This weekend sees one of the most well loved staples in English football, the FA Cup third round. Known for incredible results and historic upsets, every year this round of the cup throws up something new for us to enjoy. While it does see rotated teams from Premier League giants and even quite a few Championship teams, the mismatched nature of the draw just makes it thrilling to watch. In the cup, every minnow has the chance to record a massive upset.
One problem there is that unpredictability isn’t great if you’re looking for a weekend bet. What should be the banker on your accumulator can come back to bite you. That’s particularly annoying when it’s a Premier League side slipping up against League Two opposition. Here we’re looking ahead to the biggest games this weekend, trying to pick out where we see the best, and safest, value.
Saturday 9th January 2016
Wycombe v Aston Villa (12:45) – Villa to win (6/5 with Sky Bet)
The weekend starts off with a League Two v Premier League meeting, as sixth in the fourth tier host bottom of the top flight. It should be a complete mismatch, but the fact that Villa’s odds are above evens tells you everything you need to know about the Cup – and the season the Villains are having. Nothing can be taken for granted here, which is why many will be tempted to back the home side to cause an early shock. One thing is for sure, this isn’t a banker.
While the temptation to back Wycombe is certainly there, you have to rewind back a year and look at Villa. They seemed set for relegation, but their cup run gave them the bounce needed to survive. While they probably can’t avoid the drop this season, they can at least give it a try, and push for a good showing in the cup to boot. As finalists last year, we don’t see Villa crashing out this early. They’ll find it hard to make another Wembley appearance, but we’re backing them to come through this game. It probably won’t be a great display, but this should be a much needed win for Remi Garde and his team.
Watford v Newcastle (15:00) – Watford to win (4/5 with Betfair)
This game has to be as close to a banker on Saturday as you’ll get. While there are usually plenty of cup shocks between lower league and Premier League, we can’t see there being an upset in this all-top division clash. Newcastle have a horrendous cup record of late, to go along with their terrible league form. The Magpies are in the bottom three, and their main priority will be staying up. The club have said in the past that strong cup showings endanger their chances of survival, so those at the top aren’t interested in winning this one.
Watford, on the other hand, have no relegation worries, and their recent great form was only ended after being shaded out against Tottenham and Man City, two of the top four. Their strike force has already sunk the Magpies this season at St James’ Park, and we see them doing the same here. Quique Sanchez Flores should try and get back to the momentum they had by playing his strongest team here, and if they get through, you could see Watford being an outside shot to go far in the cup this season. They may be below evens, but we’re backing a win for the Hornets.
Manchester United v Sheffield United (17:30) – United win and both teams to score (12/5 with Coral)
Manchester United might not have the best cup record of late, but they’ve gotten back to winning ways right before the start of their FA Cup campaign. Last season Louis van Gaal’s team looked set to win this competition, until they were knocked out at home to eventual winners Arsenal. They have now gone 12 years without winning this trophy, and that’s something that the team really need to turn around. With their Champions League, Premier League and League Cup hopes gone, this is United’s best shot for a trophy this term.
They face a Sheffield United side who have been regulars in the latter stages of Cups. After making the FA Cup semi finals in 2014, they were League Cup semi finalists last season. They didn’t get too far in the League Cup this term, but they could do well here. Their fans will be up for this short trip, and given how United have been playing, there won’t be too much fear from the League One side. We don’t see them causing an upset, but we can see them getting a goal. We’re backing a home win, with the Blades getting on the scoresheet.
Sunday 10th January 2016
Chelsea v Scunthorpe (14:00) – Both teams to score (11/10 with Coral)
Sunday sees champions Chelsea taking on League One Scunthorpe. The Iron are mid table in the third tier, while the Blues are stuck in the bottom half of the Premier League. Guus Hiddink won this trophy back in 2009 in his final game in temporary charge of Chelsea, and he’ll be hoping to repeat that trick this season. It remains the Blues’ most likely chance of both silverware and getting a European spot next term, so they’ll be taking this seriously.
Scunthorpe will be coming here confident, but they would have been smelling a Bradford-like upset if it hadn’t been for the Blues’ recent improved displays. They were great at the back against Crystal Palace, but that’s not enough to show that they’ve turned a corner. Given how inconsistent they’ve been this term, plus the high chance of them rotating their team here, the visitors certainly have a great chance to hurt them. We’re backing both teams to score here, which is priced at 11/10 with Coral.