Part 2 of this extended Gameweek took place last night with – it’s fair to say – some slightly more attractive fixtures than the night before. With everyone hoping for a 100 point week, there was a weight of expectation on players like Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen and Charlie Austin in particular to deliver, before adding to their totals when (if?) they play again on Saturday.

MCY v LEI

If you hadn’t fallen for the hype of a two team double gameweek, chances are you captained the main man Sergio Aguero. The Argentine remains joint top of the goals scored column along with Diego Costa. It’s refreshing that the three players behind them in the table are all English; Kane, Austin and Berahino. Anyway, back to matters in hand. This would inevitably be a stroll past a struggling Leicester, so City took the chance to rest key figures such as Kompany, Zabaleta and Dzeko; much to the annoyance of the owners of that trio.

Leicester hadn’t won a game since beating Villa back in early January (no real measure of success, that) and nobody really fancied their chances against City who wanted to get back to winning ways after losing to Liverpool last time out. Bony partnered Aguero upfront, and he had a header cleared off the line early on. He missed a few other good opportunities but nearly gave a way a penalty after bringing Mahrez down in the box. City are clearly suffering from a lack of confidence; Yaya Toure hasn’t returned to the kind of form he was demonstrating prior to going off to the AFCON. In the three matches since his return, he has only delivered appearance points.

The deadlock was broken on the stroke of halftime by David Silva, netting his tenth of the season (his best return yet in English football) but no assist was awarded after the ball came to him from a Leicester defender. It took a long time to come, but the game was eventually wrapped up by James Milner following a cross from Jesus Navas. No significant points from Sergio Aguero, who will need to get back to scoring ways soon to justify his selection in my fantasy team now Sturridge is back and fully fit.

Silva – 3pts

Navas – 2pts

Kolarov – 1pt

NEW v MUN

Another game, another new line-up for Manchester United as Falcao was dropped to the bench and Fellaini took his place in a more advanced position with Wayne Rooney. Phil Jones missed out for the second game running with Smalling filling his position and Ashley Young kept his place in the starting XI. For Newcastle, striker Papiss Cisse looked to continue his impressive minutes per goal ratio.

The first half was perhaps memorable only for a spitting incident between Cisse and United defender Johnny Evans, and a penalty not given when Smalling brought down Riviere. There was an emotional return to first team action for cancer survivor Jonas Gutierrez. It was a nice touch that Coloccini handed him the captains armband, and not to be outdone, the referee handed him a yellow card for a mistimed challenge. Fantasy points were looking to be in short supply, except for the defenders and goalkeepers (with De Gea in particular earning his money again) until Ashley Young popped up late on to seize on a poor clearance from Tim Krul, who was under pressure from Rooney and steered home the only goal of the game in the 89^th minute.

Young – 3pts

Evans – 2pts

Smalling – 1pt

QPR v ARS

In the first of QPR’s two home games this double gameweek, they hosted an Arsenal team looking to make it four wins in a row after last tasting defeat in the North London derby. Rangers meanwhile were looking for only their second win of the year. Over 157,000 managers had brought striker Charlie Austin in this week, and all eyes were on him to justify his selection. QPR were perhaps the better team in the first half, but couldn’t back this up with goals and the game didn’t really come to life until after the break.

Olivier Giroud scored for the third week running, assisted by Kieran Gibbs whose shot was blocked in the first instance. Gibb’s grabbed another assist for Arsenal’s second, scored by Alexis Sanchez with his first since 11 Jan. He was a popular transfer out prior to this Gameweek, with many losing patience at his poor returns. Perhaps a bit hasty, but you can understand why at that price. 13 goals in his debut season is still a pretty good return. An ownership percentage of 30.6% and a price tag of £11.4m mean he is still fancied by many.

Charlie Austin finally drew a sigh of relief from his owners with a powerful strike past David Ospina. Prior to DGW28 I had mentioned to several people how QPR winger Matt Phillips was a good transfer target based on the stats I looked up on this site. This recommendation was vindicated as he did indeed provide the assist for Austin. 1-2 the final score, Arsenal remaining in third place and QPR sitting third from bottom.

Gibbs – 3pts

Giroud – 2pts

Sanchez – 1pt 

TOT v SWA

Not often Spurs v Swansea would be seen as the main event in the FPL world, but double gameweeks are odd like that, and with many people loading up on players from the Cup Final losers, it’s where our focus of attention lay. There were some pre-match jitters regarding the starting line-up, but our fears proved unfounded as Spurs sent out a strong team full of players that had started at Wembley. A rare start and an even rarer goal from Nacer Chadli (scoring for the first time since New Years Day and assisted by Danny Rose) was all too much for Swansea striker Bafetimbi Gomis to deal with as he collapsed and needed carrying off. It turns out it wasn’t the first time he had fainted on the pitch, having done so several times at previous club Lyon.

Play restarted and Swansea grabbed an equaliser through the impressive Ki Sung-Yeung. This was his third in five games since returning from the Asian Cup. The assist was provided by Neil Taylor. After the break, Spur’s midfielder Ryan Mason scored his first league goal set up for him by another popular pick this week, Christian Eriksen. Still nothing from Harry Kane though, and nerves were starting to get rattled amongst the 45% of managers who had captained him.  A picture started circulating on Twitter of Kane’s own FPL team in which he owns himself, but in which he had opted for himself as vice-captain, preferring instead to captain Jan Vertonghen. He is obviously an amateur as Vertonghen has only scored once all season.

Andros Townsend made it 3-1, made by Nabil Bentaleb before old boy Gylfi Sigurdsson pulled one back for the visitors to set up a tense final few minutes. The provider for the goal was substitute Jefferson Montero. Swansea pushed for the equaliser in injury time, and even keeper Fabianski went forward hoping to make a difference. The three points were made safe by Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris who made an outstanding save in the dying seconds from Fernandez. This is not the Spurs team of old. They look to have bounced straight back from the Cup defeat and will be looking to see off QPR when they visit Loftus Road at the weekend.

Rose & Ki – 3pts

Chadli & Bentaleb – 1pt

STO v EVE

Stoke were looking for their third win in a row, while Everton were looking to halt their alarming slide towards the relegation places. As the old adage goes, going away to Stoke on a cold midweek evening is a tough test, and so it proved to be. Everton are a relative pushover these days, and Mark Hughes’ bruisers despatched them with relative ease. The opener came just after the half hour mark with Victor Moses rising above the Everton defence and meeting a Phil Bardsley cross to power his header past Tim Howard.

After the interval, Everton regrouped and striker Romelu Lukaku tried to make a difference, but it was all in vain. Stoke wrapped up the three points courtesy of Mame Biram Biouf who scored his second goal in three games gobbling up the rebound after Arnautovic’s shot had hit the post. The Potters were never in any danger after that and they look to be in good form as they prepare to visit old manager Tony Pulis at the Hawthorns in GW29.

Bardsley – 3pts

Wilson & Diouf – 2pts

WHU v CHE

There’s no denying the facts; West Ham’s season is done. After so much promise they went into this game on a run of three draws and two defeats since they last got three points. Chelsea on the other hand, although maybe weary from a Cup Final win on Sunday, would have been full of confidence going into this game.

The only goal came midway through the first half with Eden Hazard powering home a header from a Ramires cross. To be fair, West Ham pushed Chelsea all the way, and didn’t look as bad as their recent form suggests. One win in eleven doesn’t make for good reading at any stage, but Hammers fans should be thankful they posted so many points on the board early on in the season. For fantasy managers, Hammers players have gone back to being what they usually are in any season – to be avoided except as short term punts. It has now been six games without a goal for 27.4% owned Stewart Downing. Relying on a player like that to come good again is probably only going to result in tears. Arsenal away up next for West Ham, while Chelsea welcome Southampton to Stamford Bridge.

Hazard – 3pts

Cahill – 2pts

Zouma – 1pt

LIV v BUR

Liverpool are the Premier League’s form tea, having dropped only four points all year. They hosted a Burnley side, who are full of endeavor, but who still remain in the bottom three. Daniel Sturridge returned to the starting lineup with manager Brendan Rodgers hinting beforehand that he is now back to full match fitness and raring to go. A dangerous prospect and one fantasy managers will do well to monitor. He is currently owned by just over 1 in 10 managers. Can you afford not to if he hits the kind of form he is capable of?

Jordan Henderson is making the most of his time in the limelight in the continued absence of captain Steven Gerrard, and scored a goal from long range to open up the scoring at Anfield last night. This was his second goal in two games and he looks to be in scintillating form. He turned provider for Daniel Sturridge, who, as alluded to above is a natural goalscorer who could punish non-owners in FPL.

Burnley, for all their effort, are not suited to the top flight. I almost feel sorry for their players who are playing week in week out with no respite due to their flimsy squad. It has now been three games without a goal for Danny Ings, and the whole team are looking tired. Still, never mind – only Man City at home next, before a trip down South to meet Southampton followed by games against Spurs and Arsenal. Enjoy it while you can fellas…

Henderson – 3pts

Skrtel – 2pts

Sturridge -1pt

Normally that would be the end of it, but there is still one fixture to go in GW28. QPR host Spurs on Saturday. Many of you will have a scattering of their players in your teams. Some – like me – will need miracles to get anywhere near that magical 100 point mark! Harry Kane doesn’t often go for two league games without scoring. In fact it’s only happened once all season, when he blanked for three games between GW13-15. Let’s hope he doesn’t decide to another off day. And if Jan Vertonghen scores, I’m reporting him to the authorities for insider dealing!