TEAM: MANCHESTER CITY
In typical Man City fashion, the departing champions hit form at the business end of the season. They take this award two weeks in a row now.
They completed two wins this week. At Everton, it was a controlled, professional performance. They then snatched a dramatic late win against Aston Villa to strengthen Champions League qualification.
Well done also to Wolves. Forest. Chelsea. Brentford and Liverpool.
GOALKEEPER: MATZ SELS (Notts Forest)
In the circumstances, there wasn’t much to choose from in terms of top goalkeeper performances. However, much like most of the season, the Forest keeper excelled.
He played his part in an extremely important win at Spurs to boost the Champions League hopes with several decent saves to frustrate the Spurs players.
Shout out also to Man City’s Ortega. Wolves’ Bentley. Fulham’s Leno and Leicester’s Hermansen.
DEFENDER: NICO O’R’EILLY (Man City)
In recent weeks, he has become one of the few bright spots in a torrid season for their high standards.
He opened the scoring at Everton, being in the right place at the right time to set his team on the road to victory. Then, a few days later, he put in a man-of-the-match performance in their late victory against Villa.
Well done to his teammates, Gvardiol and Nunez. Liverpool duo Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk. Brentford duo Van Den Berg & Lewis-Potter.
Bournemouth duo Zabarnyi & Huijsen. Arsenal’s Kiwior. Newcastle’s Schar. Wolves trio Bueno, Agbadou & Toti also Forest Murillo and Toffolo.
MIDFIELDER: ELLIOT ANDERSON (Notts Forest)
He has been one of the more unsung heroes of Forest’s monumental season, doing much of the unselfish dirty work, which allows others to take the spotlight.
It was his turn this week with a well-placed opening goal and an inspiring man-of-the-match performance for an important away win.
Shout out to his teammate Man City trio Kovacic, B.Silva & Doku. West Ham’s Bowen. Southampton’s Ugochukwu. Chelsea duo Neto & George.
Brentford duo Norgaard & Jensen. Villa’s Tielemans. Newcastle’s J.Murphy. Arsenal’s Merino. Fulham’s Iwobi and Palace’s Eze.
FORWARD: BRYAN MBEUMO (Brentford)
Although there weren’t many to choose from, the Brentford man would have taken some beating with this week’s performance.
He notched two goals against Brighton. The first was a lovely timed run and clinic finish, followed by a deflected second. He then assisted their third for a good home victory.
Well done to his teammate Wissa. Arsenal duo Trossard. Nwaneri and Martinelli. Villa’s Watkins. Forest’s Wood.
Newcastle duo Barnes & Isak. Palace’s Mateta. Villa’s Rashford. Brighton duo Welbeck & Mitoma. Wolves’ Sarabia and Spurs’s Richarlison.
MANAGER: PEP GUARDIOLA (Man City)
I don’t know what it is but he has a knack every season, no matter the circumstances, for his team to go on a winning run in the latter stages.
Their under-par season had them under threat of not making the Champions League. However, two wins this week, following a come-from-behind victory last week seem to have them cement their place for next season.
Shout out to Wolves’ Pereira. Brentford’s Frank. Forest Espírito Santo and Liverpool’s Slot.
UNSUNG HERO: LEANDRO TROSSARD (Arsenal)
Though they have their eyes firmly set outside the league, he was essentially brought in to give starters some rest.
But his form and goals in the two games this week may have given his manager a selection problem. Two at Ipswich, then another against Palace will have him in contention for a Champions League semi-final start.
Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold. Southampton’s Ugochukwu. Man City’s Kovacic. Villa’s Watkins. Palace’s Mateta and Chelsea’s George.
GAME: BRENTFORD 4-2 BRIGHTON
Brentford opened the scoring through Mbeumo’s clinic finish (9), but Welbeck nodded in an equaliser just before halftime (45+3).
In the second half, Mbeumo’s deflected effort put Brentford in front (48), then assisted Wissa for another deflected effort (58). The game seemed over as Joao Pedro got sent off for violent conduct (61).
However, Mitoma pulled a goal back with a powerful effort (81), but Brentford sealed the points late from a lovely delivery from Jenson and a headed finish by Norgaard (90+5).
GOAL: AMADOU ONANA (Aston Villa) vs Newcastle
After Rogers was played in through the middle and forced a good save from Pope, the ball was then headed out to the left by Livramento.
As the ball came down, Bailey touched it inside to Rogers, who played it back out to the edge of the box for Onana to come running onto and unleashed and powerful, angled side-footed effort that arrowed into the near top corner.
There was also a good goal by Serabia vs Man Utd and Neto vs Fulham.
FOOL: MANCHESTER UNITED
Leicester should really be up here for breaking a record of going nine home games without scoring and being relegated.
However, although they are in a European Semi-final, I cannot ignore how poor Man Utd have been this season and now losing home and away to Wolves. They are lucky the bottom three are so bad, otherwise they could have been in a relegation fight. FOOLS!
