Adrian slots home a spot-kick as the Hammers knock Everton out of the FA Cup. Kevin Mirallas turns on the style with a goal and assist as the Upton Park clash ends in a penalty shoot-out. Elsewhere, Gylfi Sigurdsson is playing through the pain barrier for Swansea, Southampton’s Toby Alderweireld is sidelined for a month, whilst Hull’s front two are ruled up for up to six weeks as the injuries pile up for Steve Bruce.
MARVELLOUS MIRALLAS NOT ENOUGH FOR EVERTON
Roberto Martinez named an unchanged Everton line-up for his side’s FA Cup third round replay against West Ham. Despite having Aiden McGeady sent off early in the second half, the Toffees came from behind through a Kevin Mirallas free-kick, before the Belgian set up Romelu Lukaku to take the lead in extra time. A late West Ham goal forced the match to penalties, where the Merseysiders toppled out of the competition after Steven Naismith and Joel Robles were unable to find the net.
The Scout Says: The Toffees’ defensive woes continue, then, with Leighton Baines and co. having now gone 13 matches in all competitions without preventing their opponents from scoring. At the other end of the pitch, however, a couple of their star performers could be back on the up. The 7.2-priced Mirallas has failed to last more than 45 minutes in his last three league appearances, but last night’s goal and assist showing – allied with McGeady’s dismissal – should bring him back into contention for a starting spot against West Brom at the weekend. Lukaku, likewise, has struggled for league minutes and form of late, and is now without a league goal since Gameweek 14, but will be hoping to kick on after yesterday’s strike. With Crystal Palace and Leicester also in the Toffees’ next five, their attacking assets could be set to profit, with the two Belgians top of the queue for investment in midfield and up front.
HAMMERS EDGE PAST TOFFEES IN SHOOTOUT
Sam Allardyce opted to make two changes to his West Ham starting XI for yesterday’s FA Cup tie, with Matt Jarvis and Alex Song coming in for Kevin Nolan and Winston Reid. Enner Valencia opened the scoring at Upton Park, slotting home from strike partner Andy Carroll’s assist, with Carlton Cole taking the clash to penalties just two minutes after entering the fray off the subs bench. Despite Stewart Downing’s failure to convert his spot-kick, Adrian’s heroics in goal ensured that the Hammers progressed to the next round of the competition.
The Scout Says: With Diafra Sakho still ruled out due to a back injury, the Hammers’ alternative forward options proved their worth at a vital time for the east Londoners. Whilst Cole will likely have to settle for continued substitute performances, Valencia, at 6.4, could appeal to those in search of a short-term option up top, with the Ecuadorian encountering a Hull side at the weekend who have managed just one shut-out in their last six league outings. However, with the Hammers’ following fixtures taking a severe turn for the worse (liv, MNU, sou, tot), their assets’ appeal beyond the upcoming Gameweek looks poor, and having now conceded in each of their last six in all competitions, they’ll be more reliant than ever on their attackers making an impact as Big Sam attempts to keep his team in the top seven.
SAINTS CONFIRM ALDERWEIRELD ABSENCE
Southampton have confirmed that centre back Toby Alderweireld is set to miss up to four weeks with the hamstring injury suffered against Man United on Sunday.
The Scout Says: Given the Saints’ kind schedule across the next month (new, SWA, qpr, WHM), it seems that some Fantasy managers are tempted to invest in the 4.8-rated Florin Gardos as a budget route into their backline. However, there’s a real possibility that the Romanian could start just two league matches before Alderweireld makes his comeback; Maya Yoshida’s international commitments with Japan at the Asia Cup will finish by January 31 at the latest, and though he is almost certain to miss Gameweek 23 (on February 1) through jet lag, he could come back into contention for Gameweek 24, thus making Gardos a very short-term punt. Nathaniel Clyne and Ryan Bertrand remain the safer options, then, with Jose Fonte (5.6) coming in at slighter less than the two full-backs for those looking to free up cash to utilise elsewhere in their winter Wildcards.
TIGERS DEPRIVED OF FORWARD DUO
Hull have revealed that Nikica Jelavic (knee) and Abel Hernandez (groin) could both be sidelined for up to six weeks after sustaining injuries in the Tigers’ defeat to West Brom last Saturday. Steve Bruce’s side may, however, be boosted by the returns of Gaston Ramirez and Sone Aluko this weekend, who both have an ‘outside chance’ of recovering in time for Sunday’s trip to West Ham.
The Scout Says: With Jelavic and Hernandez now set for an extended absence, a number of the Tigers’ other attacking options are in the running to benefit from three great home fixtures in their next five (NEW, AVL, QPR). With Yannick Sagbo clearly out of favour after being handed just 23 minutes of league action this season, our attentions can turn to the ‘out of position’ prospects of the Hull’s midfield. The 4.6-valued Aluko, if fit, looks the most likely for a forward role, though Tom Ince – who earned minutes from the bench last time out – could be fielded furthest forward this weekend if Aluko fails to recover in time. Meanwhile, Ramirez’s possible absence against the Hammers could also see Robbie Brady back in contention for a starting berth.
SIGURDSSON STRUGGLING WITH FOOT CONCERN
Swansea boss Garry Monk has admitted that Gylfi Sigurdsson is currently playing through a pain barrier after sustaining a foot problem prior to Christmas:
“Gylfi is not playing at 100 per cent right now. He is still playing very well, but we have to be mindful because he has missed days of training through the busiest period of the season. He has not been training a lot over the last couple of weeks because of a bruised foot so we have managed that. In terms of his sharpness and fitness, he has not been at his peak but he still dug in and gave a performance against West Ham. We are now looking to get him back to 100 per cent. Hopefully he can get a full week of training and we can go from there.”
The Scout Says: With Wilfried Bony’s departure looking ever-nearer, it’s clear that Monk regards Sigurdsson as too important to rest entirely right now. The Icelandic international’s minutes are certainly being managed, however, and he has now clocked up just one 90-minute appearance in his last four in the league. Not that that has particularly dented his potential – two goals in that period is as many as he managed in the first 16 Gameweeks of the season. Nonetheless, with Chelsea, Southampton and Man United in the Swans’ next five, the schedule is anything but easy, and Sigurdsson’s 44% ownership now face a tough dilemma over whether or not to stick with the former Spurs midfielder.
