Saturday Review GW21 FPL Fantasy Premier League

Hull 0-2 Chelsea
With the opportunity to go top of the league overnight Chelsea were always going to be a handful for Hull, however the home side have been very solid at at the KC so it was never going to be plain sailing for the Blues. Chelsea worked very hard in the first half but were unable to break the deadlock. They had to wait till the 56th minute when Eden Hazard fired them ahead with a stunning goal from the edge of the penalty area after he had avoided a few vein Hull challenges as he weaved his magic after Ashley Cole’s deft flick to Hazard, to claim the assist. The three points were then wrapped up late on as in form striker Fernando Torres (that’s two in two, anyway!) netted for the Blues with Willian claiming the assist. The victory sent Chelsea top of the table, at least for the time being.

Bonus Points: Cole (3), Torres (2), Luiz (1)

Cardiff 0-2 West Ham
An absolute bun fight this one and a potential six pointer, it was essential for each team to win it. West Ham almost took the lead early on as a cross by Stewart Downing evaded everyone and came back off the post of the Cardiff goal. There was then a lengthy delay as Guy Demel was stretchered off with what looked like a terrible head injury, and had to be replaced early on. Then just before half time West Ham struck a crucial blow as Carlton Cole put the Hammers ahead lashing in a Matt Jarvis cross. James Tomkins then decided to make life even more stressful for his beleaguered boss as he was sent off for a second bookable offence, they really are starting to run out of defenders now! Cardiff piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser but could not make them pay and subsequently deep into injury time Mark Noble sealed it for West Ham as they broke on the counter attack and he finished cooly from a pass by the returning Andy Carroll.

Bonus Points: Noble (3), Cole & Adrian (2)

Everton 2-0 Norwich
With Everton very solid at home and looking to keep up their good form, Norwich were always going to have trouble with this one and so it proved with the Toffees ultimately just being too good for their visitors and once more moving back into the top four. Gareth Barry got the ball rolling for the hosts after receiving a  Romelu Lukaku lay-off and driving the ball into the top corner from fully 20 yards after a lengthy run to score his 50th Premier League goal and open the scoring in this one. Norwich laboured for most of the game to keep up with Everton but did have a small spell of pressure before finally being put to the sword. Everton went two up as a superb Kevin Mirallas free kick was whipped in to put them comfortably ahead and effectively kill the game as a contest.

Bonus Points: Baines (3), Barry (2), Jagielka & Mirallas (1)

Fulham 1-4 Sunderland
The Adam Johnson show. We haven’t uttered those words for a good while. If ever. This was another crucial relegation battle here as Fulham have been poor of late and Sunderland just cannot get off the foot of the table. It was the latter however who got off to a stormer as a well struck free kick from Adam Johnson found the top corner of the net. Then another well worked set play found the back of the net as Ki Sung Yeung steered in a well worked set-piece, inspired by Jonhnson, to put Sunderland two up. Fulham then got themselves back into it as Steve Sidwell headed home from a Damien Duff corner. Johnson grabbed his second and extended the lead to two again as he collected Ki’s excellent through ball and slid the ball under Stockdale. He then went onto to complete his hat trick when he converted from the penalty spot, this after Senderos had brought down Altidore in the box. A fantastic result for Poyet and his men and they finally move off the base of the table, albeit  by goal difference.

Bonus Points: Johnson (3), Ki (2), Sidwell (1)

Southampton 1 – 0 West Brom
Home comforts for Southampton in this one as they were looking to take advantage of the manager transition at West Brom, as caretaker Keith Downing took charge for the final time before handing over the reigns to new manager Pepe Mel, who looked on from the stands today. He may now appreciate the job he has on though as he watched a lacklustre display from his new team as they succumbed eventually to the inevitable. It took a while coming though and we had to wait until halfway into the second half for anything of value to happen. Adam Lallana sealed it for the home side with his sixth goal of the season, controlling the ball and producing a smart finish from a Gaston Ramirez cross. This will have been a welcome clean sheet for those that stuck it out with Boruc and it was thanks to him in the end that the Saints took all three points as he produced a stunning save with his left leg to deny Shane Long an equaliser. That was enough to see Southampton get their season back on track.

Bonus Points: Fonte (3), Lallana (2), Lovren (1)

Tottenham 2-0 Crystal Palace
The last time these two sides met in August they both had different managers! Spurs Boss Tim Sherwood has had a great start to his managerial career and was looking to add to his ten points from four games, though this wouldn’t be easy against Tony Pulis and his “Park the Bus Tactics”. The game was not what we expected with Palace forcing the play and being awarded a penalty in the 8th minute when Mousa Dembele upended Marouane Chamakh, alas the resulting penalty from Jason Puncheon was blasted over the bar, it was an effort that Jonny Wilkinson would have been proud of. The rest of the first half was a dour affair, not even a yellow card to talk about and both sides only recorded one shot each on target. Whatever Tim Sherwood said at half time to the Spurs lads certainly worked, as within five minutes of the re-start Spurs were ahead when Christian Eriksen fired into the net following a headed assist from Emmanuel Adebayor. The home side had the bit between their teeth now and after more sustained pressure with no end result Sherwood sent on crowd favourite and Toronto FC bound Jermain Defoe to inject some pace in the play. It was a decision that proved to be the game clincher, within fifteen minutes Defoe scored after a lovely whipped in cross from Aaron Lennon. Palace threw the kitchen sink at Spurs in an effort to salvage something but it was to no avail. Spurs continue their great form and Palace will be left to rue that first half penalty miss.

Bonus points: Chiriches (3), Dawson (2), Defoe & Eriksen (1)

Man Utd 2-0 Swansea
Swansea were eager for a repeat of the last weekends FA Cup result and the signs looked promising against a Utd side that was low on confidence. With Wayne Rooney away sunning himself on some beach (Utd call this warm weather training!) all eyes were on youngster Adnan Januzaj who was starting in the number 10 position. A needless foul on Danny Welbeck on eleven minutes gave Adnan his first chance on goal and the resulting free-kick, was curled from 25-yards against the bar with the Swansea keeper, Gerhard Tremmel well beaten. Welbeck was making the most of his starting opportunity but on 38 minutes he spurned a great chance to put Utd in front when he dragged a shot wide from 12 yards having been picked out by Rafael. (You can’t help but feel that a fit RVP or Rooney would have done much better!) Swansea continued to battle though and Ex Liverpool man Jonjo Shelvey was busy as ever and kept pulling the strings in the Swans midfield. The game turned in Utd’s favour on 47 minutes when Antonio Valencia (who looked offside in the build-up) was on hand to turn in a Shinji Kagawa effort that had been blocked on the line. Utd now started to believe in themselves and they produced some fast, aggressive football, Januzaj continued to test the Swansea defence and he was ably assisted by his team mates. Patrice Evra was involved as ever in the Utd attacks and on 59 minutes his deflected shot was graciously turned home by Welbeck. The Red Devils should really have won by more, Kagawa and Chris Smalling, in particular were guilty of glaring misses. The win will be most welcome after Utd’s recent run of form, the bonus points may go elsewhere but Januzaj looks like he could follow in the footsteps of other Teenage Old Trafford Greats, the likes of Edwards, Best, Whiteside and Giggs may have company in the Manchester annals.

Bonus points: Welbeck & Rafael (3), Valencia (1)

This article was written by Eddy and Migs