Dan Ballard makes Fantasy Premier League history after Sunderland win vs West Ham
Sunderland had a weekend to remember as a result of their victory against West Ham.
Dan Ballard’s sudden rise to icon status is a testament to the level of ability he really has.
The Northern Ireland International was on the scoresheet yet again for Sunderland in their 3-0 victory over West Ham at the Stadium of Light.
His last few months at Sunderland have been a joy to watch, and also earned himself in the history books of Fantasy Premier League.
Ballard the highest-scoring FPL player for gameweek one
Fantasy Premier League users have utilised several cheap Sunderland options in this year’s version of the game, and over 16,000 people have drafted Ballard into their team after his heroics against West Ham.
He scored 17 points on his Premier League debut, which also made him the highest-scoring defender in gameweek one in history.
Not only did Ballard score the second goal of the game, but his overall performance was simply outstanding.
Timing of Sunderland’s goals vs West Ham
- Eliezer Mayenda 61st minute
- Dan Ballard 73rd minute
- Wilson Isidor 92nd minute
Neither Jarrod Bowen nor Niclas Fullkrug could get a sniff in the game as a result of his defensive dominance at the Stadium of Light.
Nordi Mukiele’s arrival at Sunderland is a big one, but it looks as though he’s going to have to wait for his chance to showcase his worth to the Premier League.
Ballard’s game vs West Ham by numbers
It’s astonishing to think that Ballard was once a third-choice centre back at Sunderland, but his resurgence to form has been remarkable
Via FotMob, he won all four of his ground duels, while winning six of the nine he competed for in the air.
No player on the pitch won more defensive duels than Ballard, showcasing just how important he was to the victory.
Ballard is typically known as a no-nonsense defender, but his 84 per cent pass accuracy tells a very different story.
He was progressive on the ball, and he is going to grow in confidence after such a monstrous Premier League debut.
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