Sunday did its best to provide incident and excitement, although it was always going to be difficult to follow on from yesterday’s spoils. An unexpected Manolo Gabbiadini brace stole the show, while assists for budget midfielders provided the rest of the Fantasy fare, as defences buckled in both matches.
Gross the provider once again
Brighton has now scored six goals this season, with Pascal Gross involved in five of them.
The German claimed his third assist of the season with his interception that lead to Anthony Knockaert‘s sweetly struck opener.
Gross took an ownership 14.1% into Gameweek 8, having been signed by over 109,000 new managers, although another 68,000 saw fit to move him out. They may be regretting that decision this evening after another steady six-point return from the budget midfielder.
It was Knockaert who went into the campaign considered our most likely attacking option in the Seagulls ranks. But the Frenchman has been on the periphery until today. He fired a first goal of the season on his recall to Chris Hughton’s starting XI following his benching at Arsenal.
Both midfielders can build on Sunday’s points over a continued run of favourable fixtures over the next four Gameweeks. Hughton’s men face visits to West Ham and Swansea, while Southampton and Stoke are the next visitors to the Amex Stadium.
However, that run is more likely to promote interest in the Brighton defence and, intriguingly, we may have a new budget option available to us.
Shane Duffy was forced off with what looked like a thigh problem to be replaced by Uwe Huenemeier, who, at 3.9, may now be called into action. The German is already owned by 6.2% of managers as a bench warming budget option but could now enter more squads should Duffy face a spell on the sidelines.
Gabbiadini delivers as Forster falters
Manolo Gabbiadini scored his first goals since Gameweek 2 with a brace against Newcastle United to provide a rare double-digit return.
The Italian first pegged back the visitors with a fine solo effort before converting a spot-kick after Shane Long was felled.
Dusan Tadic was on the pitch at the time of the award, indicating that Gabbiadini has now assumed penalty duties. Tadic had previously taken and scored a spot-kick ahead of the striker against West Ham in Gameweek 2.
Gabbiadini was recalled to the Saints starting line-up today having been reduced to cameo roles since his last start in Gameweek 4. He had suffered a loss of 190,000 owners over that spell and went into today’s game as part of just 95,000 squads.
The 12-points appear unlikely to spark a renaissance, although Gabbiadini’s confidence levels will be boosted ahead of West Brom’s visit in Gameweek 9. Another return against the Baggies could see some begin to reconsider the striker, although his previous inconsistency, coupled with the availability of Swansea City’s Tammy Abraham, will likely temper interest.
Fraser Forster‘s uncertain display helped ensure that Southampton had to settle for a point.
The keeper was slow to react to Isaac Hayden’s first-half strike, while he also lets Ayoze Perez’s shot rebound back to the striker for the eventual winner.
Forster is part of 9.0% of squads and went into Gameweek 8 having produced nine points via a penalty save at Stoke City last time out. That haul had earned him 56,000 new owners before Saturday’s deadline, second only to Newcastle’s Rob Elliot who picked up 70,000 managers. Both keepers produced just a single point to reward their recent investors.
Elsewhere for Newcastle, Christian Atsu recovered from the knock that kept him from international duty and duly delivered an assist for his 4.2% ownership. The Ghanian’s initial drive was blocked before rebounding to Hayden to convert the Magpies’ opener.
Like Atsu, Matt Ritchie also figured having recovered from the injury that kept him out of Scotland’s squad over the break. However, his role on set-pieces remains reduced by Jonjo Shelvey’s presence. Ritchie took 13 of 15 corners with Shelvey out of favour but shared them four apiece today.
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