Hello again...welcome back to the second part of the Suffix, in which I will sweep up the remaining matches in this extended gameweek. With popular captain choices Harry Kane and Sergio Agüero on display, Super Sunday had two games on offer - starting at Turf Moor.
The only real surprise on the team sheets was the “C” next to the name of Harry Kane. It seems Pochettino has cottoned on to what FPL managers have known all season - Always Captain Kane! With the man of the moment hoping to become the first Spurs striker since Gary Lineker to score 30 goals in a season, the stage was set.
But that would conveniently be forgetting that this was a Burnley team that beat Manchester City in their last home game, and who are forged in the image of their manager, Sean Dyche. They will not go down without a fight that's for sure. Where they will struggle is in scoring goals. Danny Ings looked more likely to score than Kane, but this was his 6th blank in a row.
Kane meanwhile was in the process of upsetting the 36.5% of managers who - along with Pochettino - had entrusted him with the armband. Eriksen and Chadli both had long range chances which on a different day may have won the game, but it ended with honours even and the only real winners were those who have Burnley or Tottenham defensive representation.
Pit is a quirk of this fixture that the previous two Sunderland managers have won the Wear-Tyne derby in only their second game in charge. It was the turn of veteran manager Dick Advocaat who rather surprisingly seems to be in his element up in the North-East trying to navigate his way through a relegation dogfight.
Jonas Gutierrez returned to the starting line up for Newcastle after three substitute appearances, and along with Jack Colback seemed like the only one up for this clash from the visiting team. Sunderland on the other hand had evidently been drilled by Advocaat all week, and their intent was clear.
The breakthrough came just before the break when Steven Fletcher flicked on a Pantilimon goal kick and Jermaine Defoe unleashed a shot that flew past Tim Krul. It was a goal worthy of winning any game. The fact it came in the derby made sure Defoe never has to buy a drink in Sunderland for the rest of his life.
The second half was more open, but aside from Steven Fletcher missing more more chances than is healthy for a forward, the game finished 1-0. From an FPL point of view, Newcastle players should probably be avoided from now until the end of this campaign.
City had lost their last two away games, at Anfield and Turf Moor, but a Monday evening match in front of a TV audience of millions would allow them to show the world they wouldn't be giving up their crown without a fight. Fantasy managers had dumped Sergio Agüero in their droves, but for those of us who had held onto the 17 goal striker were confident. After all, he has NEVER blanked for five games running in his career!
But, as they say so often in the fantasy world - form is key. And it is Palace striker Glenn Murray, not the Argentine, who is in the best form. Despite a City onslaught in the first half, defender Scott Dann received the ball from a flick on and volleyed towards goal. Joe Hart parried it, but only to Murray who scored his fifth goal in his last five games.
An unlikely second came as a result of a free kick for a foul committed on Murray shortly after the break. Hart's suspect positioning combined with Yaya Touré's duck allowed Jason Puncheon to justify his high position on this site's projection matrix as he scored his 4th of the season.
In the second half, it wasn't until Lampard replaced Dzeko that City managed to make their possession pay. Dann cleared a ball from defence only for Yaya Touré to latch onto it and fire past Speroni. No assist was awarded, despite the angry howls of protest from those many FPL managers who had stuck with Agüero and given him the captains armband.
In this relegation six pointer, old pals Tim Sherwood and Chris Ramsey faced off against each other. Those FPL managers who had loaded up on the likes of Austin, Zamora, Benteke or Phillips had enjoyed some welcome points on Saturday, but could lightning strike twice?
It was QPR who struck first, with the game barely 7 minutes old. Matt Phillips added to his assist last time out with a goal made for him by Bobby Zamora. Villa were back on terms 3 minutes later; Christian Benteke proving to all that he is indeed back. The assist was from Fabian Delph, only his third of the season.
It appears that Sherwood has a knack for getting once good strikers back firing again. Last season it was Adebayor at Spurs, this year it is Benteke. The Belgian beast grabbed his second of the game (and third of this gameweek) shortly after the half hour. The assist was provided by his strike partner, Gabby Agbonlahor - his first of the season.
QPR equalised ten minutes after the restart; Clint Hill scoring his first ever Premier League goal after more great work down the right from Matt Phillips. Rangers took the lead with Charlie Austin, the assist again from Matt Phillips who was proving irresistible on the right flank.
Benteke completed his hat-trick to make the score 3-3 in what was turning into an epic contest. The fact it was not being broadcast live (officially!) was just poor luck. It was a great goal to finish a week of great goals. Charles N'Zogbia claimed the assist after being fouled for the freekick, meaning that once again even a two team double gameweek meant good points for the lesser lights of the FPL. Benteke stepped up and launched the freekick over the head of Barton in the QPR wall and in off Rob Green's post. A point a piece for both teams, and points a plenty for those that took a chance in loading up on players from both based on the fact they were playing twice.
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