Batshuayi brace extends decent scoring run

1 Blues boss should persist with Batshuayi
Michy Batshuayi scored twice in Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Newcastle and the much-maligned striker merits more opportunities for the Blues.

The club seem to have been linked with any lanky striker with a pulse this month but there is little wrong with the Belgian’s goalscoring record this season, admittedly against weak opposition.

Batshuayi has scored ten goals from ten starts and 14 sub appearances in the Premier League, Champions League, EFL Cup and FA Cup.

His cup strikes against Newcastle and Norwich won’t make any goal-of-the-season shortlist but given the chances Alvaro Morata has been missing lately, Antonio Conte’s lack of enthusiasm for Batshuayi is puzzling.

2 Cup defeat is a test of mettle for Moyes
David Moyes has made a bright start at West Ham – assisted by low expectations when he was appointed – but the manner of their cup exit at Sky Bet League One Wigan could herald a sticky patch.

The competition clearly wasn’t a priority – Moyes made six changes to his starting 11 – but they failed to manage a shot on target and defender Arthur Masuaku could face a lengthy ban after being sent off for spitting.

With Marko Arnautovic joining Andy Carroll and Manuel Lanzini on the injured list for the next month, the Hammers could be a team to oppose in upcoming league fixtures against Crystal Palace, Brighton and Watford.

3 Not much hope for hapless Hoops
Bristol City backers must have feared the worst when defender Nathan Baker was sent off after half an hour with the Robins’ Championship clash with QPR still goalless.

However, Lee Johnson’s men made light of that setback, claiming a 2-0 win thanks to a listless performance from the visitors at Ashton Gate.

Ian Holloway wasn’t hiding behind the cliched excuse that it’s harder to play against ten men – instead, the Hoops gaffer fumed: “It was probably my worst result ever. That was not my team out there. Our performance was unacceptable.”

Holloway will demand a response from his squad but it’s hard for punters to have great faith in a side who have kept just four clean sheets in 29 league games and lost eight of their nine away fixtures against teams above them in the table.

With trips to six of the top ten to come, it could be a tough end to the season for QPR.

4 Flynn fully deserves his trip to Wembley
Newport earning a replay at Wembley against 1-5 shots Tottenham was a shock to everyone apart from Exiles fans who are used to miracles from manager Mike Flynn.

The 37-year-old declared himself “gutted” after conceding a late equaliser to Harry Kane but he must have been delighted with the way his side handled the occasion.

Flynn took charge in March 2017 with Newport 11 points adrift at the bottom of the Football League. He kept them up last season, has them a point outside the playoff positions this term, and looks a hugely promising manager.

5 Stags leading the chasing pack
Mansfield were backed into ante-post favouritism in League Two but a slow start left them with plenty of ground to make up in the race for automatic promotion.

However, the Stags moved into third after an injury-time winner at Morecambe on Saturday and they are primed to finish the season as strongly as they have been finishing their games recently.

Late winners have become a habit for Mansfield– they struck in the 88th minute of the reverse fixture against Morecambe just before Christmas and came from behind in subsequent wins over Wycombe and Cheltenham (when they scored twice in the last ten minutes).

Luton still have a handy lead at the top but the Stags look to be travelling best among the chasing pack.

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