Hello again...hope this article finds you with your arrows all green following the final two games of this shortened gameweek. Yesterday's action saw a relatively low average as expected, but the two games played out today would define whether you are entering next week's double gameweek in good shape, or in need of some surgery. Let's have a look how it played out, starting at the Etihad...

MCY v WHU
Kolarov found his name on the teamsheet for the first time in five games, along with Frank Lampard facing his former employers from yesteryear. Sergio Agüero was the lone striker with Yaya Toure taking the armband (in real life - nobody is mad enough in this years FPL, although the world No.1 brought the Ivorian into his team this week!!) West Ham gave Carlton Cole the nod in the absence of the injured Sakho.

As the match began, West Ham looked nervy in possession and it was evident from the first 15 minutes that it was going to be unlikely that they would be doing the double over City this season. The opening goal came from a sublime touch from James Collins who sent the ball up and over the keeper and into the net. Unfortunately it was his own net, but the assist points went to the lively Jesús Navas.

The second goal came on 36 minutes when the Hammers were caught in possession and Agüero was able to trade passes with Navas for his 20th goal of the season to the delight of a majority of fantasy managers who had looked on in dread as the Hazard brigade got their reward yesterday.

In the second half there was a heart stopping moment when the stretcher was brought on for Agüero following a challenge from Jenkinson, but he was able to carry on. This wouldn't be the last time the stretcher was seen, however, after Cheikhou Kouyaté swung his elbow at David Silva who stayed down and later received hospital treatment for a suspected fractured cheekbone that could well see him out of DGW34 and a home game against Villa.

It took until the 85th minute for West Ham to come to life, with three quick fire chances from Downing, Nolan and Valencia, before an injury time penalty shout was turned down when Winston Reid went to ground. Joe Hart's managed to claim a rare shut out, though, perhaps deserved on his 28th birthday. Bonus points were awarded as follows:
Navas - 3pts
Zabaleta - 2pts
Mangala - 1pt

NEW v TOT
Newcastle welcomed Coloccini back from his ban as Sissoko started his, while Spurs gave the captains armband back to Jan Vertonghen. Maybe the responsibility of captaincy was too much for Harry Kane who had blanked in the two games he had worn it? Fortunately in the fantasy world, he has proved to be a worthwhile captain on more occasions than not this season!
With Spurs having much more of the ball in the opening exchanges, a pattern for the match was set. Newcastle weren't poor - far from it - but the game was lacking a little quality. The breakthrough came on the half hour when Gouffran was dispossessed and Nacer Chadli scored his first goal since GW28. Paulinho was given the assist.
Newcastle manager obviously struck a chord with his players in the dressing room, as it took 15 seconds for the Toon to get back on terms after the break. Former Sunderland midfielder Jack Colback scoring his fourth of the season with fullback Daryl Janmaat getting the assist. Colback's next major contribution came when he fouled Christian Eriksen who took the subsequent free kick which sailed over everyone and into Tim Krul's goal. Many managers still holding Eriksen were beginning to lose patience and were considering moving him on this week. This may just have allowed him a stay of execution.
Those that had captained Kane got more and more anxious; Krul made an unorthodox save to keep him out in the 67th minute. However, the drought was over when Erik Lamela picked up the ball from a long Newcastle clearance and cooly slipped it into Kane who went one on one with Krul. The result was his 20th goal of the season, keeping him neck and neck with Agüero who archived the same feat a couple of hours previously.

Chadli - 3pts
Eriksen - 2pts
Paulinho - 1pt

There we have it then, goals for the popular captain picks - Hazard, Agüero and Kane. Useful clean sheets from West Brom, Everton, Leicester, Chelsea and Manchester City. Somewhat unusually there was a seven way tie for highest scorer of the gameweek, with Heaton, Morgan, King, Hazard, Brunt, Morrison, Navas and Hazard ALL picking up 11 points.
It's time to get planning for the double gameweek now with Liverpool, Hull, Leicester and Chelsea all playing twice. Just a word of caution though, Liverpool may well have had the stuffing knocked out of them by virtue of being knocked out of the FA Cup by Villa this afternoon. Think carefully before tripling up on their players. Hull and Leicester are still fighting for their lives and could provide some big returns if you select the right players. Good luck, and Hopefully you'll be back next week for the Suffix.