Sergio Aguero boosts his Fantasy stock with a superbly taken goal in an impressive display as City coast past Norwich. Elsewhere, holders Arsenal overcome an early setback to see off Sunderland at the Emirates, while United, Southampton and Villa find little comfort from their cup displays.
Aguero Dazzles in City Win
Man City were a much-changed side from that which slipped to defeat at Goodison Park, but Sergio Aguero, Fabian Delph, Willy Caballero and Nicolas Otamendi survived Manuel Pellegrini’s overhaul.
Aguero proved to be a thorn in Norwich’s side all afternoon, chalking up a goal and an assist in a hugely impressive display in the 3-0 win. The 13.1-priced marksman has tallied two goals and assists in his last three starts in all competitions, prompting 49,000 Fantasy managers to snap him up since the previous wave of fixtures.
Kevin De Bruyne served up attacking returns in just two of his last nine league starts but was on hand to solidify the win at Carrow Road with a low strike.
Sticking with the Sky Blues’ midfield contingent, Raheem Sterling and Jesus Navas grabbed assists, whilst striker Kelechi Iheanacho continued to underline his potential with his fifth goal in 15 appearances.
Gunners Rally to Overcome Black Cats
After falling behind within the opening 20 minutes, Arsenal rallied at the Emirates and went on to secure a 3-1 victory over Sunderland.
Arsene Wenger used this fixture as an opportunity to rest Mesut Ozil (who was absent from the matchday squad), Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal and Aaron Ramsey. The latter, however, emerged from the bench at the 67-minute mark and scored the Gunners’ second goal, breaking his run of four successive blanks.
Hector Bellerin turned out a man-of-the match performance, underlining his attacking potential with a brace of assists. The young Spanish full-back has zero goals and two assists to his name in 18 league starts but remains the most popular route into Arsenal’s rearguard with a 21% ownership.
Elsewhere in the North Londoners’ camp, Olivier Giroud (first goal in four) found the back of the net, while Joel Campbell restored parity for the hosts in the 25th minute. Theo Walcott – who, like Giroud, failed to deliver attacking returns in the last three Gameweeks – supplied the ammunition for Campbell’s effort.
Lens Stakes His Claim
Sam Allardyce named a mixture of first and second-string players for the Black Cats’ Emirates trip, demoting the likes of Jermain Defoe, Fabio Borini and Yann M’Vila to the bench as he prioritised league survival.
Jeremain Lens propelled the Black Cats into an early lead with just his third goal in 17 outings. The Netherlands international captured our attention with three assists and a goal across the opening four Gameweeks but has been unfavoured during Allardyce’s reign, recording his last start back in Gameweek 10.
Lens’ encouraging display at the Emirates will have given Allardyce food for thought and the 6.0 Fantasy Premier League asset may yet have a significant role to play in Sunderland’s season.
Toffees Casualties Make Returns
Everton made eight changes from the side that triumphed over Manchester City in midweek for Saturday’s cup win over Dagenham and Redbridge.
Romelu Lukaku was omitted from the matchday squad as he nursed a minor ankle knock, while Ross Barkley and Gerard Deulofeu remained rooted to the bench. However, Roberto Martinez will have gained huge encouragement from the return of both Phil Jagielka and Bryan Oviedo who completed 90 minutes in defence, while Steven Pienaar notched his first appearance of the campaign in midfield.
Arouna Kone struck first for the Toffees, recording his first goal since the start of November. The Ivorian’s succession of blanks in the league had seen him slip down the Toffees pecking order somewhat, with Aaron Lennon, in particular, staking his claim on the flanks. Kevin Mirallas is also beginning to emerge in recent weeks – he doubled the Merseysider’s advantage from the penalty spot and completed 90 minutes.
Full Strength Eagles Prevail
Alan Pardew’s decision to field a full-strength XI paid dividends as Crystal Palace registered a 2-1 win against Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium.
Wilfried Zaha bagged his fourth goal of the season to seal the match following Joel Ward’s opener, with Jason Puncheon earning an assist. Ward – who’s valued at 4.5 and netted two goals in the first four Gameweeks – continues to represent the budget route into an Eagles rearguard that notched three clean sheets in their past five league ties.
Despite claiming the victory, Palace registered just five attempts on goal and Pardew will be desperate for Connor Wickham and Yannick Bolasie to return to action. The former is expected to be passed fit for their trip to Aston Villa in midweek, while Bolasie remains further way from a comeback.
Saints Suffer Another Defeat
Southampton fell to their seventh defeat in nine matches as they struggled to make an impression on a determined Palace defence.
Ronald Koeman elected to keep a strong lineup, although shifted his formation to set-up in a 5-3-2, with Jose Fonte, Maya Yoshida and Virgil van Dijk forming the centre-back trio.
Oriol Romeu scored his debut goal for the south-coast club, but the home side ultimately failed to carve out enough clear-cut chances, having drawn blanks in three of the last five Gameweeks. The Saints face a tricky St Mary’s encounter with Watford in midweek.
Sadio Mane returned ton the starting lineup having been relegated to the bench at Norwich last weekend. Mane came out of Saturday’s tie with just a booking to show for his efforts – he’s now scored just a single goal in his last ten appearances in all competitions.
Potters Rest & Rotate In Rovers Win
Mark Hughes enacted nine changes as Stoke City claimed a hard-fought victory at Doncaster Rovers.
Ryan Shawcross and Philipp Wollscheid were the only first teamers to retain their starting berths, as the Potters boss named a quartet of forwards in an attacking system.
Peter Crouch opened the scoring in a rare start, while Jonathan Walters delivered a statement to Hughes with his second goal in as many starts. Having produced attacking returns (one goal and assist) in his last two league cameos, Joselu also continued to impress with an assist.
Stalemate Does Little To Boost Villa Morale
Remi Garde fielded a strong XI for their trip to Adams Park, with Joleon Lescott, Brad Guzan, Jordan Veretout and Jordan Ayew the only notable absentees from the starting line-up against League Two Wycombe.
Despite dominating possession (65%) and racking up twice as many attempts (18 compared to nine), Villa were left frustrated and forced into a replay back on their own turf after Micah Richards’ first-half strike was cancelled out by a penalty in the second period.
Complementing his spectacular goal at Sunderland in Gameweek 20, Carles Gil laid on the assist for the Villa skipper, before being replaced on 71 minutes as Garde chased a victory. Richards was also withdrawn on 83 minutes as he suffered a knock which makes him an early doubt for Villa’s home meeting with Crystal Palace in midweek.
Hornets Rest Igahlo
Odion Ighalo dropped to the bench as Watford ran out 1-0 victors over Newcastle United. Miguel Britos, Almen Abdi and Etienne Capoue were also given the opportunity to recharge.
Troy Deeney bagged the solitary goal in this top-tier clash, capitalising on a dreadful backpass from the Magpies’ Georginio Wijnaldum. Despite being overshadowed by his strike partner, the 5.2-priced frontman boasts five goals and four assists in nine starts, having only failed to deliver attacking returns on two occasions during that period.
McClaren’s Tweaks Fail to Produce
Steve McClaren retained a first-choice lineup for the testing visit to Vicarage Road, making just a single enforced change to the lineup that suffered a 1-0 reverse at Arsenal in the league last time out. Kevin Mbabu was named on the teamsheet, as Jack Colback missed out with a knock and Newcastle shifted to a 3-5-2 setup.
McClaren opted to take a leaf out of Tottenham’s book having seen Mauricio Pochettino attempt to shackle Watford’s two-man strike force with three at the back in a recent league meeting. This saw Mbabu lineup at left-wing back, with Rob Elliot behind a back three of Chancel Mbemba, Fabricio Coloccini and Paul Dummett.
However, Newcastle failed to adjust to the new system and reverted to a more familiar 4-4-2 of their own after the break as they chased a 1-0 deficit.
All Change for Cherries
Eddie Howe rung the chances for Bournemouth’s road clash against Birmingham, deploying an entirely different XI to that which played in their previous league encounter.
Lee Tomlin – who’s mustered just three starts since his summer switch – strengthened his claim for increased playing time with a goal from the penalty spot, while Glenn Murray entered the fray at the 78-minute mark and netted the Cherries’ winner seven minutes later.
Foster Earns Start in Baggies Escape
West Brom staged a last minute rescue act at the Hawthrorns via a James Morrison strike to secure an unwanted replay date with Bristol City.
Tony Pulis resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes for City’s visit but did bench Claudio Yacob and Craig Dawson. Moreover, Ben Foster made a welcome return between the sticks in his first start of the campaign.
Foster is now in a position to threaten Boaz Myhil for league starts. Myhill has claimed over 10% ownership as a result of his run behind a defence that’s claimed seven clean sheets. However, with Foster looking to further his claims for Roy Hodgson’s squad for the summer, it would seem inevitable that Myhill will, at some point, give way.
Sadio Berahino – who was introduced just beyond the hour mark – graced the scoreboard first with a goal in the 67th minute, before James Morrison earned the Baggies a replay with his last-gasp strike. West Brom could do with a rejuvenated Berahino in light of their misfiring attack, yet there is mounting speculation that the unsettled marksman is destined to depart the club this month.
Jelavic Steers Hammers Progress
West Ham United gained passage to the fourth round courtesy of a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Slaven Bilic picked an experienced XI but started with Adrian, Andy Carroll and Dimitri Payet on the bench.
Payet continued his comeback as he emerged from the bench on 66 minutes, while Carroll joined the action five minutes later and went on to assist Nikica Jelavic for his 85th-minute winner. Carroll has now contributed to three (two goals, one assist) of the Hammers’ last five goals in all competitions.
Unconvincing Reds Edge Through
Although Louis van Gaal brought out the big guns for Sheffield United’s visit, Manchester United struggled to overcome their League One opponents by virtue of Wayne Rooney’s 93rd-minute spot-kick – his second goal in as many starts.
The Red Devils enjoyed the lion’s share of the possession (71%) but failed to harness that advantage, mustering just 11 attempts and two shots on target throughout the showdown.
The lack of a cutting edge remains a major concern – incredibly, United have failed to score in the first half of each of their last ten matches at Old Trafford.
