villa Park, the 4.3-priced Vlaar could be a decent cut-price option if he can steer clear of injuries.
Adrianโs Proving a Safe Pair of Hands for the Hammers
A 2-0 win over Norwich continued an incredible run of defensive form which has now brought five clean sheets in the last six Gameweeks. The Hammers have now registered an outstanding 13 shut outs in the opening 26 league fixtures, with the installation of Adrian between the posts looking a masterstroke by Sam Allardyce. Coming in at a mere 4.4, the Spaniard has also earned 11 extra save points over his eight appearances so far and has home games against Southampton and Hull allied with a trip to Stoke in the next four before the fixtures take a turn for the worse in Gameweek 31.
Collins Impressing in Both Boxes
The Welshmanโs first goal of the season bodes well for his future game time at centre-half. Fit-again Winston Reid had climbed off the bench in each of the last two and was starting to threaten Collinsโ central defensive partnership with James Tomkins, but with the latter adding goals to his resilient displays at the back, Allardyce looks highly unlikely to change a winning formula. This may leave Reid frustrated but hands Fantasy managers a bargain option in Collins, who is priced at just 4.1 in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game, ahead of the above-mentioned run of matches.
Fonte The Saints Goal Hero
The centre-half grabbed his third goal of the season as Southampton edged past Hull on the road. With Dejan Lovren still sidelined, Fonte, at 5.3 in FPL, may well be the Saintsโ more expensive defender currently available but heโs more than justified his relatively expensive price tag โย last nightโs strike was his second in the last four Gameweeks. Mauricio Pochettinoโs side have now registered three clean sheets in the last six fixtures since Artur Boruc returned from injury, compared to a single shut-out in seven with the Pole sidelined and, with a schedule that pits them against West Ham, Palace and Norwich in the next four, investment in Fonte, and cut-price budget team-mates such as Calum Chambers (3.9), looks a viable tactic.
Lallanaโs Returns Continue to Tick Over
In a night when Rickie Lambert and Jay Rodriguez drew blanks, the Saints skipper was in the points once again, providing the assist for Fonteโs winner at the KC. Lallana has now risen in price to 8.0 this week, with an ownership of 33% indicative of his seasonโs exploits โ heโs delivered points in 13 of 26 matches, which is just one fewer than Yaya Toureโs 14 and one more than Eden Hazardโs 12, highlighting his ability to produce on a level consistent with premium-priced alternatives. Itโs a goal or assist in eight of the last 10 Gameweeks now and, as his form goes from strength to strength, those upcoming fixtures offer further promise.
McShane Concern for Tigers
Handed a first-team return back in Gameweek 23 after James Chester picked up another hamstring injury, the Hull defender had looked a secure budget option at just 3.8 in FPL. McShaneโs versatility saw him shifted from centre-half to right-back to cover for the stricken Liam Rosenior, who missed out with a hamstring injury, but his night lasted just 11 minutes against the Saints. After the match, Steve Bruce confirmed the Republic of Ireland player looks to have sustained ankle ligament damage, with a potential period on the sidelines forcing Ahmed Elmohamady to shift to right-back if Rosenior is also sidelined. As the injuries mount up in defence, Bruce may revert back to 3-5-2 from his recent 4-4-2 formation in order to cope.
