Yaya Toure scores twice as City sweep aside West Brom at the Hawthorns. David Silva chips in with an assist, whilst Sergio Aguero steps up his match fitness with a second-half cameo off the bench.
Toure brace propels Blues to summit
Yaya Toure reaffirmed his heavy-hitting potential with a first-half brace against an overwhelmed Baggies outfit. Granted, the Ivorian’s first goal was very fortuitous – despite David Silva getting a touch, the Fantasy Premier League attributed the goal to the Ivorian and the assist to Jesus Navas. There were no such doubts over his second, though, as he curled a sublime effort into the top corner. Although Toure had to be substituted after 80 minutes with a slight groin strain, manager Manuel Pellegrini later revealed that he expects him to be fit to face Chelsea next Gameweek.
With most Fantasy managers turning their sights towards Raheem Sterling (22% ownership) or David Silva (10%) for their Sky Blues coverage, Toure (6%) proved to be a high-impact differential. Nonetheless, Silva showcased more than enough to suggest that his 10.0 price tag is worth the outlay, orchestrating the midfield with effortless poise and bagging an assist in the process. Sterling, meanwhile, fluffed a gilt-edged one-on-one chance, yet his pace in behind carries the promise of attacking returns.
Sergio Aguero was handed a 28-minute cameo as he gears up for a potential start against Chelsea on Sunday. Given the typically tight nature of that match-up (four goals in two head-to-heads last term), non-owners might be tempted hold off on recruiting the Argentinian marksman until Gameweek 3 (eve) or even Gameweek 4 (WAT), before City embark on a fantastic run of fixtures up to Gameweek nine (cry, WHY, tot, NEW, BOU).
Vincent Kompany (6.0) cemented the three points with a commanding header just before the hour mark. While City’s quartet of home ties after the Chelsea fixture look conducive to clean sheets, Aleksandar Kolarov (5.5) arguably presents a stronger case for inclusion in Gael Clichy’s absence, given that the Serbian full-back took precedence over Toure at free-kicks and ranked top for goal attempts (three) among defenders in Gameweek 1.
Baggies slump in home opener
Tony Pulis’ troops were comprehensively outclassed at the Hawthorns, falling to their second consecutive 3-0 defeat at the hands of City. Saido Berahino – who lined up alongside Rickie Lambert in a 4-4-2 set-up – had his moments and was denied a goal by virtue of the offside flag. It remains to be seen how club-record signing Salomon Rondon will slot into the forward line, particularly with question marks surrounding Berahino’s future.
James McClean was favoured in the left-wing role by Tony Pulis, meaning Chris Brunt was deployed in the left-back berth – starving us of a Baggies defensive option. With a home clash against Chelsea just around the corner, many non-owners of the Baggies backline will be persuaded to steer clear until the schedule takes a turn for the better from Gameweek 4 onwards.
