An entertaining match at the Vitality Stadium saw Bournemouth come back from 2-0 down to share the win with West Ham United.
The Cherries made their comeback and achieved a Gameweek high of 4.05 expected goals (xG), without Antoine Semenyo (£8.0 million).
The latest news about Fantasy Premier League’s (FPL) top-scoring midfielder is one of the main talking points of this match.
IRAOLA ON SEMENYO
All the talk before the deadline was about Semenyo’s “left anterior talo-fibula ligament sprain,” aka his ankle injury.
Ultimately, however, illness helped offset the winger’s involvement in Gameweek 12.
“He was already doubtful before the match because of some ankle problems, but in the end something happened that you have no control over. He was sick today and had a fever. We were doubtful, but now, with the fever and this, he clearly had no chance. So I hope he recovers and then we will look at the ankle.”
“Yesterday he already had a bit of a fever, so we thought it would be very difficult.” – Andoni Iraola about Antoine Semenyo
The Ghana international now has another week to recover from illness and injury before Bournemouth take on Sunderland.
His 7.3 million owners in the FPL will want some assurance from Andoni Iraola in Friday’s pre-match presser; if there is any lingering concern, there would be some doubt for Gameweeks 13 And 14 due to the proximity of the two luminaires:
Some 50,000 managers have already had enough, making him the best-selling midfielder of Gameweek 13 so far.
TAVERNIER PUNISHMENT
With Semenyo and Justin Kluivert (£7.0m) absent, Marcus Tavernier (£5.5 million) benefited from it the ‘Hilario’ on Cherries’ penalty list.
Bournemouth were awarded a penalty in the second half Max Kilman (£4.3 million). Evanilson (£7.0 million) with his hand. However, there was no chance for the striker to atone for his missed penalty 14 months ago when Tavernier stepped up and smashed the ball home from twelve yards.
Senesi is approaching a ban
Bournemouth’s comeback was complete when he was replaced Enes Unal (£5.4m) produced a great turn and shot in the 81st minute.
So was the provider of excellent assistance on a rollercoaster afternoon for its 3.4 million owners Mark Senesi (£5.0 million).
For once, there were no defensive contribution points (DefCon) for Senesi. He finished well short, with West Ham retreating like a turtle into their own shells, leaving the Cherries with little to do in defence.
Above: A whopping seven West Ham players, including all five defenders, collected DefCon points on Saturday as the home side had more than 75% of the ball.
With the clean sheet going up in smoke and Senesi falling short for DefCon, the Argentine centre-back made his aforementioned assist. Further returns almost followed, as an advanced Senesi created good opportunities for Evanilson and Amine Adli (£5.4 million).
But close to death, a bit of a blow. A yellow card in the 96th minute not only reduced his Gameweek points but also saw him receive four bookings for 2025/26.
He must pass the next seven gameweeks without further warning to avoid a one-match suspension:
AREOLA HEROES
It was a blow on the xG front (4.05-0.65), although the game status should provide context. Westham not If they had had a 2-0 lead in the first half, would they have been happy with absorbing so much pressure?
Still, owners of Senesi and co can console themselves with the fact that Bournemouth looked the part general defensively assured. The opener came out of the blue, with Senesi misjudging a high ball in the swirling wind and Dorde Petrovic (£4.5m) with an opportunistic shot from 25 yards from Callum Wilson (£5.8 million). Wilson’s second was a brilliant strike from a set-piece.
Although the Hammers rarely threatened and Petrovic failed to make a single save, Alfonso Areola (£4.3m) yielded 10 stops. He also claimed the assist for Wilson’s opener!
The Frenchman made some good saves from Adli, Evanilson, Unal, Ryan Christie (£5.0 million) and That is, Junior Kroupi (£4.6m), with the latter spurning a huge 0.6 xG chance from 10 yards out.
Budget striker Kroupi was interestingly used in the gap in this match, although his xMins will tumble again when Semenyo and Kluivert return.
BOWEN BANKS DEFCON!
Wilson’s brace took him to three goals in two gameweeks. His goals-to-games record has been very good over the years; it’s more about whether he stays fit.
Even here, Nuno Espirito Santo opted to take him off after 51 minutes despite not sustaining an injury.
“No [injury]maybe I took him with me [off] too fast! I felt like he was trying, but… just to be present with Tomas one more time [Soucek] it worked there before.” – Nuno Espirito Santo on knocking out Callum Wilson
West Ham’s back-to-the-wall performance could best be summed up with Jarrod Bowen (£7.7m) bank DefCon points. He is the first FPL striker to do so in 2025/2026.
Freddie Potts (£4.4m) meanwhile made his third consecutive start in the engine room. He is currently the cheapest starting midfielder in the FPL.
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