Diego Costa nets yet again as Chelsea win at Carrow Road. Palace frontman Connor Wickham bags a second successive brace, Romelu Lukaku notches as Everton ease past Villa and Leicester’s clean sheet prospects take a dive in the absence of N’Golo Kante.
Toffees cruise to Villa Park win
Everton delivered a reminder of their offensive prowess with a 3-1 win at Aston Villa, ensuring that they now rank joint-second for goals scored (49) this campaign.
Romelu Lukaku bagged his second goal in three starts, rewarding those Fantasy managers that retained his services during Everton’s blank last Gameweek. Although the Belgian frontman is well placed to sustain his momentum when West Ham United pay a visit on Saturday, the Merseysiders’ blank in Gameweek 30 and subsequent pair of challenging match-ups (ARS, mun) serve as deterrents for non-owners.
Shifting our focus to their midfield, Aaron Lennon underlined his differential potential with yet another goal from the flank. The former Spurs man has racked up four strikes, an assist and seven bonus points in his last six appearances and could arrive on our radars when the Toffees’ upcoming doubles come into play later in the season. Meanwhile, Kevin Mirallas – who was drafted in for the Tom Cleverley because of illness – capitalised on a rare start with a brace of assists, strengthening his case for a sustained run in the side.
The Toffees were unable to register their third clean sheet in four matches, but Ramiro Funes Mori still enjoyed his best haul (11) of the season by way of a goal and assist. Priced at 5.5, he’s now started 17 of Everton’s last 18 league matches and last night’s strike took his tally to four goals in 26 outings since arriving on Merseyside.
Gestede strike not enough for Villa
Rudy Gestede netted his second goal in four cameo appearances as the Villains fell to their fourth defeat in five fixtures. The fact that Remi Garde’s men have surrendered 11 goals in their previous trio of match-ups lends credence to the tactic of targeting opposition players. On that note, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur are next on Villa’s agenda and both play in Gameweek 30, bolstering the appeal of their choice assets.
Afobe nets in crucial win for Cherries
Benik Afobe and Steve Cook were on target as Bournemouth ran out 2-0 victors at home to Southampton. Despite drawing blanks in his previous three outings, the former bagged his fourth goal in seven starts, rendering him an intriguing option in the mid-priced bracket ahead of two favourable match-ups (new, SWA).
Matt Ritchie also caught our attention with an assist double. Having produced attacking returns (one goal, three assists) in three of his previous five outings, the Scottish winger is beginning to showcase the talents that saw him tally 15 goals and 17 assists for the Cherries last term.
On the injury front, Harry Arter (Achilles) and Joshua King (ankle) were both replaced in the second half and are set to be assessed.
Injury concerns for Saints
Saints drew their second blank in five away ties, exposing their lack of threat on the road. In fact, Ronald Koeman’s troops have now racked up just three goals in seven trips away from St Mary’s Stadium, which bodes well for the clean-sheet prospects of Leicester City and Stoke City when you explore Southampton’s schedule (SUN, sto, LIV, lei).
Koeman retained a 3-5-2 set-up for the south-coast derby, yet Matt Targett (3.9) was omitted from the starting XI – diminishing his attraction as a budget defender. However, the Dutch manager switched to a four-man defence in the 34th minute – swapping out Maya Yoshida for Steven Davis – to counter the hosts’ industry down the flanks.
Compounding the misery of two successive defeats, Charlie Austin left the field at the hour mark with a hamstring injury that Koeman believes will sideline him for weeks. Shane Long was also substituted early with an impact injury but is expected to be passed fit for the weekend.
Foxes falter in Kante absence
Leicester City were held to a 2-2 draw by West Bromwich Albion, leaving the door ajar for Tottenham Hotspur to rise to the summit with a win over the Hammers.
Recalled in light of N’Golo Kante’s hamstring complaint, Andy King illustrated the depth within the Foxes’ squad by notching a goal and assist. His partner in central midfield, Danny Drinkwater, also got in on the action with his second goal of the season. Nonetheless, Kante’s absence was sorely felt at the other end of the pitch as the Foxes run of six straight home clean sheets came to an end.
Leader of our Gameweek 28 Captain Poll, Jamie Vardy failed to score for the third time in four outings yet ranks second among forwards for shots inside the box (four) this Gameweek. As for Riyad Mahrez, the Algeria international grabbed his fourth assist in six starts – incidentally, no player has contributed to more goals (25: 14 goals, 11 assists) than Mahrez this campaign.
Considering that Watford currently chart bottom for goals conceded (four) since Gameweek 22, the respective ownerships of Leicester’s much-vaunted duo may feel less inclined to bestow them captaincy duties in four days’ time.
Rondon form continues
Despite claiming just 35% possession at the King Power Stadium, the Baggies’ diligence at the back stretched out their unbeaten streak to three matches.
Craig Gardner netted his second goal in as many starts, while Salomon Rondon found the target (Darren Fletcher assist) for the third time in five outings. Although the Venezuelan frontman is worth keeping tabs on because of his upsurge in form, West Brom next lock horns with two teams (MUN, ars) that are tied for second with regards to goals conceded (26), suggesting that few will be swayed by his 6.1 price tag.
Having received his tenth caution of the season, Claudio Yacob incurred a two-match ban and, at present, will sit out the above-mentioned encounters. If Arsenal win their upcoming FA Cup replay with Hull, though, their Gameweek 30 clash with the Baggies would be cancelled, meaning that Yacob would miss the Gameweek 31 home encounter against Norwich instead.
Costa nets again
Courtesy of a 2-1 win over Norwich City, Chelsea are now in the midst of a 12-match unbeaten domestic streak. That being said, their road clash against the Canaries was far from a one-sided affair, with the hosts recording three more attempts (13 compared to 10) and as few shots on target (two).
Perpetuating his fine streak under Gus Hiddink, Diego Costa netted his fifth goal in seven starts – much to the delight of the Spain international’s 38,000 new owners. The Blues’ blank in Gameweek 30 restricts his immediate allure, but their run from Gameweek 31 (WHU, avl, swa) could promote a wave of Costa backers. In saying that, Hiddink’s suggestion earlier in the week that he could rest Costa for one of his side’s next two league matches is still a concern, with the Blues set to host Stoke this weekend.
A poor performance from Baba Rahman last weekend paved the way for Kenedy to slot it at left-back. The Brazil U20 international scored the opening goal inside the first minute but was later withdrawn with what Hiddink hopes is a small groin injury.
Rounding of Chelsea’s key performers, Eden Hazard and Bertrand Traore were attributed with the assists. Elucidating his fall from grace this term, Hazard’s assist was his first source of Premier League attacking returns since Gameweek 8.
Redmond strikes for beaten Canaries
Nathan Redmond spearheaded Norwich’s attempted second-half comeback with his first goal since Gameweek 9. The 5.0-priced midfielder was teed up by Wes Hoolahan, who carded his eighth assist of the campaign. Given that the latter has amassed four goals and eight assists, he represents fantastic value at the 4.7 mark. Nonetheless, his inability to string together a prolonged run of starts – due to injury or rotation – ensures he’s a risky acquisition.
Alexander Tettey was escorted to hospital to undergo an X-ray on a leg injury he sustained in the first period. Questioned on the extent of the Norwegian midfielder’s issue, Alex Neil revealed that it’s likely to be a minor knock.
Borini salvages a late point for Sunderland
A 2-2 home draw against Crystal Palace proved enough for Sunderland to edge out of the relegation zone on goal difference. The Black Cats now gear up for a challenging trip to Southampton, before taking a pew in Gameweek 30.
Dame N’Doye and Fabio Borini etched their names onto the scoresheet, while DeAndre Yedlin and Jermain Defoe scooped the assists. Priced at 5.1, Defoe has now started each of the last ten Gameweeks and racked up six goals and an assist over that period. Looking beyond the Wearsiders’ blank, a promising quartet of fixtures (new, WBA, LEI, nor) could beckon in another purple patch for the ex-Tottenham stalwart.
Examining Sunderland’s new arrivals in the treatment room, John O’Shea (calf), Jan Kirchhoff (fatigue) and Lee Cattermole (concussion) are all doubts for the Saints tie.
Wickham at the double again
Connor Wickham announced himself as the league’s form striker with his second successive brace, but his exploits couldn’t secure the Eagles’ first win in 11 outings. Regardless of the 5.5-priced marksman’s rise to prominence, he’s unlikely to attract investment when Palace face home ties against Liverpool and Leicester either side of a blank.
Elsewhere in the Londoners’ camp, Yannick Bolasie and Scott Dann earned assists. In terms of the former’s Fantasy potential, it remains to be seen whether he’ll factor into our thinking during the closing stages of the season, given that three of his four goals came while operating in a lone-striker berth that’s now occupied by Wickham.
