Frank Lampard bags a brace as Chelsea’s win at Villa leaves the hosts’ top-flight safety in doubt. Eden Hazard picks up a hamstring problem ahead of the Europa League final, while Christian Benteke sees red and is suspended for Villa’s vital Gameweek 38 trip to Wigan. The Latics have plenty to cheer about, however, after edging past City to clinch the FA Cup in yesterday evening’s Wembley showdown.
Lampard At The Double
Handed a rare outing in the Scout Picks, the veteran vindicated our decision by grabbing both goals to become Chelsea’s record goalscorer yesterday. Lampard had been a peripheral figure for the Blues recently, starting just one of the previous four league fixtures, though had served a reminder of his potential by climbing off the bench to notch a goal and assist in the Gameweek 35 home win over Swansea. Despite starting just 20 league games this season (with eight appearances also off the bench) Lampard has found the net on 15 occasions – putting that into perspective, it’s only four less than Juan Mata (10) and Eden Hazard (nine) combined. With Ramires now suspended for the Gameweek 38 home clash against Everton, his chances of retaining a starting role for Benitez’s final match in charge look strong and after yesterday’s display, the bandwagon is likely to pick up speed as Lampard looks to end the season with a flourish.
Benitez Calms The Rotation
Last Wednesday evening, Rafa Benitez had made just three changes for the XI to face Tottenham but in his post-match press conference after the 2-2 draw, the Chelsea boss went out of his way to discuss the effect of fatigue on his players, speaking of a need to “manage the squad”. With Eden Hazard subbed off with a calf problem in midweek and Victor Moses also causing concern, many felt Benitez’s no-risk policy would affect his line-up for Villa Park, with the midweek Europa League final against Benfica taking priority in order to boost his chances of leaving the club with silverware.
Instead, Benitez made just four changes to his side, with both Hazard and Moses named in the starting XI. Frustratingly for the 40,000+ FPL managers who sold the Belgian ahead of Saturday’s deadline, he then proceeded to supply both assists for Lampard’s strikes, taking his tally to nine goals and 16 assists for the season. Benitez’s decision to field Hazard for the full 90 minutes could potentially have backfired ahead of midweek, however; after the game, the Chelsea boss admitted Hazard has picked up a hamstring problem and will now require a scan, while John Terry is also a concern after being subbed off with an ankle injury late on.
Benteke To Miss Finale
Villa’s talisman notched his 19th goal of an incredible debut season but a couple of yellow cards in yesterday’s defeat could prove disastrous to his side’s chances of beating the drop. Benteke will sit out the Gameweek 38 trip to Wigan and with Paul Lambert’s side sitting on 40 points, it’s likely that they’ll need to get something from the DW encounter in order to clinch their top flight survival. Having also supplied four assists, Benteke has played a part in 23 of Villa’s 45 goals this term and had looked a viable captaincy contender for the showdown against Roberto Martinez’s men. Owned by over 16% of FPL managers, a mass exodus is on the cards over the next few days – Lambert may choose to hand Gabby Agbonlahor a role through the middle given his recent scoring exploits rather than turn to Darren Bent, though, in Fantasy terms, the likes of Daniel Sturridge looks an obvious replacement for Benteke ahead of Liverpool’s home clash with QPR.
Latics Clinch The Silverware
After losing at home to Swansea last Tuesday thanks to some disastrous defending, Roberto Martinez’s side were firm underdogs for yesterday’s FA Cup final. The return of Antolin Alcaraz proved crucial, however, as Wigan reverted to a back-three once again after a couple of brief flirtations with a four man defence. Emmerson Boyce joined the Paraguayan and Paul Scharner at the back, with Martinez opting for James McArthur and Roger Espinoza as the wing-backs. While Wigan still remain favourites to join QPR and Reading in the Championship next season, yesterday’s result will give Martinez’s side a huge psychological boost heading into Tuesday’s trip to Arsenal. With Shaun Maloney continuing to produce – supplying an assist for Ben Watson’s late winner – and Callum McManaman thriving on the right, the Latics could well put up a stern resistance at the Emirates and, providing they still have a shout of surviving after the Arsenal match, a home clash against Villa is likely to see them heavily backed as they attempt another unlikely bid for top-flight survival.
Full Strength City’s Wembley Flop
Perhaps the constant tinkering finally proved their undoing. After making eight changes for the midweek match against West Brom, Roberto Mancini named what many perceive as his strongest line-up for the Wembley clash with Wigan. Despite the likes of Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, David Silva and Samir Nasri all starting, though, City failed to find a way past the Latics. Nasri and Tevez were hauled off on 55 minutes and 69 minutes respectively as Mancini unsuccessfully looked for a breakthrough strike. Given that City need just a single point over their last two matches with Reading and Norwich to secure second, Mancini’s selection policy over the last couple of games could well prove frustrating for Fantasy managers. Aguero and Silva owners will perhaps be concerned over the fact they both played the full 90 minutes, while Joe Hart’s owners may also be a little anxious – Costel Pantilimon had played every round in the cup before yesterday’s final but was mysteriously dropped to the bench despite Mancini previously stating he’d be his stopper at Wembley. It remains to be seen if Pantilimon figures again this season. Pablo Zabaleta will certainly miss the Reading clash; the Argentine’s red card means he will serve a one-match suspension, though will be available for the Gameweek 38 home encounter with the Canaries.
