FA Cup Scout Notes – Fourth Round – Saturday

Sergio Aguero fires a treble as City overcome a valiant Watford to earn progress. Daniel Sturridge is in the goals again for Liverpool, Fraizer Campbell secures Cardiff’s passage, Wilfried Bony’s brace helps Swansea progress, whilst Steven Naismith scores twice for Everton as Bryan Oviedo is stretchered off with a broken leg at Stevenage.

Aguero Hat-Trick Saves City’s Blushes
The Argentine rescued City from unlikely humiliation after they went in at the break 2-0 down to Championship Watford. With Alvaro Negredo sidelined due to a shoulder injury, Manuel Pellegrini partnered Aguero with Edin Dzeko and named the likes of Yaya Toure and Jesus Navas in midfield, whilst defensive regulars Martin Demichelis and Aleksandar Kolarov retained their starting berths at the back. The Serbian continued his recent fine form with a goal, whilst Aguero’s second-half hat-trick took his tally to 25 strikes in 24 games in all competitions for the Etihad side. After the match, though, Pellegrini reportedly confirmed Negredo is set to miss out of the midweek trip to Tottenham and also went on to concede he had intended to withdraw Aguero at some point but the precarious scoreline ensured he lasted the full 90 minutes:

“Sergio is a top player, he’s very important for us. We didn’t want him to play 90 minutes, the idea was for him to play 60 or 70 minutes but it didn’t turn out like that…We changed what we did, played with another tempo, another pace. We continued playing the way we did the whole season at the Etihad. That reaction was more important for me than what we did in the first half. The whole team didn’t do the things that we normally do in the first-half, the most important thing for me is that Watford didn’t score the third goal. If they’d have scored that, the game would have been finished.”

Poyet Rings the Changes
The Sunderland boss retained just one player (Lee Cattermole) from the XI that started against United in the Capital One Cup last midweek. New boys Santiago Vergini and Oscar Ustari were both handed their debuts at centre-half and between the sticks respectively, whilst fringe player Charis Mavrias notched the only goal of the game against Kidderminster as the Black Cats’ regulars were afforded the day off ahead of Wednesday evening’s home clash with Stoke.

Rodgers Shifts to 4-2-3-1 as Pool Ease Through
Having started with Daniel Sturridge alongside Luis Suarez up top in last week’s league game against Villa, Brendan Rodgers moved to a lone striker system, with Sturridge and Victor Moses handed the flank roles as Philippe Coutinho tucked in behind the Uruguayan. The two wide-men grabbed a goal apiece in a game that saw Jordan Henderson sit deeper alongside Steven Gerrard, whilst Martin Kelly got the nod ahead of Jon Flanagan for the right-back berth. After the game, the Reds boss explained his strong line-up ahead of Tuesday’s Merseyside derby:

“We have a very thin squad, and along with that we’ve got a number of injuries, but the tradition of the FA Cup for Liverpool is huge. We want to pay respect to the competition because we want to get to the final and win it if we can. The players have had enough recovery time and will recover well for Everton.”

Campbell Fires Bluebirds Through
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made five changes from last week’s loss to City as Cardiff travelled to Bolton. New boy Magnus Wolff Eikrem was handed his first start since signing for the Welsh club earlier this month, whilst at the back, Mark Hudson took his place alongside Ben Turner at centre-half, as Fantasy managers are kept guessing over the new manager’s preferred partner for the rested Steven Caulker. The half-time introduction of Craig Noone and Fraizer Campbell, at the expense of Eikrem and Andreas Cornelius, sparked Cardiff into life, with Campbell notching off the bench for the second round in a row to earn his side a narrow 1-0 win.

Bony at the Double
The Ivorian rolled up to Birmingham in top form, having notched four times in as many games in all competitions. Sent on after the break by Michael Laudrup, Bony’s eye for goal proved decisive at St Andrews as he struck twice to secure a 2-1 win and strengthen his case for Fantasy consideration ahead of fixtures against Fulham, West Ham, Cardiff and Stoke in the next four Gameweeks. After the game, the Swans boss – who welcomed back Pablo Hernandez from injury – was understandably full of praise for his summer signing:

“He has had to adapt to a different culture on and off the pitch. It is always difficult when you are a foreigner. But now that he has adapted, he is playing with a lot more confidence. The first goal was a great goal, and the second, he wouldn’t have scored if he didn’t have confidence. I am happy for him and for the team. Hopefully we can build on this result today.”

Guly on the Spot as Saints March On
Mauricio Pochettino named many of his regulars as Southampton saw off Yeovil at St Mary’s. Fantasy favourites Adam Lallana and Jay Rodriguez lasted the full 90 minutes, whilst the likes of Morgan Schneiderlin, Nathaniel Clyne and Luke Shaw also featured for the home side. Strikes from fringe players Guly Do Prado, with a converted penalty, and Sam Gallagher, ensured the Saints made their way into the fifth round draw.

Fryatt Bags a Brace
With new strikers Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long both ineligible, Steve Bruce handed Danny Graham and Yannick Sagbo the forward roles as Hull made their way to Southend. The duo drew blanks once again, however, with the visitors relying on two-goal hero Matt Fryatt to clinch a place in the next round. Bruce gave fit-again Paul McShane and Abdoulaye Faye the chance to stake a claim for a starting berth in light of James Chester’s recent injury, whilst the Tigers boss was given a major boost by the return of Robbie Brady, who climbed off the bench to play the final 17 minutes of the 2-0 win.

Parr Worry for Palace
Tony Pulis’ decision to rest the likes of Danny Gabbidon, Joel Ward, Mile Jedinak and Yannick Bolasie backfired as the Eagles were sent crashing out the cup by holders Wigan. Palace’s only goal in the 2-1 loss was scored by sub Aaron Wilbraham – on for Marouane Chamakh midway through the second period – as the Latics took advantage of their under-strength line-up. Pulis was left sweating over the fitness of Jonny Parr – the left-back, who has started four of the last five league games, was replaced by Dean Moxey at the break after reportedly picking up a neck injury, according to the club’s official twitter stream. Details on the injury remain vague, although Pulis revealed that the club will know more following scan results…

“He [Parr] has gone to hospital for a scan. We need to look at the incident again, but it looks like the lad has caught him. It will be interesting to see it again on from a different camera angle. We think it was caused by the impact and we are not sure whether it is a problem with his jaw or neck but we will know more when the results of the scans are with us.”

Oviedo Blow for Toffees
Roberto Martinez made five changes from the side that drew with West Brom last Monday evening. Aiden McGeady was given his first start since arriving on Merseyside earlier this month, whilst Steven Naismith occupied the advanced central midfield role, with Kevin Mirallas leading the line after scoring in each of the last two Gameweeks as Romelu Lukaku dropped to the bench. At the back, the Toffees boss drafted in Tony Hibbert to replace the injured Seamus Coleman, whilst Tim Howard and Sylvain Distin were handed the night off as Joel Robles and Jon Stones earned opportunities. Naismith was the Toffees hero with a brace in the 4-0 win, whilst Johnny Heitinga and Magaye Gueye also found the net but the main news centred around a horrendous injury sustained by Bryan Oviedo. The Costa Rican was stretchered from the pitch after suffering a double fracture of the left leg and is set to undergo surgery on Monday, the club have since confirmed. A saddened Roberto Martinez brought us this on Oviedo’s injury, post-match…

“All we want is Bryan recovered as quick as we can so that he comes back as important as he has been for the squad. Our medical department had the final decision on whether he needed surgery and obviously that is the most important next step. We will find out more over the next 24 hours.”