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If you need some advice ahead of GW2, sit back and take their advice on board…
Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at Watford wasn’t the result Aston Villa fans or Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers were hoping for, but Dean Smith’s side are unbeaten in their last six Premier League matches against Gameweek 2 opponents Newcastle United, and with a capacity crowd expected at Villa Park, there is an opportunity to bounce back.
During Gameweek 1, seven of the ten opening day wins came for teams playing at home in front of their fans, something that Villa will be looking to replicate in front of their supporters this weekend.
Danny Ings (£8.0m) went into Gameweek 1 as the most highly owned Aston Villa asset in FPL, and rewarded his owners with a late penalty goal and seven FPL points.
With the Magpies up next, Ings could deliver again, especially if Leon Bailey (£6.5m) can continue from where he left off at Vicarage Road.
Within minutes of stepping onto the pitch, the 24-year-old found John McGinn (£6.0m) with an excellent cross to earn an assist. He also registered two attempts on goal and as a result ranks 35th for threat in the ICT Index (Influence, Creativity and Threat Index) across the entire division, which is encouraging given that he only featured for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, McGinn has gone under the FPL radar during the summer, perhaps as a result of all the new signings at Villa. However, he registered three shots at Watford, a team-leading total, and his excellent finish in the second-half suggests that he can offer value in the coming weeks.
Emi Martínez (£5.5m) racked up four saves in Gameweek 1 and was unfortunate to concede three, given the nature of Watford’s goals. Those four saves were tied top across the division and meant Martínez continued to attract the additional points awarded for excellent goalkeeping, in this case a save point, which FPL managers became so accustomed to in the 2020/21 season.
Right-back Matty Cash (£5.0m) also had some solid underlying numbers with 27 final-third touches, which was the most by a Villa player at the weekend. He also attempted six crosses and completed 12 passes in the final-third, the fourth highest total in the Premier League.
Villa’s total of seven home clean sheets in 2020/21 was only bettered by Chelsea and Manchester City, which does suggest that there could be value in Dean Smith’s backline.
