Steven Fletcher scores twice as Sunderland grab a win at Palace. Vito Mannone drops to the bench as Costel Pantilimon earns his first start of the season, whilst Fraizer Campbell is in the points for the third home match in succession for Palace.
Fletcher at the Double
The Scotsman took his tally to four goals and an assist in the last four as the Wearsiders clinched a vital victory last night. Like QPR’s Charlie Austin, Fletcher is another forward whose contribution is looking crucial to his side’s survival bid – Sunderland have only scored six goals in the last six Gameweeks and the 5.3-priced frontman has now played a part in five of them. With Everton, City, Chelsea and Liverpool in the upcoming five fixtures, though, few will be willing to consider Gus Poyet’s main men right now.
Mannone Benched in Black Cats Reshuffle
Poyet finally swung the axe on his error-prone stopper last night as Costel Pantilimon took his place between the posts for Sunderland. In spite of his recent poor form, Mannone had proven a reliable source of save points for Fantasy managers, having chalked up at least one point for saves in seven of his nine appearances, but after last night’s omission, his 9.9% of Fantasy Premier League owners will be looking for an exit rout.
Absences Build for Sunderland
The Wearsiders look set to be without a couple of key first-team players for this weekend’s home clash against Everton. Patrick van Aanholt laid on his second assist of the season but was stretchered off with a possible dislocated shoulder shortly afterwards, whilst Lee Cattermole was true to form and fell off the suspension tightrope after earning his fifth caution of the campaign. Poyet is likely to turn to Liam Bridcutt (who grabbed an assist last night) to sit in front of the back-four against the Toffees, whilst elsewhere in midfield, a goal for Jordi Gomez and assist for Will Buckley could ensure they retain their weekend starting berths.
Campbell in the Points Again
The Eagles may be struggling in front of their own fans this season, with just one home win in five, but their 5.2-priced striker continues to benefit from Neil Warnock’s attacking approach. Campbell had scored against Leicester and Chelsea in the previous two at Selhurst Park and grabbed a somewhat fortuitous assist thanks to West Brown’s calamitous own goal last night. With three goals, an assist and three bonus points in his last six now, he looks the man most likely to deliver under the new manager, with last term’s top scorer Jason Puncheon once again overlooked as Wilfried Zaha continued on the right.
Defensive Frailties Continue for Warnock
The Palace boss partnered fit-again Scott Dann with Brede Hangeland in the heart of defence last night, with Damien Delaney – available after serving a one-match ban – left out of the squad altogether. The 3-1 defeat means the Eagles now have just two clean sheets in ten under their new manager and have worryingly conceded at least twice in the other eight matches – 19 goals against is just one fewer than the top-flight’s most porous defence (QPR, with 20) and underlines how quickly their defensive assets have fallen in the post-Pulis era.
