Game-week 24 Review FPL Fantasy Premier League

Game-week 24 Review

Newcastle 0-3 Sunderland
Things didn’t go to plan at St James’s Park as Sunderland were comprehensive winners in their third successive derby win over Newcastle. The result moves the Black Cats further clear of the relegation zone and means that the Toon have only one win from their last seven games. Fabio Borini gave the Black Cats the lead on 19 minutes from the penalty spot after Vurnon Anita’s clumsy challenge on Phil Bardsley. Adam Johnson, who is in a great run of form doubled the lead 5 minutes later when a deflection took Jack Colback’s shot away from Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul and Johnson did the rest to notch his sixth goal in the last four league games. Although Newcastle put up a fight in the second half the games was over when the ever impressive Colback smashed in the third ten minutes from time. On an interesting footnote reports suggest that Newcastle owner Mike Ashley and Director of Football Joe Kinnear did not even bother to attend the game, their failure to complete a permanent transfer for the second successive window, despite the sale of Yohan Cabaye for almost £20m, has caused a lot of anger on Tyneside, the FA will surely investigate as pitch invaders tried to vent their frustration with the Newcastle Dugout.
Bonus points: Boroni (3), Mannone (2) Bardsley & Colback (1)

[divider_1px]

West Ham 2-0 Swansea
Having parked the bus mid-week it was refreshing to see the 19th-century Hammers actually playing some decent football in this encounter against relegation rivals Swansea. West Ham’s Andy Carroll, who has just returned from long term injury, set up two goals for Kevin Nolan before being harshly being sent off. Big Andy had been involved in an aerial challenge with Swansea’s Chico Flores and appeared to accidentally catch him with his arm on 59 minutes, Flores went to ground very easily clutching his face and referee Howard Webb gave Carroll his marching orders. (The Baftas in the post Chico). West Ham came out with attacking intent in this game and they took the lead on 26 minutes with the game’s first shot on target when Carroll’s cushioned header for Nolan was driven home. The ex-Newcastle team-mates linked up again to double the home side’s lead just before the break. Carroll won the ball from former Liverpool team-mate Stewart Downing’s corner at the far post and nodded the ball across goal, where Nolan was lurking to guide his second and kill the game off. The goal means six of Big Andy’s eleven assists in the Premier League have been for Nolan. Could they be the new S&S or Ant and Dec? Even after Carroll had departed the game Swansea were no great threat on goal, their best chance, in fact came in the first half when Wilfried Bony raced through on goal, only to be denied by a last-ditch James Tomkins tackle. Swansea will be anxious for the return of Michu, their top scorer last season, in order to rescue their season.
Bonus points: Nolan (3), McCartney (2), Collins & Tomkins (1)

[divider_1px]

Cardiff 2-1 Norwich
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Cardiff came from behind to beat Norwich and in doing so picked up their first points under his tutelage and moved off the bottom of the table. Robert Snodgrass had given Norwich an early lead on five minutes as he converted Martin Olsson’s low cross. Solskjaer showed his managerial prowess by introducing new signing Wilfried Zaha for the ineffective Peter Whittingham after just 38mins. Just four minutes into the 2nd half, Zaha justified his manager’s trust by setting up Craig Bellamy, who made history as he became the first player to score for seven clubs in the Premier League. It was also his first for Cardiff and just 73 seconds later another of Solskjaer’s new signings, Kenwyne Jones tapped in the winner to cap his debut. To their credit Norwich battled away at Cardiff and struck the woodwork twice and Cardiff goal keeper David Marshall was equally responsible for this result after frustrating Norwich with a series of fine saves during a frenetic final 20 minutes, he tipped Bradley Johnson’s curling effort onto the crossbar and pushed Nathan Redmond’s effort wide before Bellamy cleared Gary Hooper’s glancing header off the line.
Bonus points: Bellamy (3), Jones (2), Olsson & Snodgrass (1)

[divider_1px]

Everton 2-1 Aston Villa
Kevin Mirallas was the hero for Everton as he fired in a 25-yard free-kick in the 85th minute to complete a great fight-back by the Toffees and restore some pride after last weeks mauling by Liverpool. Everton started well enough when Aiden McGeady almost scored after just two minutes into his home debut, a curling left-footer that rebounded off the post, but on 34 minutes Villa’s Leandro Bacuna opened the scoring when the Dutchman calmly slotted home past Tim Howard. Everton were looking devoid of ideas but Steven Pienaar’s introduction led to a improvement in their play. Defender John Stones was replaced with the attacking Steven Naismith on 70 minutes and this changed everything as the Scot was sent clear four minutes later by Pienaar’s clever pass, and he clinically tucked away the equaliser. The win was confirmed when Mirallas in the dying minutes won a free-kick and he brought the Goodison faithful to its feet with the winner.

Bonus Points: Bacuna(3), Pienaar, Mirallas & Naismith(2)

[divider_1px]

Fulham 0-3 Southampton
Southampton punished a poor Fulham side as Rene Muelensteen’s side sunk quicker than the Titanic to the bottom of the table and with fixtures against Manchester United and Liverpool coming up they face a battle in their bid to avoid relegation. Fulham new signing Kostas Mitroglou was introduced to the crowd before kick-off but he may be questioning his decision to turn his back on Champions League football after another abject display from his new employers. The first half was actually an even affair, with little to choose between the sides with Darren Bent twice denied by fine saves from Artur Boruc. But Saints boss Pochettino adjusted his midfield at half-time, introducing Jack Cork and he helped Southampton get the upper hand in the middle of the park and in the 64th minute he started the move that gave the Saints the lead when after a series of passes, Lallana fired in a low shot from 10 yards, to justify many an FPL manager’s faith. After this Fulham crumbled and their fragility was exposed again six minutes later when Southampton inflicted further damage. Nathaniel Clyne raced down the right wing and exchanged passes with Steven Davis before sending a perfect cross to Rickie Lambert, who crashed the ball into the net from 10 yards out. Five minutes later, Southampton made it 3-0. Lambert launched a swift counter-attack with a long range pass to Jay Rodriguez who curled the ball into the top corner from 15 yards out. Fulham have now conceded 53 goals this season, it is a toll that could prove catastrophic in their battle to escape relegation.
Bonus Points: Lambert(3), Lallana(2), Fonte & Yoshida (1)

[divider_1px]

Hull 1-1 Spurs
Hull have been in poor form of late, and with Spurs result against City last time out, they needed to bounce back quickly in order to keep in the running for a top four spot. It was Hull that made the first move as their new  strikeforce combined to give them the lead. Nickica Jelavic flicked a header on towards Shane Long to run through and grab his first in a Hull jersey. Spurs continued to press for the equaiser but they had to wait until halfway through the second half for the breakthrough. A clever long range free kick saw Eriksen make a short pass onto Danny Rose who rifled a strong shot towards the box which picked out Paulinho. The Brazilian controlled, swivelled and shot smartly as he smashed the ball high into the net. That goals salvaged a draw for Spurs and keeps them in the mix although three points was really needed.
Bonus Points: Paulinho(3) Vertongen(2) Rose(1)

[divider_1px]

Stoke 2-1 Manchester United
A rejuvenated United arrived at the Brittania, ready to slug it out for a result. It was never going to be easy in this one as Stoke have a very decent home record. Things started badly for United as Johnny Evans was forced off early on with what looks like to be a calf strain. They also lost Phil Jones later on in the first half as he clashed badly with Jon Walters and was forced off on the stretcher with concussion. Things then went from bad to worse for United as a Charlie Adam free kick was wickedly deflected by Michael Carrick past a helpless David De Gea. After the break there were positive signs for the away side as they were back in the game. Juan Mata moving the ball on to Robin Van Persie and the Dutch striker notched his second in as many games since his return from injury.  Once again the game was turned on its head as Charlie Adam produced a fantastic strike into the top corner to send the home faithful in ecstasy. Late on a superb Wayne Rooney free kick was, just as superbly saved by Asmir Begovic. The keeper tipped the ball onto the post and back into the thick of the action, with a goal mouth scramble resulting in Cleverly hoofing the ball over the bar when he should’ve done better.
Bonus Points: Adam(3), Mata(2), Van Persie(1)

[divider_1px]

West Brom 1-1 Liverpool
Last season’s trip to the Hawthorns proved disastrous for Liverpool and so they wanted to make amends this time around and came close to doing so, until Kolo Toure got involved in the action. The game started off slowly and it was the home team that showed some ambition and were moving the ball along nicely. Liverpool never really got out of first gear and yet still managed to hit the lead. It was S&S in action again as Luis Suarez found a bit of space to cross the ball and provide Daniel Sturridge at the far post for the easiest of finishes. Suarez then had a fantstic opportunity to score the second as he beat Lugno with ease but a tame finish failed to beat Ben Foster. Disaster then struck as Kolo Toure inexplicably passed the ball across the edge of his own penalty area straight into the path of Baggies’ forward Victor Anichebe, who placed the ball in the corner of the net. Two points dropped for the Reds and a valuable point for West Brom.
Bonus Points: Sturridge(3), Anichebe(2), Skrtel(1)

[divider_1px]

Arsenal 2-0 Crystal Palace
What Tony Pulis has done with Palace of late is commendable, however to go to the Emirates and get a result is something not many teams can do. Early on and it was frustrating times for the home side. Arsenal had over 80% of possession but could not find the break through past a resilient Palace defence. Early on in the second half and the Gunner took the lead as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain deftly controlled Santi Cazorla’s superb through ball and lifted it over the oncoming Julian Speroni. Palace almost found an instant response but Wojciech Szczesny saved smartly from a Cameron Jerome header from close range. It was the Ox again who grabbed his second of the game and killed off the contest after he ran at the Palace defence at pace and then drilled the ball home into the corner. Giroud was credited with the assist for the goal. Arsenal go back to the top for the time being.
Bonus Points: Chamberlain(3), Koscielny(2), Sagna(1)

This article was written by Eddy and Migs