Watford crashed another clean sheet party in Gameweek 22 as their away form continues to frustrate Fantasy Premier League managers.
However, that did not stop everybody’s favourite Crystal Palace defender from picking up bonus points.
How that happened is the focus of this latest Scout Notes article.
Crystal Palace 1-2 Watford
Goals: Craig Cathcart (£4.5m), Tom Cleverley (£5.0m)
Own Goals: Cathcart
Assists: Jose Holebas (£4.8m)
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£4.5m) was the talk of the Fantasy community on Saturday after he picked up maximum bonus in Crystal Palace’s 2-1 defeat to Watford. The young right-back managed that feat despite not being involved in a goal or keeping a clean sheet. That just goes to show the power of his Fantasy appeal, with more hauls expected from him in future as his style of play is favoured by the Bonus Points System.
Interestingly, it appears it was more than just Wan-Bissaka’s defensive work that earned him additional points against the Hornets. While he was joint-top for tackles, three players were ahead of him for Clearances, Blocks and Interceptions (CBI). Where he seems to have performed best was pass completion, coming joint-second there, and playing more open-play crosses than any other player. It must also be said that Wan-Bissaka was also helped to three bonus by the fact that one of Watford’s goal-scorers had already registered and own-goal, while the other was only on the pitch for 22 minutes.
It was a rare week where the majority of his owners made the conscious effort en masse to use him in their starting line-ups. After all, Crystal Palace came into Saturday’s match with the third-best home defensive record in the division, only Chelsea and Liverpool conceding fewer than them in front of their own fans. However, Watford proved to be the coupon busters away from home once again as they scored twice.
Considering that in the four road matches prior to Gameweek 22 Watford were in the top three for big chances created, perhaps it is not too shocking that the Hornets were able to find a breakthrough. In fact, their opening goal should really have been much sooner than it did, as they hit the post twice in the opening minutes. Instead, it came in the 67th minute, perhaps after some managers had logged in and seen a clean sheet added for Wan-Bissaka and his Palace defensive colleagues.
It was an afternoon of frustration for owners of Eagles goalkeeper Vicente Guaita (£4.2m) as he was substituted with a muscle injury just short of half-time. The Spaniard had picked up plenty of transfer interest in recent weeks having made five consecutive starts between Gameweeks 17 and 21 at a budget price. Those who signed him for Gameweek 22 watched on in dismay as he was forced from the field, now in need of further assessment, as Wayne Hennessey (£4.5m) replaced him. A possible absence for Guaita could mean a slight reduction in Palace’s clean sheet potential. This season with him in goal, the Eagles have conceded a goal every 164.7 minutes, compared to every 59.4 minutes with Hennessey between the sticks.
“We don’t know yet but it’s a muscle injury to his calf and will have to be assessed. It was obviously bad enough that he couldn’t continue. How bad an injury it is we won’t know until he’s had the scan. It’s a definite muscle injury, it wasn’t cramp or a kick.” – Roy Hodgson
It was another match in which Hodgson avoided using his favoured 4-4-2 formation, opting for the 4-3-3 set-up which helped Palace win 2-0 at Molineux in Gameweek 21. Wilfried Zaha (£6.7m), and Andros Townsend (£5.8m), flanking Jordan Ayew (£5.7m), who was making his second start in a row. However, playing a front three did not aid Crystal Palace’s unenviable goal-scoring record at home, which still only stands at six in 11 matches, although Zaha was the match’s top shooter in the peanlty box. The Eagles found the net against Watford courtesy of Abdoulaye Doucouré (£5.9m), whose attempted clearance cannoned into the net off an unwitting Craig Cathcart (£4.5m).
“If you want to win games you need to take the chances that come your way. As far as Watford are concerned they must be feeling quite comfortable in that respect. They had a chance early on which hit the post twice and another chance which was cleared off the line and they had chances to score their two goals. We perhaps weren’t as effective. We also had our chances but we could only score one goal. That’s what football is basically, there aren’t many games this year where I’ve come off the field thinking ‘well we were outplayed there, beaten there, didn’t deserve to win, the opponents were clearly much better than us’.” – Roy Hodgson
With those issues scoring goals, Hodgson admitted post-match his scouting team are always on the lookout for players that can add more firepower to the Palace squad. However, he did explain that he is hoping the recent return of Connor Wickham (£4.9m) and Christian Benteke (£6.3m) can help the situation. The former has been back in the fold since Gameweek 19, although is yet to start, while Benteke made his first appearance since Gameweek 4 coming on as a 78-minute substitute against Watford.
“I’m hoping that the return of Benteke and the return of Connor Wickham might give me a few more options than I’ve had over the last year and a bit.” – Roy Hodgson
As already mentioned, Watford had compared well to the rest of the league for attacking performances away from home recently. The win at Selhurst Park means they have picked up 16 points on their travels this season. While that happens to be the same number they have earned at Vicarage Road, it’s the seventh-best road total in the Premier League, compared to 11th from home matches. The fact that the Hornets are proving one of the better away sides this year might urge caution for Fantasy managers looking to start Spurs, Brighton and Cardiff defensive assets against them between now and Gameweek 27.
José Holebas (£4.8m) was the key Fantasy asset to deliver for Watford as he picked up an assist for Cathcart’s equaliser, still on the corners for the Hornets. It was the Greek’s third attacking return in six matches, also earning him two bonus points. Meanwhile, centre-back Cathcart’s goal was his first since Gameweek 4.
“Cathcart is one of the players with the most minutes in the league,” said Gracia. “I trust him. He always shows a very good level, a good commitment and is a very important player for me. I know he scored an own goal, but after that he was able to score from a corner kick.” – Javi Gracia
Ken Sema (£4.6m) had to replace Will Hughes (£4.9m) in the first half after he took a fierce shot to the face. The Swedish substitute was then replaced in the 68th minute after picking up a booking because Gracia feared he would collect a second and be sent off. It was a bold decision, but one that paid off as it allowed Cleverley to come on and get the winning goal.
“It wasn’t an easy decision but in that moment I thought I had to do it. I am very sorry as I don’t like to do it, but I had to do it. It was tough. In that moment I looked for the way to balance the midfield. With Gerard playing on the right, we needed to be more aggressive in that moment.” – Javi Gracia
Crystal Palace XI (4-3-3): Guaita (Hennessey 45′); van Aanholt, Sakho, Tomkins, Wan-Bissaka; McArthur (Benteke 78′), Milivojevic, Kouyaté; Zaha, Ayew (Schlupp 83′), Townsend.
Watford XI (4-4-2): Foster; Holebas, Cathcart, Mariappa, Kiko Femenía; Pereyra (Masina 90+3′), Capoue, Doucouré, Hughes (Sema 19′ | Cleverley 68′); Deeney, Deulofeu.
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