Southampton’s Sadio Mane proves the most explosive of differentials as Tim Sherwood’s Villa capitulate on the south coast. Sunderland’s rearguard deliver as the Foxes are tamed on Wearside, while Harry Kane’s struggles continue, despite Spurs’ victory over a seemingly doomed Hull City. Here’s the notes from Saturday’s encounters…
Mane blitzes Sorry Villains
Sadio Mane’s incredible three-minute hat-trick took his season tally to 11 as he exploded following a run of just a single goal in his last eight.
The Senegalese went into the meeting with Villa owned by just 1.5% of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers – compounding the impact of his devastating 23-point haul.
Mane had displayed lively form in recent matches, although statistically, he had been in decline in terms of goal threat. Over the last eight Gameweeks prior to Saturday, he had mustered an effort on goal every 59 minutes compared to every 33 minutes prior to Gameweek 29.
Elsewhere, Shane Long was recalled to the Saints’ starting XI and notched a couple of assists and a brace that included a searing 40-yard strike, while Graziano Pelle rounded off the hosts’ scoring and complemented an earlier assist with a close-range effort nine minutes from time. Pelle has scored four goals in his last six league outings, having edged his way back to something resembling his early season form.
Southampton continue to impress at home – in light of their fourth win in five encounters at St Mary’s Stadium – yet a trip to Manchester City on the final day of the season promises to be a stern test and a deterrent to those managers eyeing up the in-form Mane. The Hampshire club are winless in their previous six road matches (five losses, one defeat), offering little encouragement that they can overcome the odds at the Etihad.
Despite the Saints’ daunting final day encounter, Mane ranks second only to Christian Benteke for FPL “transfers in” overnight.
Benteke Keeps Tally Ticking
Lost amongst Villa’s crushing defeat, Christian Benteke registered his 11th goal in 10 outings. The 7.9-priced striker has played with a renewed focus under the stewardship of Tim Sherwood, delivering attacking returns in seven of the last 10 Gameweeks. With a home tie against Burnley left on the agenda, Benteke will surely remain a permanent fixture in the squad’s of his 10% ownership and, as mentioned, has proved the most popular FPL transfer target overnight.
Elsewhere in the Villa camp, Leandro Bacuna (5.0) chalked up his third assist in five starts, underlining his potential as budget differential in the fifth midfielder slot. Bacuna now has five assists for the season raiding from right-back.
With Villa now safe from relegation and with an FA Cup final date with Arsenal looming, there’s a danger that Benteke could be one of several key assets rested by Sherwood for the final day meeting with the Clarets. It remains to be seen how Villa and their manager approaches that encounter, with the Wembley date surely now the focus.
Chadli Consigns Tigers to Final Day Crunch
Nacer Chadli netted his third goal in five starts as Tottenham ran out 2-0 victors over Hull City. The Belgian midfielder’s return to form has coincided with the leanest spell of Harry Kane’s breakthrough season, with the PFA Young Player of the Year failing to troubling the scoresheet for the fourth match in succession. Nearly 100,000 managers shipped out Kane in the past two Gameweeks, with further movement expected as the Lilywhites gear up for a tough road tie against Everton next weekend.
Kane was replaced late on as a precaution having undergone treatment following a clattering Michael Dawson challenge – it remains to be seen if he emerges as a doubt for the trip to Goodison. Regardless, Kane was the most sold FPL asset overnight.
In defence, Danny Rose’s 6% ownership profited from the left-back’s second goal in nine starts and Tottenham’s second clean sheet in 14 outings. Rose’s exploits saw him surpass the 100-point mark for the season, in spite of Spurs’ paucity of clean sheets (eight) and his limited minutes earlier in the campaign.
Following their defeat to Tottenham, Hull’s chances of avoiding relegation were dealt a hammer blow. Steve Bruce’s men now need to triumph over Manchester United in their showdown at the KC Stadium next Sunday and hope that West Ham can best Newcastle or Sunderland fail to claim another point.
Philips Inspires R’s Comeback
QPR came from a goal down against Newcastle United to record their first win in six. Matthew Phillips snapped his five-match goalless spell with the R’s opener, while Leroy Fer completed the comeback with a 25-yard scorcher. Chris Ramsey’s side now travel to Leicester in pursuit of back-to-back victories for the first time this term.
Phillips accompanied his goal with yet another assist for Fer’s strike, taking him to eight for the season. Significantly, all of those assists have come since he arrived in Ramsey’s starting XI back in Gameweek 24. No other player in the league has gathered more assists in 2015.
In the Magpies camp, Emmanuel Riviere opened the scoring with his debut goal for the Tyneside club. In light of Hull’s defeat at Spurs, John Carver’s men know a victory at home to West Ham United on the final day of the season will ensure their safety. Yet with no win in their last ten outings, that’s easier said than done. Fantasy managers shopping for motivated Magpies will struggle to find an obvious target, with Moussa Sissoko (5.8) and Ayoze Perez (4.3) perhaps the best on offer.
Black Cats Grind Their Way to Safety
The 80,000 FPL managers that drafted in either Patrick van Aanholt or Costel Pantilimon ahead of Sunderland’s double Gameweek reaped the rewards as the Black Cats played out a 0-0 stalemate with Leicester.
From an attacking perspective, Danny Graham was the only player in their three-man attack to muster a shot on target. Furthermore, Graham also tallied more penalty box touches (eight) than Connor Wickham (three), Jermain Defoe (two) and Steven Fletcher (one) combined.
Sunderland still need a point to guarantee safety and it looks a tall order to expect their back line to register three successive shut-outs: a trip to Arsenal looms next. Having said that, the Gunners have failed to net in their previous two home matches and Dick Advocat’s side are likely to turn up and provide a stubborn barrier.
The Dutchman may well be forced to changes his back four for Wednesday’s clash, however – Billy Jones is a doubt for the Emirates encounter having suffered a muscle injury late on against the Foxes.
With results elsewhere favouring the Foxes, their hard-earned point at the Stadium of Light served to complete a miraculous comeback and cement their top-flight status. Nigel Pearson’s men failed to engineer a single shot on target throughout the afternoon, yet a home tie against QPR (nine goals conceded in last three) should encourage those holding Foxes attacking assets to keep the faith. In addition, confidence in Leicester’s defence is at a season-high after they recorded their fifth clean sheet in six matches. Pearson would seem unlikely to make wholesale changes to a lineup that has successfully steered themselves to safety, against the odds.
Lukaku Leaves It Late
Romelu Lukaku assisted Leon Osman and scored an injury-time winner (his first goal from open play since Gameweek 23) as Everton recovered from back-to-back defeats to record a 2-1 victory over West Ham. The Belgian striker notched two goals in his last three – following a nine-match spell that harvested just one goal – and looks primed to trouble Tottenham’s generous defence (one clean sheet in six) in the Toffees’ final encounter.
Stewart Downing’s first goal in 15 starts couldn’t prevent West Ham from succumbing to their seventh defeat in 11 matches. Sam Allardyce’s outfit are limping toward the finishing line – having enjoyed just two wins in their last 15 fixtures – which could play into the hands of Newcastle in their crunch head-to-head.
Eagles Rain on Gerrard Parade
In a repeat scoreline of the reverse fixture, Crystal Palace ran out 3-1 victors over Liverpool at Anfield, courtesy of goals from Jason Puncheon, Wilfried Zaha and Glenn Murray. Puncheon’s second free-kick goal in as many league ties served to highlight his value as a mid-price midfield option this term, while Murray’s contribution from the bench could see him reclaim a starting berth when Palace play host to Swansea City next Sunday. Murray had been ousted to the bench in favour of Marouane Chamakh.
Liverpool enacted a couple of changes for the Eagles visit, drafting in Jordon Ibe and Alberto Moreno for Glen Johnson and Rickie Lambert. Adam Lallana capitalised on a poor pass from Martin Kelly to net his fifth goal of the season, while Raheem Sterling’s slump continued with his 10th blank in 11 starts – surely encouraging further owners to join the 240,000 managers that shipped out the winger in the past three Gameweeks.
