Fantasy Football Files - 2025/26 - Gameweek 30 - 'Knockout Punch'

After beating my D&D Football Factory co-host Darren B. (D-Man) in the last gameweek, my other co-host (Big) Sam was my opponent this week. I had the chance to go over Sam if I won, though with me currently laying 17th in the ‘Justice League’ table I needed no extra incentive.

Regardless of where he was in the table Sam always seemed to raise his game against me, probably because he secretly hates me. Why head-to-head leagues are so intriguing are the fact that it is so dependent on the order you get your opponents in. I had more (classic) points overall than Sam but as said he was higher in the head-to-head table. With the blank gameweek 31 in mind I did not make any transfers. Sam chose to not make any transfers either. I thought I had captained Erling Haaland, only to gather that the captaincy was with Hugo Ekitike. I am not sure how it happened, maybe as I gave the vice captaincy to Joao Pedro, I really do not know what the FPL app was on to be honest. Sam captained Bruno Fernandes and with the way he has been assisting this campaign I was worried. 

There was no early game, so the action started with two 3pm kick-offs on Saturday, only one of them effected the head-to-head, however. I benched Marcos Senesi as I could not decide which one of Nico O’Reilly, Reece James or Virgil van Dijk to bench so Senesi had to miss out. So trust Burnley and Bournemouth to finish in a goalless draw. It was truly a bitter pill to swallow as Martin Dubravka was Sam’s keeper and he was only on my bench. One match in and it was already advantage Sam.  

For the first time there were two matches at 5.30pm. Arsenal were under pressure for a good amount of their home game with Everton. David Raya and the woodwork were the only reason they did not concede as Dwight McNeil had chances and my player Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall had a shot saved. The contest was heading for a goalless draw when a Jordan Pickford error saw the ball eventually put in by Viktor Gyokeres as in the 89th minute. Max Dowman then became the youngest player to ever score in Premier League as he made it 2-0 as late as the 97th minute. Gabriel Magalhaes was of course in Sam’s team so more bad news there. Newcastle got a massive three points at Chelsea thanks to a goal on the break from Anthony Gordon. I was expectant of Joao Pedro as a differential but nothing there. Sam and I both owned Reece James who blanked. Sam also had Cole Palmer who did not return either obviously.

The 8pm match saw Manchester City take the lead at West Ham through a Bernardo Silva goal, we will give him the benefit of the doubt that he meant it. The Hammers levelled when Gianluigi Donnarumma misjudged a corner. As well as us both having O’Reilly, Antoine Semenyo was another player we both owned and he missed a great chance to restore City’s lead as he shot wide. Haaland for some reason never produces when I rarely have him as a differential and he had a low effort saved and then dragged another good chance wide as things got even better for Sam. My opponent led 23-12 when Saturday ended.

Sunday, had three 2pm kick-offs to begin with. Manchester United hosted Aston Villa and Fernandes to my annoyance moved closer to the Premier League record for assists in a season as his free-kick was headed in by Casemiro. Villa levelled and then Fernandes was at it again as his sublime pass found Matheus Cunha who made it 2-1 with a well taken finish and that was that as Sam’s captain delivered 20 points to give me no chance as the Red Devils won 3-1. Morgan Rogers was another man Sam and I both had and he blanked yet again, serious thinking must be had on whether it is worth having him still I have to say.

Though I had been well beaten, I was hoping the team I support could do something on Mother’s Day while I was out with the family at dinner. All seemed well as Dominic Szoboszlai’s free-kick put Liverpool ahead. Tottenham had started well and even after the goal continued to look lively and right at the death, they got a deserved point thanks to a 90th minute goal from Richarlison. No joy was coming from anywhere; Sam had well and truly landed a knockout punch, never mind Bruno Fernandes this felt like being punched in the face by a prime Frank Bruno. This was nasty work from Sam, and it was not the first time either.

Though the result of the head-to-head was not in question, on Monday I just hoped to get some points and that in the end that did not happen either. I had Caoimhin Kelleher in goal, whilst Sam had Igor Thiago and even here my opponent prevailed when he did not need to. Brentford took a 2-0 lead and Thiago tapped in the second. This was only for the Bees to allow Wolves to comeback to get a 2-2 draw as the bottom side continue to mess things up for everyone else before they depart for the Championship.

So, 'well done Sam' and I say that as my eye twitches. This was a comprehensive win for him as he won 63-31, it was a thrashing in fact. I relied on Haaland getting back into form and it did not happen. I remain 17th in the Justice League table but Jacques, one of the people below me won his game by a point and he is my next opponent, staying out of the bottom three is going to be a scrap to the very end. End the reason now please!

@DubulDee