The Scout reviews Gameweek 19

Gareth Bale tops the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for Gameweek 19 after firing home a hat-trick in Tottenham Hotspur’s 4-0 hammering of Aston Villa. A goal and an eye-catching defensive display in Everton’s win over Wigan Athletic sees Leon Osman sit in second spot, while Jonathan Walters completes the top three, having bagged a brace in Stoke City’s win over Liverpool.

Talking points

As usual, The Scout begins by clearing up any queries concerning points awards over the previous round of matches.

There were four incidents requiring clarification this Gameweek. The first occurred at the Stadium of Light, where Carlos Cuellar has now been awarded the assist for Adam Johnson’s winner for Sunderland against Manchester City. Stephane Sessegnon had initially been credited with supplying the pass prior to Johnson finding the net but this has been rectified upon revision by the Press Association.

Ryan Shawcross has had an assist removed for Jonathan Walters’ equaliser for Stoke City against Liverpool. The centre-half’s long pass was intended for Kenwyne Jones and was significantly deflected into Walters’ path by Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel but as this occurred outside the box, the assist was removed, as explained in the rules:

Assists are awarded to the player from the goal scoring team, who makes the last touch before the goal is scored. If after this touch, an opposing player touches the ball outside the penalty area altering the intended destination of the ball, then no assist is given, except if this intervention directly results in an own goal.

Similarly, Franco Di Santo’s assist for Arouna Kone’s consolation for Wigan Athletic at Everton has been removed. The Argentine’s shot was blocked by Phil Jagielka outside of the box before Kone received the deflection and fired home from close-range.

Chris Brunt has been awarded an assist for his part in West Bromwich Albion’s second goal at Queens Park Rangers. The midfielder’s corner was headed skywards by the hosts’ Armand Traore before keeper Robert Green bundled the ball into his own net – Brunt, as the last attacking player to touch the ball, received the assist as Traore’s intervention occurred inside the penalty area.

Aston Villa 0-4 Tottenham Hotspur

Gareth Bale collected the maximum bonus points (BP) for a devastating display at Villa Park on Wednesday evening. The Welshman grabbed a hat-trick in addition to producing 7 shots on target and 13 crosses; Bale has now picked up 20 BP for the season already, just one less than his haul over the previous campaign. Kyle Naughton was awarded a couple of BP for a strong all-round display. The full-back produced an assist, a successful tackle, an interception and a pair of blocks, as the visitors registered their fourth clean sheet in the last five Gameweeks. A goal and 3 shots on target helped Jermain Defoe to a single BP as he moved up to 92 points; he is now placed fifth in the overall forward rankings.

Everton 2-1 Wigan Athletic

Leon Osman earned the maximum bonus points (BP) as Everton won for the third time in the last four Gameweeks. Going forward, the midfielder produced a goal, 2 shots on target and a couple of successful dribbles, and Osman supplemented this with 12 interceptions, 3 successful tackles and a couple of blocks – he has now picked up 5 BP in the past couple of festive fixtures. A goal, 6 successful tackles, a couple of shots on target and a block helped Phil Jagielka to a couple of BP, while Phil Neville collected a single BP. In his second match back since recovering from injury, the Toffees skipper provided an assist and also had a successful tackle, 4 interceptions and a block amongst his EA SPORTS PPI stats.

Fulham 1-1 Southampton

Dimitar Berbatov picked up the maximum bonus points (BP) in the Craven Cottage stalemate. The Bulgarian opened the scoring for the hosts and also produced 2 shots on target, 19 completed passes and a successful dribble – he has now received 12 BP for the season so far. Southampton pair Rickie Lambert and Gaston Ramirez were both awarded a couple of BP. Lambert slotted home the Saints’ late spot-kick equaliser, while Ramirez had an assist and 2 shots on target amongst his EA SPORTS PPI stats.

Manchester United 4-3 Newcastle United

Patrice Evra earned the maximum bonus points (BP) as Manchester United won for the sixth home match in succession. The left-back supplemented his fourth goal of the season with 2 shots on target, a couple of successful tackles, 8 interceptions and a block – he has now picked up BP in four of the last six Gameweeks. Javier Hernandez was awarded a couple of BP for the hosts. Deputising for the injured Wayne Rooney, the Mexican produced a goal and assist, in addition to 4 shots on target, while a fourth goal of the season and 17 interceptions helped Jonny Evans to a single BP.

Norwich City 0-1 Chelsea

Juan Mata was awarded the maximum bonus points (BP) as Chelsea secured a narrow win at Carrow Road. The Spaniard scored the only goal of the match and also produced 4 shots on target, 45 completed passes and 4 crosses – he now has 13 BP this term, more than his tally for his debut 2011/12 campaign. An assist, 3 successful tackles and 36 completed passes helped Oscar to a couple of BP, while Cesar Azpilicueta picked up a single BP for an attacking display from right-back for the visitors. The summer signing from Marseille produced a shot on target, 36 completed passes and 3 crosses, in addition to a successful tackle – he has now started five of the six Gameweeks since Rafa Benitez took the Stamford Bridge reins.

Queens Park Rangers 1-2 West Bromwich Albion

Chris Brunt earned the maximum bonus points as West Ham handed QPR their first home defeat under Harry Redknapp. Brunt provided a goal and assist in the narrow win, taking his BP haul to 9 for the season, while Romelu Lukaku picked up a couple of BP. The on-loan forward had 3 shots on target and a clearance amongst his EA SPORTS PPI stats – intriguingly, he has now received BP in five of his six starts this term. Djibril Cisse was awarded a single BP after firing home the hosts’ consolation goal.

Reading 0-0 Swansea City

Chico collected the maximum bonus points in a goalless draw at the Madejski Stadium. The Swansea centre-half made a successful tackle, a clearance, a couple of interceptions and a block to help the Welsh club to their fifth clean sheet of the campaign. Reading’s Mikele Leigertwood picked up a couple of BP, with 7 successful tackles, a couple of interceptions and a block amongst his EA SPORTS PPI stats, while a trio of players were awarded a single BP. For the hosts, Adam Federici made 3 saves (including caught crosses) and Adrian Mariappa produced a successful tackle, 2 interceptions and a block, and Swansea’s Ki Sung-Yeung registered a shot on target, a successful tackle and a block.

Stoke City 3-1 Liverpool

Jonathan Walters received the maximum bonus points (BP) in the final match of the Gameweek. The Stoke midfielder bagged a brace as the Potters produced a stirring comeback to maintain their unbeaten home record – Walters has now picked up 10 BP this term and is the second highest scoring Stoke player, with 88 points accrued thus far. A goal and assist earned Kenwyne Jones a couple of BP for the hosts, while Matthew Etherington earned a single BP, with 2 shots on target, a successful tackle and a clearance amongst his EA SPORTS PPI stats.

Sunderland 1-0 Manchester City

Adam Johnson earned the maximum bonus points (BP) against former club Manchester City at the Stadium of Light. The Sunderland winger grabbed the only goal of the match and also had a couple of successful tackles and 2 successful dribbles amongst his EA SPORTS PPI stats, while Carlos Cuellar received a couple of BP. In a crucial display at both ends of the pitch, the Spaniard supplied the assist for Johnson’s winner and also produced 10 interceptions and a block, as Martin O’Neill’s side picked up their third victory – and clean sheet – in the last four Gameweeks. Simon Mignolet produced 8 saves (including caught crosses) to receive a single BP.

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