A less than impressive City scramble past Swansea thanks to a moment of inspiration from Carlos Tevez in the longest game in Premier League history. For many of us watching, it felt like it, too:
Going Up
Carlos Tevez
Having failed to score in the last four Gameweeks, the Argentine has been deserted by plenty Fantasy managers after impressing in the first few matches. Shifted to a deeper role at half-time, with Mario Balotelli coming on to lead the line, Tevez’s fine strike from distance was enough to secure the points for a disjointed home side.
City Defensive Resolve
The 1-0 win earned a second successive home clean sheet for Roberto Mancini’s men. They have now conceded just once in the last three but their injury problems at right-back look like continuing – Micah Richards seems to have sustained a knee injury and could be set to join Pablo Zabaleta and Maicon on the sidelines; Kolo Toure may earn a rare spell in the first XI as a result.
Going Down
Michel Vorm
The Dutchman has been such a key figure for Swansea since joining prior to the start of last season but, having injured his groin while attempting to save Tevez’s strike, he may well be unavailable for Michael Laudrup’s side. Gerhard Tremmel – priced at 4.0 in FPL – looks the man to benefit.
Joleon Lescott
Granted, the centre-half had been dropped for two league games prior to this evening but both had been on the road. Lescott had played every minute at the Etihad, with Mancini seemingly keen on him alongside Vincent Kompany at home but the former Everton man clearly has a real rival in Matija Nastasic. Lescott was handed a seven minute sub appearance deep into the 12 minutes of time added on, handing his Fantasy owners a one point return.
Nathan Dyer
The winger was benched for the second game running, with Pablo Hernandez again preferred on the right. Dyer had previously started six of Swansea’s first seven but the Spaniard seems to now be slotting into Michael Laudrup’s system at his expense – a big worry for Dyer’s 18% FPL owners.
Scott Sinclair
The showdown with his former club looked tailor-made for Sinclair to make his first start since Gameweek 4 but he once again warmed the bench, with Mancini clearly far from convinced by his abilities. This time last term both he and Dyer were nailed-on under Brendan Rodgers for the Swans – now both look peripheral figures under their new managers.
