Manchester City’s failings and Sergio Aguero’s blank frustrates an army of Fantasy managers. Elsewhere, Bournemouth’s budget midfield options continue to flourish, while Gylfi Sigurdsson and Marko Arnautovic maintain their own rich vein of form. In the FA Cup, Everton’s fixture pile-up is confirmed as they progress along with Crystal Palace. Here’s the notes from the action over the last 48-hours.
Aguero Blanks As City Falter
Manchester City are now nine points shy of the Premier League summit following their bitterly disappointing goalless stalemate at Carrow Road.
Their inability to breach a previously obliging Canaries’ rearguard reflects a season trend for City: Manuel Pellegrini’s troops rank in the bottom six for goals scored in away matches (13) and have won just two of their previous 11 road ties.
Sergio Aguero went into the early kick-off sporting the armband for 35% of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers. Despite standing out as City’s most likely attacker, his drew his eleventh blank of the campaign, his eighth away from the Etihad.
Similarly, David Silva’s 70,000 new owners came away without reward as City struggled for a goal threat with Raheem Sterling benched and Yaya Toure sidelined.
On a more positive note, Vincent Kompany scooped three bonus points – his first maximum haul of the season – as City recorded successive clean sheets. Pellegrini’s defence have now kept 13 in total – joint top with Manchester United.
Intriguingly, City will face their Manchester rivals next, with Louis van Gaal’s men granted the opportunity to hammer a final nail in their title hopes. However United have scored just a single goal in their last three outings in all competitions, indicating that Kompany and his defence may be in a position to maintain recent form.
City will then face a trip to Bournemouth and an Etihad meeting with West Brom; their double Gameweek will then likely drop into Gameweek 34, handing them trips to Chelsea and Newcastle.
Canaries Hold Firm
Norwich inched closer to top flight survival with a hard-fought point on home turf.
Although the Canaries failed to register a single shot on target and are in the midst of a 10-match winless streak, Alex Neil’s men will now approach a kind schedule (wba, NEW, cry, SUN, WAT) with renewed focus and belief.
Patrick Bamford was afforded his first league since a loan move from Chelsea and came closest for the hosts with a rasping strike that clattered the woodwork. As for our Differential pick, Nathan Redmond, he was replaced just before the break with a rolled ankle, making him a doubt for a trip to West Bromwich Albion next weekend.
Tim Klose was the outstanding performer within the Norwich defence, claiming two bonus points – his first since his arrival at the club prior to Gameweek 23. The big Swiss defender, priced at 4.2 in the FPL, looks assured of his start in Neil’s rearguard: he has recorded and impressive 93 “Clearances, Blocks and Interceptions” (CBI) since his introduction – more than any other Norwich defender during that window.
Gradel Inspires Cherries Victory
Bournemouth stretched their unbeaten streak to four matches with their third successive victory.
Max Gradel delivered an end product following some glittering displays since his return from long-term injury, recording his first double-figure haul of the season by way of a goal and assist. Pitched at 5.7, the tireless Ivorian represents a renewed enticing route into a Cherries attack that’s firing on all cylinders, having notched eight goals in their previous trio of outings.
Elsewhere in Bournemouth’s midfield, Scout Pick Josh King illustrated his out-of-position potential with his second goal in as many starts. Valued at 4.3, the budget Norwegian currently looks the go-to fifth midfielder option for those seeking to free-up funds. Matt Ritchie also continues to vie for our attention – his assist for Steve Cook’s winner took the Scot to five assists and a goal in his last seven league outings.
Investment in the buoyant Cherries should perhaps be tempered by a punishing season run-in. Eddie Howe takes his side to White Hart Lane next weekend, while City, Liverpool and Chelsea are their next thee opponents at the Vitality Stadium.
Sigurdsson Effort Not Enough For Swans
Swansea played their part in an entertaining clash on the south-coast but ultimately left empty-handed.
Irrespective of the result, Gylfi Sigurdsson’s 8% ownership were boosted as he continued his outstanding form with another well-taken strike.
Despite the fact that Sergio Aguero is the only man who’s scored more goals (nine) than Sigurdsson (seven) since the turn of the year, the Swansea man charts 18th among midfielders for FPL popularity.
Certainly, with a home clash against Villa next on the agenda, Sigurdsson is surely set to enjoy a wave of belated backers over the next seven days; he was ranked third for transfers in overnight.
In the absence of Andre Ayew (ankle complaint) and Jefferson Montero (flu), Modou Barrow was deployed on the right flank and went to on to bag a goal (Leroy Fer assist) and assist. The 4.3-priced frontman left the field at the 80-minute mark with a tight hamstring but is expected to be passed fit for the Villa encounter.
Elsewhere, Swansea’s defence continues to struggle on the road: they’ve now allowed 22 goals away from home, recording just one shut-out all season. Only Norwich and Sunderland boast worse defensive records on their travels.
Pelle Comes Good For Saints
Southampton snapped their three-match winless spell with a 2-1 victory over Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.
Producing his first attacking returns since Gameweek 11, Graziano Pelle recorded a brace within the opening 30 minutes; Dusan Tadic and Steven Davis supplied the ammunition for the towering target man.
Pelle’s strikes allowed Southampton to record two goals away from home for the first time since the Gameweek 8 victory at Stamford Bridge. While that will cement Pelle’s start ahead of the St Mary’s meeting with Liverpool, the expected return of Charlie Austin from injury following the international break means that the Italian remains far from assured of regular starts.
At the back, Koeman reacted to Jose Fonte’s suspension by fielding Ryan Bertrand alongside Virgil van Dijk in central defence. Matt Targett then filled in at left-back, furnishing his 9% ownership with a two-point showing.
In light of Shane Long’s return to fitness, Sadio Mane was demoted to the bench for the Potteries visit. The Senegalese winger entered the fray at the 75-minute mark but received a straight red in stoppage time for a seemingly innocuous challenge on Erik Pieters.
Speaking on the incident, Koeman confirmed that Southampton will appeal the decision – which, if upheld, would result in a four-match ban for Mane, given that he was shown a red earlier in the season.
Arnautovic Provides The Consolation
The Potters’ four-match unbeaten run came to an end at the hands of Southampton.
Nonetheless, Marko Arnautovic delivered for his 140,000 new FPL owners, scoring his third goal (Ibrahim Afellay assist) in four outings. The Austrian midfielder lays claim to seven goals and one assist in his previous 10 starts at the Britannia Stadium, which bodes well for Swansea’s visit in Gameweek 32.
Despite failing to repel Saints’ advances in the first half, Stoke were boosted by the return of Ryan Shawcross. Mark Hughes will be hoping that his presence will help shore up a rearguard that has now kept just a single shut-out in eight league matches.
On a less positive note, Xherdan Shaqiri pulled up after 31 minutes with a thigh injury, making him an early doubt for a trip to Watford next weekend.
FA Cup Quarter-Finals
Palace Book Wembley Date
Crystal Palace ran out 2-0 victors over Reading at the Madejski Stadium on Friday evening to book their place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
The Eagles’ progress ensured that their home tie against Everton in Gameweek 35 will be postponed, meaning that the Toffees now await news on the rescheduling of three fixtures, while the Eagles will likely face two double Gameweeks.
Alan Pardew named just one change from the XI defeated by Liverpool, with Wayne Hennessey reclaiming a starting berth having returned from injury. Although he wasn’t called into action, Jason Puncheon – who has missed Palace’s last five league clashes due to injury – made a return to the bench.
Lukaku Magic Seals Toffees Progress
Romelu Lukaku’s sensational brace ended a miserable week for Guus Hiddink’s Chelsea as Everton claimed an FA Cup semi-final spot.
Lukaku has now notched four goals in his last three starts in all competitions, compounding his inevitable popularity once Everton’s double Gameweek dates are confirmed.
Ross Barkley – who has struggled for form of late – laid on the assists. The 7.1-priced midfielder drew blanks in eight of his last nine league starts but would re-emerge as a key player if he can start translating his eye-catching stats (15 goal attempts in last four matches) into significant hauls prior to the doubles.
Roberto Martinez reverted to a four-man defence for this clash, with John Stones having to settle for a bench role. Another clean sheet for the likes of Joel Robles and Ramiro Funes Mori bolstered their chances of retaining starting slots for the remainder of the campaign.
Gareth Barry was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence in the 87th minute, ruling him out of Everton’s next two league encounters with Arsenal and at Manchester United.
The result had little impact on the Gameweek 35 schedule given that Palace’s progress had already postponed that fixture. It now gives Martinez’ men no less than three fixtures to be rescheduled – ensuring that Everton’s assets will be hot properties in the weeks to come.
The dates for these postponed matches remains uncertain, although Everton look destined to endure two fixtures in Gameweek 34 and 37. Like Palace, the absence of a fixture in Gameweek 35 may now temper investment in the Everton squad should the Gameweek 34 double be confirmed.
Blues Defeat Promotes Gameweek 34 Appeal
Chelsea’s exit from the FA Cup preserved their trip to Bournemouth in Gameweek 35. That is likely to ensure that their assets are elevated in priority for Gameweek 34, should their two fixtures against City and Liverpool be confirmed.
Diego Costa’s involvement in those matches is far from certain. Having negotiated an injury scare following the Blues’ defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, Costa picked up a second yellow card six minutes from time at Goodison to see red for the first time in his Chelsea career.
His dismissal would normally carry a one-match ban for two bookable offences, although having been charged with violent conduct earlier in the season for an incident at Arsenal, this will be extended to two-matches. Costa will therefore miss league encounters with West Ham and Aston Villa.
However, it remains to be seen if the FA review Costa’s situation further. There are allegations that the striker may have bitten Gareth Barry in receiving his second booking, while Costa’s actions on leaving the field of play could also come under scrutiny and draw additional punishment.
Costa’s absence could present an opportunity for Bertand Traore to earn starts as Chelsea’s central striker; Traore is classified as a 5.4 midfielder in the FPL and was on the bench alongside Loic Remy at Goodison.
