Cardiff and Huddersfield still goal-shy as Pereira continues form for Leicester

Cardiff and Huddersfield consolidated their places as ‘clean sheet fodder’ for Fantasy Premier League managers in Gameweek 22.

The two sides played out a 0-0 draw at the Cardiff City Stadium, although it was not without incident.

Elsewhere, there were further problems at home for Leicester while Ricardo Pereira continued to demonstrate his Fantasy appeal.

Cardiff City 0-0 Huddersfield Town

Goals: None

Assists: None

Another goalless draw between Cardiff and Huddersfield Town helped solidified the two clubs’ status as fuel for clean sheets in the coming weeks. In 180 minutes of Premier League football played against each other this season the Bluebirds and the Terriers mustered a total of 36 shots but not a single goal. Despite dominating the encounter, the visitors only managed to get two of their 14 shots on target.

We must also point out that Huddersfield were dreadfully unlucky not to have a penalty in the second half. Joe Bennett (£4.4m) was adjudged to have fouled Florent Hadergjonaj (£4.4m) in the area by referee Lee Mason, who awarded the spot kick. But after his linesman spoke to him the man in the middle overturned the decision, with video footage confirming later that his initial call of a foul on Hadergjonaj was the correct one. Manager David Wagner felt rightly aggrieved at full-time.

“I really can’t find the words how this can happen. The fourth official had no idea either, he was a surprised as everyone else was. Decisions like this make tables and seasons. We have had so many decisions against us and I don’t know why. It was clearly a penalty, the video footage speaks for itself and we have not got it.” – David Wagner

It was thought that Cardiff’s weakness to set pieces might prove pivotal for Huddersfield as 80% of their goals this season have come from dead ball situations. However, with Aaron Mooy (£5.1m) still out of the team, David Wagner’s men were unable to make their set plays count. They took 10 corners in the match but did not manage a single effort on goal from any of them. Alex Pritchard (£4.8m) has been deputising for Mooy in this department but may cede responsibilities to Jason Puncheon (£4.2m), who took three corners after the former Norwich man was replaced by Isaac Mbenza (£5.9m) in the 73rd minute. Pritchard’s record from dead balls in the suggests he is unable to live-up to Mooy’s standards, but he was still the most creative player for Huddersfield, creating three chances.

The aforementioned Puncheon was making his Premier League debut for the Terriers after joining on loan from Crystal Palace. Given his bargain bucket price, there had been plenty of Fantasy interest in him ahead of kick-off, most notably surrounding which position he would take up. Puncheon was played on the right of a central midfield trio against Cardiff, as David Wagner opted for a 4-3-2-1 ‘Christmas Tree’ formation. His experience and quality should see him hold his place in the side as Huddersfield fight to beat the drop. Among his team-mates, only Pritchard provided more crosses than Puncheon in Gameweek 22, while no player on the Cardiff City Stadium pitch completed more passes in the final third than him.

The fact that Huddersfield picked up a first clean sheet since Gameweek 13 should not lure Fantasy managers into thinking they can be a source of defensive returns any time soon. The Terriers came to south Wales bottom of the pile for big chances allowed in the four matches prior to Gameweek 22, and seem only to have kept Cardiff out because their hosts mustered just three efforts on goal. With Manchester City (home), Everton (home), Chelsea (away) and Arsenal (home) their next four opponents, they are sure to concede, possibly even heavily so. However, the Gameweek 27 trip to Newcastle could prove timely for rotating options such as Christopher Schindler (£4.3m) or Jonas Lössl (£4.4m) in off the bench.

There was some concern for the managers holding Victor Camarasa (£4.6m) as their fifth midfielder. He was forced off with a knock in the second half after recovering from a problem picked up against Spurs in Gameweek 21. Unfortunately, there has not been too much of an update on his condition at this stage, Neil Warnock’s post-match press conference bizarrely taking on a rather unexpected political turn, as, we are sure, most of you are aware.

The Cardiff boss made two changes for the match, bringing Bennett in for Greg Cunningham (£4.2m) and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (£4.8m) to replace Bobby Reid (£5.2m). That latter switch once again indicates once again just how hard it is to predict which players will be used in wide midfield for Cardiff. Josh Murphy (£4.8m) has started just once since Gameweek 19, while Kadeem Harris (£4.5m) has had spells in the side too. Junior Hoilett (£5.0m) looks the favourite, having featured in every league match since Gameweek 10, but has still only started eight times from a possible 13. He touched the ball in Huddersfield’s penalty area more than any of his colleagues.

“Hoilett did very well and Mendez-Laing did for an hour, but it just shows that the lads who aren’t playing regularly have to train hard because it’s a tough league.” – Neil Warnock

Callum Paterson (£5.1m) moved back up front for the Bluebirds after being deployed on the flanks against Spurs, but he was largely ineffectual, alongside most of his attacking colleagues. The Scottish international touched the ball just once in Huddersfield’s box just once.

Cardiff City XI (4-1-4-1): Etheridge; Bennett, Bamba, Morrison, Ecuele Manga; Gunnarsson; Hoilett, Arter, Camarasa (Ralls 64′), Mendez-Laing (Healey 73′); Paterson.

Huddersfield Town XI (4-3-2-1): Lössl; Durm, Schindler, Zanka, Haderjonaj; Billing, Hogg, Puncheon; Pritchard (Mbenza 73′), Kachunga; Mounié (Depoitre 87′).

Leicester 1-2 Southampton

Goals: Wilfred Ndidi (£4.9m) | James Ward-Prowse (£5.0m), Shane Long (£4.7m)

Assists: Ricardo Pereira (£5.3m) | Long

Despite a frustrating home defeat to Southampton, Ricardo Pereira‘s (£5.3m) Fantasy appeal was demonstrated once again. His assist for Wilfred Ndidi‘s (£4.9m) second-half goal was his third attacking return in four matches. Pereira was actually shifted back to right-back on Saturday after playing in attacking midfield against Everton in Gameweek 21 but still managed to finish joint-top for penalty box touches of players who started at the King Power Stadium. Furthermore, the only player to create more chances than him James Maddison (£6.8m).

The former Norwich City midfielder was back in the side after remaining on the bench at Goodison Park last time out. However, rather than operating in his usual central number 10 role, Maddison was deployed on the left flank of an attacking midfield in a maligned 4-3-3 formation. That didn’t seem to affect his creativity, as previously mentioned, he played more key passes than any other player on the pitch. There was still plenty of criticism levelled at Puel’s decision to play with three central midfielders though, with Nampalys Mendy (£4.5m) at fault for both of Southampton’s goals.

“We found a good balance in this situation in games we won earlier (in the season. Against Cardiff it was another question about why we didn’t keep the three in midfield. Now it is why we started with three in midfield. It is always after the game we can change things. That is the reality. We didn’t perform. It was not the system or the different players. We didn’t manage our game well enough, just this. It was a disappointment but we lost the balls too easy for the goals. “I think (Mendy) was unlucky because he made a good game with quality and good recovery and good starts with the ball, but he conceded this goal. I was disappointed for him.” – Claude Puel

It was another afternoon of struggle at the King Power Stadium for Leicester who have largely failed to impress in front of their own supporters recently. In five home matches played against sides in the bottom half this season, the Foxes have won just once. According to the local media, Puel’s men are slipping into a vicious circle of flat performances causing a flat atmosphere, which in turn sees nervousness creep back into the displays of the players. There is a building sense of discontent at Leicester, made even worse by this result as well as an incident which saw a King Power Stadium steward confiscate a ‘Puel Out’ sign from an elderly fan.

Perhaps it’s a good thing for the Foxes that three of their next four Premier League matches are on the road, against Wolves, Liverpool and Tottenham. Manchester United and Crystal Palace are the next two visitors to the King Power Stadium.

There are still some bright sparks for Leicester as two young players got important involvements in Gameweek 22. Central midfielder Hamza Choudhury (£4.3m) has four of the last five Premier League matches and seems to be settling into the side. Meanwhile, attacking midfielder Harvey Barnes (£5.5m) was thrown straight in at the deep end after being recalled from loan at West Bromwich Albion. He was used as a half-time substitute with Leicester already 2-0 down and in just 45 minutes on the pitch he still managed to record more penalty box touches of the ball than any other player. Having scored nine goals and assisted six more in 26 Championship appearances for the promotion-chasing Baggies, there are already suggestions from the local media that he should start Premier League matches as soon as possible.

Alex McCarthy (£4.4m) was back in goal for Southampton after missing out on the Gameweek 21 draw with Chelsea due to tactical reasons. This was also the first match that Maya Yoshida (£4.1m) was absent due to international duty with Japan at the Asian Cup. Jack Stephens (£4.2m) was chosen as his replacement in the back-three, which stood up to an incredible 28 shots fired at them by Leicester. In the second half, Hasenhüttl decided to drop deeper into a back-five.

“We were talking about how we use the shape, should we change something or stay like a 5-3-1 to defend very deep and we stayed in this formation and I think it was the right decision because we didn’t give a lot of chances away.” – Ralph Hasenhüttl

Southampton’s backline was also dealt the blow of a red-card for young right wing-back Yan Valery (£4.0m), collecting a second yellow just before half-time. The 19-year-old will not miss any Premier League football though as he can spend his one-match suspension on the Saints’ FA Cup third round replay against Derby County on Wednesday night.

“I think the atmosphere in that moment was a little bit too much for him and then the second yellow card was enough if he only warns him ‘next time you are going’ and then we can decide at half time and we can put him off the pitch. I had no chance, it was too early then, and it makes this challenge very difficult.” – Ralph Hasenhüttl

Without Danny Ings (£5.6m) or Charlie Austin (£5.5m) available, Shane Long (£4.7m) earned his first Premier League start since Gameweek 11 and performed admirably. Not especially renowned for his goal-scoring in recent years, he was the latest player to adapt to Hasenhüttl’s fast-paced press-from-the-front tactic, as his harrying led him to a 12-point haul. He was fouled for the penalty converted by James Ward-Prowse (£5.0m) and dispossessed Mendy before netting past Kasper Schmeichel (£5.0m) in first-half stoppage time.

“If you try to improve your game during the week in every session on the pitch then you can earn something on the weekend. He showed that he can be a very important part in this team because he was very hard to stop, he saved a lot of balls, was always working in the net and against the ball as long as possible. When he was finished then I take him off and can only congratulate him for a fantastic game. I think Shane was the best example of what we were demanding for today. Hard working, good defending and if you get the chance to kill them then do it.” – Ralph Hasenhüttl

After loan spells at MK Dons, Blackburn Rovers and Birmingham City in recent years, there was a first Premier League appearance since the 2013/14 campaign for striker Sam Gallagher (£4.5m), with options up front limited. He came on as a stoppage-time substitute for Nathan Redmond (£5.2m). Ings could be back in the picture soon but Michael Obafemi‘s (£5.0m) injury is more of a problem according to Hasenhüttl.

“Injured players are coming back piece by piece. Bertrand is training with the team, Ings will hopefully return to training tomorrow and Lemina was in the group today. Obafemi will take a few weeks more to recover. His injury is more difficult.” – Ralph Hasenhüttl

There was also a league debut for midfielder Callum Slattery (£4.5m), whose appearance at Leicester lasted slightly longer. He was the one replacing Long in the 76th minute.

Leicester XI (4-3-3): Schmeichel; Chilwell, Maguire, Morgan, R Pereira; Ndidi, Mendy (H Barnes 45′), Choudhury (Ghezzal 76′); Maddison, Vardy, Albrighton (D Gray 45′).

Southampton XI (3-4-2-1): McCarthy; Vestergaard, Stephens, Bednarek; Targett, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Valery; Armstrong (Cédric 57′), Redmond (Gallagher 90+3′); Long (Slattery 76′).

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