Finally the Double Gameweek anticipated by many was upon us. A midweek fixture list to be played out on Tuesday and Wednesday evening, culminating in the postponed showdown between Tottenham and QPR on Saturday. This will at least give us some Fantasy Premier League interest over the weekend while other clubs are otherwise engaged in FA Cup battle. Well, Aston Villa, West Brom, Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal will be anyway. The rest of the Premier League can take the weekend off, kick back, do some chores around the house and go and enjoy a carvery lunch on Sunday.

Last night hardly set the pulse racing in terms of the games on offer, but they had an impact at either end of the table as Villa rehearsed for their Cup clash with Albion, Hull took on Sunderland and Southampton tried to bounce back from back to back defeats as they took on Crystal Palace. So, how did it all pan out? Let’s take a look.

AVL v WBA

Tim Sherwood was still seeking his first win as Villa manager as they sought to halt a slide of seven (count ‘em!) consecutive defeats. This didn’t promise to be easy as they were facing an Albion side reaping the benefits of the coaching methods of Tony Pulis, who has a Midas touch when it comes to turning round failing teams. They went into the game off the back of three consecutive clean sheets, alerting FPL managers everywhere to the value of loading up on their defensive backline. Especially against a Villa side who had scored only two goals since Boxing Day, and had only registered more than one goal in a game twice all season. The omens did not look good.

Villa started brightly though, and deservedly took the lead in the 22^nd minute when Gabriel Agbonlahor scored only his fourth of the season following a flick-on from Christian Benteke. Albion equalised in the second half as pre-match injury doubt (Pulis mindgames?) grabbed his third goal in four games assisted by centre-half Joleon Lescott. Berahino might be a good transfer option for those managers who have brought Charlie Austin in for the double gameweek who might be looking to ship him out around Gameweek 31.

As the game looked to be petering out for a draw, the unusually edgy Ben Foster fumbled a relatively straightforward clearance, and in his haste to make amends sent Villa defender Matt Lowton to the ground. 94^th minute spot kicks are no doubt pressure situations in normal circumstances, let alone when you are trying to register a first win since early December and when you have the weight of expectation of not only your fans, but your new manager on you. Benteke’s record this season is – to put it mildly – rubbish. Two goals in nineteen appearances is a record some of the Premier League’s defenders would be ashamed off.  He held his nerve though, and fired past the keeper.

Three points for Villa, some crazy Sherwood celebrations and Villa fans walking into work today full of the joys of spring. Bonus points were dished out as follows:

Benteke – 3pts

Agbonlahor – 2pts

Berahino – 1pt

HUL v SUN

Hull had been undergoing a little bit of a revival in recent weeks as the partnership between their two frontmen, Dame N’Doye and Nikica Jelavic had borne instant fruit. Last time out against Stoke though, neither player started, and although N’Doye came on as a late sub, it wasn’t enough to prevent a 1-0 defeat. With both players back in the starting line-up for this clash with struggling Sunderland (both on and off the field currently) they would have had confidence going into this game that they could get something out of it. Sunderland started the livelier, and had the best of the opening stages of the game. As is normally the way though, they went behind as N’Doye scored his third goal in his five appearances to date in the Premier League, following a free kick from Tom Huddlestone. Shortly after an ugly (and I’m not just referring to their looks) altercation took place between Gus Poyet and Steve Bruce, with Poyet sent to the stands. He seemed a little upset about the yellow card awarded to Jack Rodwell but what he actually said to his opposite number is still only speculation. Almost inevitably, it was Rodwell who provided the equaliser for the Black Cats, as he steered home an assist from substitute Patrick Van Aanholt who had only been on the pitch for five minutes. As is the way for midweek evening kick-offs, because we get to see the team sheets before the FPL deadline, it can influence last minute benchings and transfers. 3.5% of managers with Van Aanholt in their team may have taken the option to bench him, thereby missing out on those glorious assist points. I only mention it because I was one of those 3.5%. Rats. 1-1 the end result, perhaps a fair reflection on the game, but a point neither team will be that enamoured with.

Huddlestone & Rodwell – 3pts

N’Doye – 1pt

SOU v CRY

For a lot of managers, of the three fixtures taking place last night, their main area of interest would have been the game down at St Mary’s where Southampton players remain popular picks, despite a recent wobble. With twelve clean sheets to their name already this season, their defenders and goalkeeper in particular are owned by many. Their Top 4 credentials have been in question as they went into this match following a draw and two defeats with no goals scored in any of those matches. Koeman’s men needed to halt this slide, or risk their season going the way of so many teams before them; fly high until the New Year and then gradually fade off as heavy pitches and squad sizes mean fatigue sets in and the larger clubs come to reclaim the league positions that are rightfully theirs. Koeman is a tough old bird though, and he isn’t going to go down without a fight. In the first time, the lack of confidence amongst the Saints attackers was evident with some poor finishing on display, none more so than from Graziano Pelle, whose barren run looks no sign of ending. Palace were happy to soak up the pressure and displayed no real ambition going forward. As the game opened up in the second half, the introduction of Tadic from the bench changed the attacking dynamic and Yoshida nearly took advantage as one of Tadic’s corners was headed on by Pelle, but the ball went agonisingly wide. The only goal of the game eventually came courtesy of the lively Sadio Mane, scoring his seventh of his debut campaign after Ward-Prowse provided the assist. That brought up eight assists for the season now for JWP, who now has as many as Downing and Sigurdsson, but who is frustratingly being used more and more as an impact sub. What is interesting to note, however, is those eight assists have come in only seventeen games. Not bad at all for a player still priced at an affordable £4.8m. The game finished 1-0, with Saints still in touch of the Top 4, but they face Chelsea at the Bridge next time out. Palace meanwhile continue to be too inconsistent to be considering a move for any of their players at this present time.

Mane – 3pts

Schneiderlin – 2pts

Fonte – 1pt

With Part 2 to come this evening, tune in later for a wrap up of those games. Over 45% of us have captained Harry Kane this week, so its fingers crossed that he delivers. Those who have looked elsewhere could make huge gains if Kane is suffering a Cup Final defeat hangover. Double Gameweek’s are funny beasts. When else would you disregard Sergio Aguero at home to Leicester as the man for your armband?