FA Cup Scout Notes – Fourth Round – Saturday

Spurs win at a canter, Alexis Sanchez inspires a Gunners victory, while Kelechi Iheanacho passes another audition as Sergio Aguero’s stand-in. Here are all the notes from Saturday’s FA Cup fourth round ties…

Chadli Stars In Spurs Stroll

Mauricio Pochettino made seven changes to his starting XI as Tottenham Hotspur cruised into the fifth round by way of a 4-1 victory at Colchester. Harry Kane was among the starters but left the field shortly after Spurs doubled their advantage in the 64^th minute. Dele Alli and Toby Alderweireld were unused on the bench.

Nacer Chadli bolstered his case for a starting berth at Norwich on Tuesday with a brace and an assist. The Belgian has notched four goals and two assists in a trio of outings across all competitions, arguably pushing him ahead of Son Heung-min and Erik Lamela in the tussle for that fourth spot in the Lilywhites’ attacking quartet.

Eric Dier netted Tottenham’s second with a heavily deflected strike, while Tom Carroll – who started in central midfield but advanced to the number ten berth following Moussa Dembele’s introduction on 56 minutes – bagged his third goal of the season. Elsewhere, Kieran Trippier, Nabil Bentaleb and Erik Lamela picked up assists.

With Jan Vertonghen sidelined for at least two months, Kevin Wimmer was handed a start alongside Dier in central defence. Given the recent backing from Pochettino, Wimmer would seem destined to partner Alderweireld at Carrow Road. The Austrian is priced at just 4.6 in the Fantasy Premier League and would therefore offer an assured route into the Spurs defence over the next two months. Spurs are, however, without a clean sheet in their last five.

Sanchez Ignites Gunners

Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny – who both lasted the distance – were the only players that retained their starting slots as Arsenal recorded a 2-1 win over Burnley at the Emirates. Alexis Sanchez was the star of the show, marking his first start since November with a goal and assist as part of an impressive display. The Chilean ranks seventh with regards to “transfers in” (67,000) ahead of a home tie against Southampton, with a wave of Kevin De Bruyne owners making the switch in response to the Belgian’s long-term injury.

Operating at right-back, Callum Chambers opened the scoring with a sumptuous strike. With Aaron Ramsey rested and absent from the matchday squad, a fit-again Francis Coquelin partnered debutant Mohamed Elneny in the centre of the park. Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal were both unused substitutes.

Iheanacho Punishes Villa

Manchester City crushed Aston Villa 4-0 en route to the last 16. Kelechi Iheanacho illustrated his burgeoning potential with a hat-trick (one penalty) and assist for the visitors, boosting his tally to eight for the season. Certainly, with Wilfried Bony consigned to the treatment room and De Bruyne out of action, the Nigerian frontman could be in line to enjoy increased pitch time in the month ahead. The same can be said of Raheem Sterling, who netted the fourth goal and claimed an assist.

Sergio Aguero and David Silva were unused on the bench at Villa Park, while Yaya Toure was handed the afternoon off.

City’s defence recorded their fourth clean sheet in six across all competitions, offering encouragement for investors in their rearguard before a favourable trip to Sunderland in midweek. Bacary Sagna was recalled and deployed at centre-back alongside Nicolas Otamendi throughout – his impressive performance will have given Pellegrini food for thought while the Chilean waits on Vincent Kompany’s recovery from injury.

Eagles Edge Past Potters

Wilfried Zaha was on target as Crystal Palace sneaked past Stoke City in a 1-0 home win. The twinkle-toed winger has been the Eagles’ premier threat of late but is suffering from Palace’s lack of cohesion in the final third – as evidenced by the fact they mustered just two shots on target against the Potters.

To compound matters, Dwight Gayle had a setback in training, further diminishing Alan Pardew’s options in the absence of the suspended striker Connor Wickham. Nonetheless, the Palace boss revealed that Emmanuel Adebayor is likely to be involved in some capacity in the midweek meeting with Bournemouth.

Yohan Cabaye – who served up the assist for Zaha – represents the Londoners’ chief creative presence, but is now a major doubt for their midweek fixture after leaving the stadium on crutches with an ankle complaint.

Adding to Stoke’s misery following their exit from both domestic cups this week, Marc Wilson succumbed to an injury late on at Selhurst Park, which Mark Hughes suggested could be ligament damage. Considering that Ryan Shawcross is also out of action with ongoing back problems, Marc Muniesa (4.2 in the FPL) seems destined to partner Philipp Wollscheid in central defence when the Potters travel to Old Trafford.

Elphick Returns For Much-Changed Cherries

Josh King and Marc Pugh graced the scoresheet as Bournemouth ran out 2-1 victors over Portsmouth. In light of Benik Afobe’s form (two in two) in the lone-striker berth, along with the signing of Lewis Grabban, King’s spell as an out-of-position asset seems at an end. He now looks forced to challenge the likes of Junior Stanislas, Matt Ritchie and Juan Iturbe for starts on the flanks. The latter earned his first start in Saturday’s tie as Eddie Howe continued to ease the Argentine into the first team fold.

On the injury front, Cherries captain Tommy Elphick clocked 76 minutes on his return from ankle surgery – his first start since September. Elphick’s return to contention could now force a shake-up in Howe’s back four, with Adam Smith’s role at right-back under threat. It would seem likely that Simon Francis will revert to full-back, allowing Elphick to return alongside Steve Cook in the centre. Alternatively, it could be Cook who makes way for the club skipper, with Francis and Smith retained. The midweek teamsheet at Palace will offer more clues as to that outcome.

Berahino Brace Not Enough For Baggies

Amid a crescendo of reports regarding a possible transfer this window, Saido Berahino recorded a brace as West Bromwich Albion conceded two late goals against Peterborough United, setting up a replay on the Posh’s home turf. In the event that the 5.8-priced forward fails to seal a transfer to Newcastle United or Tottenham Hotspur, he could yet establish himself as a viable pick-up on the Fantasy market this campaign, given that the Baggies are hardly blessed with alternative attacking riches.

Elsewhere in the West Brom camp, Ben Foster was sidelined due to a minor rib injury, rendering him an early doubt for the West Midlanders’ home encounter against Swansea City on Tuesday.

Liverpool Held In Anfield Bore

Jurgen Klopp enacted 10 changes from the XI that competed in Liverpool’s midweek League Cup clash, welcoming Nathaniel Clyne back from the treatment room whilst handing a start to Dejan Lovren following his return to the bench in midweek. The Reds’ inexperienced side ultimately failed to overcome West Ham United at the first time of asking, adding yet another fixture to their already congested February schedule.

Liverpool’s replay date with West Ham will fall on February 9, finally extinguishing all possibility that their league encounter with Everton from Gameweek 27, postponed due to the Reds’ progress to the Capital One Cup Final, could be shifted forward to Gameweek 25.

West Ham produced an unconvincing performance against the Merseysiders’ fledgling XI, tallying just seven attempts and one shot on target throughout the course of the match-up. Dimitri Payet played the 90 minutes, while Michail Antonio was introduced at the 70-minute mark. James Tomkins and Victor Moses were drafted back into the side, but Adrian (birth of child) and Mark Noble (illness) were unavailable for selection. Tomkins picked up a head injury in the first half which required stitches, while Cheikhou Kouyate followed the defender off the pitch shortly after – both are doubts for Tuesday’s home meeting with Villa.