Premier League Team of the Week - Starring Smalling, Vardy, Defoe

08 May 2016 18:53

Premier League team of the week (4-3-3); Boruc; Naughton, Van Aanholt, Smalling, Mbemba; Ki, King, Davis; Vardy, Gayle, Defoe.

1. Artur Boruc, Bournemouth. Played 90 minutes (1-1 v West Brom). A brilliant penalty save from West Brom midfielder Craig Gardner, which saw the Pole push his attempt onto the crossbar, prevented Bournemouth from going 2-0 down in their draw.

2. Kyle Naughton, Swansea. Played 90 minutes (4-1 v West Ham). The full-back created Swansea's first goal at West Ham and willingly raided forward throughout as the South Wales club scored four times in the capital.

3. Patrick van Aanholt, Sunderland. Played 90 minutes (3-2 v Chelsea). Ex-Chelsea defender Van Aanholt got revenge on his old employers by having a hand in each of the Wearside club's opening two goals.

4. Chris Smalling, Manchester United. Played 90 minutes (1-0 v Norwich). Louis van Gaal can afford to reshuffle Manchester United's defence and still claim a clean sheet largely thanks to one of the country's finest centre-backs. Smalling has been a shining light for United this term.

5. Chancel Mbemba. Newcastle. Played 90 minutes (0-0 v Aston Villa). The centre-back was a rock for the Magpies at Villa Park, but Rafael Benitez's men created little at the other end as they inched closer to the trap door with a goalless stalemate.

6. Ki Sung-Yeung, Swansea. Played 90 minutes (4-1 v West Ham). The South Korean marked his first start since March with a pair of assists and a goal which helped the Swans pull off a stunning victory in the penultimate game at Upton Park.

7. Andy King, Leicester. Played 90 minutes (3-1 v Everton). Just one of the many incredible success stories at the King Power Stadium this term. The Wales international became the only player to win the League One, Championship and Premier League titles with the same club this week and responded with a goal and assist in Saturday's party.

8. Steven Davis, Southampton. Played 90 minutes (2-1 v Tottenham). Operating in a more advanced midfield role, Northern Ireland captain Davis thrived against Tottenham with a brace, including a well-placed winner following a give-and-go with Dusan Tadic that lifted Saints up to sixth.

9. Jamie Vardy, Leicester. Played 90 minutes (3-1 v Everton). Would have had a hat-trick on his return from a ban but skied a second-half penalty after previously converting from 12 yards out. Nevertheless, he took his tally to 24 league goals for the season with a double against the Toffees.

10. Dwight Gayle, Crystal Palace. Played 90 minutes (2-1 v Stoke). Palace's top-flight survival was finally secured thanks to two goals from striker Gayle, whose second was a brilliant 25-yard free-kick to earn the three points against Mark Hughes' Potters.

11. Jermain Defoe, Sunderland. Played 90 minutes (3-2 v Chelsea). The striker once again delivered for relegation-threatened Sunderland as his 15th top-flight goal of the season lifted the Black Cats past Chelsea and took them to the verge of safety.

Source: PA