Last years’ eight ties produced:

2 home wins

4 draws

2 away wins

Coventry produced the only ‘shock’ of the round when beating Blackburn.

26 goals were scored in the 8 matches = 3.25 per game

Every team except Burnley (at Arsenal) scored at least one goal

Home teams won all four replays

Teams involved this year that contested the 5th round last year:

Chelsea (beat Watford twelve months ago)

Fulham (beat Swansea after a replay)

Aston Villa (lost at Everton)

Derby (beaten by Man Utd at home)

The dream of a Wembley Cup Final draws ever closer this weekend as the F.A. Cup 5th round ties take place & there are certainly plenty of fascinating games to get stuck into.
Every one of the eight 5th round ties has a fascinating story or twist to it & after having a good look at those matches, here are views on each game & the value betting options we feel are worth consideration:

Chelsea vs Cardiff City – (Saturday 12.00pm)

This should be a fantastic cup tie with the prospects of Chelsea & Cardiff going into battle on the pitch & an atmosphere to match.

Chelsea are strong favourites for this match & deservedly so when you compare the relative strengths of each squad & Chelsea’s formidable home record commands massive respect but we still expect Cardiff City to go there & have a real go.

Carlo Ancelotti will make changes to the Chelsea squad with John Terry missing & Ashley Cole out injured so with Chelsea’s clear targets to win the Premier League & Champions League it will be fascinating to see exactly what team Chelsea play.

The big bonus for Chelsea is that they don’t have a midweek fixture next week so we still expect Ancelotti to field a very strong side with the likes of Drogba, Anelka & Lampard likely to want to play.

Cardiff City’s main aim for this season is promotion to the Premier League but Dave Jones is a very proud man who will want to make sure Cardiff City give it their best shot & on their best form they have a chance to cause to Chelsea real problems.

Cardiff City are a decent side on their best form with Jay Bothroyd, Michael Chopra, Peter Whittingham & Chris Burke all capable of causing problems for Chelsea & Cardiff’s best chance of success in this match will be to take the game to Chelsea & put pressure on their defence.

This looks a proper cup tie & we are expecting it to be competitive & physically intense with Cardiff City likely to have a real go but Chelsea are so strong at home & have so much quality in their squad that they are impossible to oppose & look a solid bet to win this.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Chelsea to win

Correct Score Options: Chelsea to win 2-0/2-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Drogba/Anelka/Lampard

Scorecast options: Drogba/Anelka/Lampard score 1st & Chelsea win 2-0/2-1

Double Result: Chelsea H/T & F/T

Derby County vs Birmingham City – (Saturday 3.00pm)

Another Premier League versus Championship battle here with a rejuvenated Derby County welcoming Birmingham City to Pride Park for what looks set to be a good, competitive battle.

A few weeks ago, Derby manager Nigel Clough would have probably said the last thing Derby wanted was to play Birmingham City as Derby were struggling badly for form & confidence but all that has changed in recent weeks.

Three excellent performances to beat high flying Nottingham Forest & Newcastle United at home and to draw away at Sheffield United have given the Derby County squad a massive lift in belief & confidence which they are now bound to take into this game.

Derby County always do get fantastic support & the fact their form has returned should mean there will be a fantastic atmosphere inside Pride Park & we expect Derby County to have a real go at this.

The added spice to this match is the fact Derby County captain Robbie Savage is taking on his former team & he is bound to be fully charged up for this clash which is certain to get physical.

Alex McCleish brings his Birmingham City side to Derby County having suffered a blip in form after what was a sensational unbeaten run so it will be very interesting to see how Birmingham City react here.

Birmingham City were surprisingly poor in their 2-0 away defeat at West Ham United & Alex McCleish will want to make sure that Birmingham City bounce back from that & take this game very seriously indeed.

The key for Birmingham City will be get control of the game by keeping it defensively solid which is their real strength & then look to the likes of Jerome, Bowyer & McFadden to create the quality & goals.

The cup tie element certainly makes this tough to call & we have massive respect for Derby at home having beaten Newcastle United & Nottinhgam Forest recently but Birmingham City are a better, stronger team & they look worth a bet to edge this on the day.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Birmingham City to win

Correct Score Options: Birmingham City to win 2-0/2-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Jerome/McFadden/Benitez

Scorecast options: Jerome/McFadden/Benitez score 1st & Birmingham City win 2-0/2-1

Double Result: Birmingham City H/T & F/T

Reading vs West Brom – (Saturday 3.00pm)

All Championship clash here with Reading welcoming West Brom to what should be a cracking, competitive game of football.

The F.A. Cup is not a priority for either Reading of West Brom with Reading fighting to improve & move away from the relegation zone & West Brom intent on getting promoted to the Premier League but we expect all thoughts of the league to be put to one side here.

Reading have already made their mark on the F.A. Cup this season with famous wins over Liverpool & Burnley and the prospect of another home tie will give them the belief they can progress further.

Indeed the F.A. Cup form seems to have pushed Reading to improve their allround performances & results and they now look a decent, confident side with a determination to win so we are expecting a decent, attacking performance from Reading here.

West Brom come into this match on an excellent run of form which has helped to take them back to the top of the Championship so we expect them to arrive here confident & ready to go for the win.

West Brom manager Roberto Di Matteo has a special affinity with the F.A. Cup having scored in the Final itself & we do expect West Brom to be totally up for this one & they will believe they can go to Reading and win.

This should be a really entertaining match as both Reading & West Brom like to play positive, attacking football & neither manager will want a replay so we expect both teams to go for it which should give West Brom the chance to make their extra quality pay & they look well worth a bet to win this tie.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: West Brom to win

Correct Score Options: West Brom to win 2-1/3-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Brunt/Dorrans/Bednar

Scorecast options: Brunt/Dorrans/Bednar score 1st & West Brom win 2-1/3-1

Double Result: West Brom H/T & F/T

Southampton vs Portsmouth – (Saturday 12.30pm)

The people of Southampton & Portsmouth have been waiting for this ever since the 5th round draw took place & this really should be a cracking match.

The football world has got Real Madrid vs Barcelona, Man City vs Man United, Inter vs AC Milan & even Celtic vs Rangers, but to those connected to Southampton & Portsmouth this is the big match for them.

Southampton & Portsmouth have both suffered in recent years with massive off the field financial problems & obviously Portsmouth’s very own existence hangs by a thread but that will be forgotten for 90 minutes as these two do battle.

If you look the basic facts of relative league positions first then Southampton in League 1 taking on Portsmouth from the Premier League looks like a one sided battle but current status doesn’t count for anything here & it really is a level playing field with everything to play for.

Alan Pardew has done a tremendous job since taking over as Southampton manager guiding his team to overcome a points deficit to push Southampton up the table & in general looking like a very good side at that level.

Southampton have already proven their cup pedigree this season as they are already proudly through to the Johnson’s Paint Trophy Final & this home tie against local rivals Portsmouth is another fantastic opportunitiy so we expect Southampton to have a real go.

Southampton play very good, attacking football and with the likes of Lambert, Lallana, Waigo + many other attacked minded players in their side they definitely have the ability to cause Portsmouth problems & score goals.

Avram Grant, the Portsmouth players & indeed everybody connected to Portsmouth don’t even know if Portsmouth will be around for the next round if they make it through which is obviously a massive problem but Portsmouth have shown real fight in recent weeks & we expect more of the same here.

Portsmouth look absolutely certain to get relegated from the Premier League & really their season cannot get any worse than it already has with the clubs existence at stake but nevertheless defeat against Southampton is something the players will want to do their best to avoid & they will be up for this one.

The atmosphere for this one is going to be fantastic & hopefully both teams will see the match as a welcome distraction from the league & really have a go and the chances are they will so there could well be a few goals flying about & we like the look of Southampton being inspired by their home crowd to deliver a famous win here.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Southampton to win

Correct Score Options: Southampton to win 2-0/2-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Lallana/Lambert/Waigo

Scorecast options: Lallana/Lambert/Waigo score 1st & Southampton win 2-1/3-1

Double Result: Southampton H/T & F/T

Manchester City vs Stoke City – (Saturday 5.30pm)

A clash of footballing styles makes this all Premier league contest a fascinating one to call & should have plenty to offer.

Roberto Mancini’s welcome to the Premier League was a home game against Stoke City & so he will already know what to expect from Tony Pulis’s side here.

Manchester City won that game comfortably & admittedly Stoke City were nowhere near their best that day but their style of play would have not been lost on him & he will know this is not going to be easy for Man City.

Roberto Mancini is under pressure to deliver success at Manchester City & while progress in the Premier League & Champions League is the ultimate long range target, success of any kind is necessary & this seasons F.A. Cup represents a fantastic opportunity for Man City to achieve that.

The key for Manchester City coming into this match is that their home form is tremendously strong & that will give them the belief & confidence to continue that here.

Tevez, Adebayor, Bellamy, Ireland, Barry, Wright-Phillips, Petrov etc give Man City more than enough attacking quality to go for the win here but the one area Manchester City have to keep their focus & concentration on his organisation in defence & particularly at set pieces because that will certainly be Stoke City’s biggest threat.

Tony Pulis has one clear aim for Stoke City this season & that is to remain a Premier League side but he is an incredibly proud & determined manager who will the see the chance to have a good cup run as a bonus.

Tactically there are no secrets about the way Stoke City play and quite simply what they do, they do it very well & effectively.

Strong physical presence, hard work, determination, direct football mixed with good football & a real threat from set-pieces are Stoke City’s key strengths & that is what we expect to see from them here.

Tony Pulis knows that Stoke City have not got the players to outplay Man City in terms of flowing, passing football but equally he knows Stoke City’s prowess from set-pieces is a massive threat to Man City’s fragile defence and offers them their best chance of scoring.

The major negative for Stoke City is that their away form is very poor with an inability to score enough goals away from home their major weakness & that could well be a problem in this match.

This should be a very interesting game & Stoke City will set out to make it tough for Manchester City & it is certainly going to be competitive but Manchester City are very strong at home & they do look a good bet to make their extra quality pay here.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Manchester City to win

Correct Score Options: Manchester City to win 2-0/2-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Tevez/Adebayor/Barry

Scorecast options: Tevez/Adebayor/Barry score 1st & Man City win 2-0/2-1

Double Result: Man City H/T & F/T

Bolton vs Tottenham – (Sunday 1.30pm)

Another all Premier League tie between Bolton & Tottenham who both have more important targets to achieve but this should still be a cracking match.

Owen Coyle is desperate to keep Bolton in the Premier League & that is clearly his number one target for Bolton but he is a strongly believer in taking every game seriously & that is what we expect from Bolton here.

Owen Coyle made his name at Burnley by making them a very successful side in cup competitions & we are expecting Owen Coyle to set Bolton up to be really positive & go for the win here.

The negatives for Bolton is that their home form has been poor & they have also struggled to score goals consistently and that clearly makes it much tougher to win matches.

The positive for Bolton is that they do have a good home record against Tottenham & that should boost their confidence.

Harry Redknapp knows that 4th place in the Premier League is Tottenham’s ultimate target for this season but their only chance of success lies in the F.A. Cup & we do expect Tottenham to have a real go here.

Harry Redknapp was incredibly frustrated & disappointed after Tottenham’s incredibly poor display in losing 1-0 at Wolves in midweek & so the Tottenham players will be under great pressure to put that right with a good performance because Harry Redknapp will not tolerate that again.

Tottenham were so disappointing & flat against Wolves it was hard to believe & the key to this match will how the Tottenham players respond here.

We are expecting the Tottenham players to respond in the right way here & with the likes of Defoe, Crouch, Modric, Krancjar & now Gudjohnsen they have the attacking quality to get the goals they need to win this.

This is a tough match to call with it likely to be very competitive & any result is possible but we are going to give Tottenham a chance to show their true quality and they look a value bet to just edge this on the day.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Tottenham to win

Correct Score Options: Tottenham to win 2-0/2-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Defoe/Crouch/Krancjar

Scorecast options: Defoe/Crouch/Krancjar score 1st & Tottenham win 2-0/2-1

Double Result: Tottenham H/T & F/T

Fulham vs Notts County – (Sunday 3.00pm)

This is what the F.A. Cup is all about with League 2 side Notts County travelling to Premier League Fulham in what should be a fascinating contest.

Roy Hodgson will see this as a fantastic opportunity for Fulham to progress to an F.A. Cup final while Notts County come here boosted by beating Premier League side Wigan in the last round so the game should offer plenty.

Fulham are an absolutely rock solid side at home with their proven formula of solid, organised defending, balanced, passing football which makes it incredibly hard for teams to break them down & we do expect more of the same from Fulham here.

Roy Hodgson will have great respect for Notts County & the threat they carry but he knows his side are very strong at home & he will have great belief that his side will prove too strong for Notts County here.

Fulham did go through a bad patch of form but that has gone now after 3 good results in which they have won 2 & drawn 1 without conceding a goal so the confidence levels within the Fulham squad will be high.

Notts County produced the performance of the last round to outplay Premier League side Wigan twice at home in the 2-2 draw & in their 2-0 away victory which was totally deserved.

That deserved win over Wigan should give Notts County the confidence to go Fulham & have a go but clearly breaking a strong Fulham side down will be much tougher than an inconsistent, weak looking Wigan side.

The cup tie element definitely levels the playing fields somewhat & Notts County will go to Fulham positive but in terms of a result we cannot oppose Fulham here who look a rock solid bet to win this & earn their place in the quarter finals.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Fulham to win

Correct Score Options: Fulham to win 2-0/3-0

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Murphy/Zamora/Duff

Scorecast options: Murphy/Zamora/Duff score 1st & Fulham win 2-0/3-0

Double Result: Fulham H/T & F/T

Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa – (Sunday 3.45pm)

Neil Warnock at Crystal Palace & Martin O’Neill are two of the most experienced & indeed interesting characters in football so this should be a really fascinating Championship vs Premier League cup tie.

As with all the F.A. Cup ties taking place this weekend, both Crystal Palace & Aston Villa have much more important end of season targets to aim for that success in the F.A. Cup but Neil Warnock & Martin O’Neill are very proud managers who will both put all that to one side & certainly look to win this on the day.

Crystal Palace are involved in a tough struggle off the pitch having been forced into adminstration & the future of the club is at risk but to the great credit of the players, it does not seem to have affected their play in a negative way & if anything it seems to have improved the spirit of the Crystal Palace squad.

Neil Warnock is a vastly experienced manager & is particularly good at motivating teams when situations are against them & clearly his motivational skills are being tested to the full at present but he is a real fighter & that is replicated within his players.

Crystal Palace have been playing really well lately & most notably when comfortably beating Premier League Wolves in the last round so that should give them the confidence to go into this game & have a real go at Aston Villa.

Martin O’Neill’s chief target for this season is to finish 4th in the Premier League but having already taken Aston Villa to the League Cup Final & with a proven record of success in cups, he will certainly be looking for Aston Villa to have a real go at winning the F.A. Cup as well.

Martin O’Neill will have great respect for the threat Crystal Palace pose at home but equally he knows this match represents a fantastic chance for Aston Villa to progress & we are expecting a really positive performance from Aston Villa here.

The key element to this game is that Crystal Palace will want to have a real go at this game for their home fans & to show they can compete so that should suit Aston Villa’s style of counter attacking play and that could ultimately decide the match.

The F.A. Cup is made for ties like this & it should be a really good, competitive contest with Crystal Palace sure to have a go but Aston Villa have a clear advantage in terms of quality in all departments & their superior attacking quality & pace makes them look a rock solid bet to win this & progress to the quarter finals.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Aston Villa to win

Correct Score Options: Aston Villa to win 2-0/2-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Agbonlohar/Downing/Milner

Scorecast options: Agbonlohar/Downing/Milner score 1st & Aston Villa win 2-0/2-1

Double Result: Aston Villa H/T & F/T

There is full midweek programme of games taking place in League 1 & League 2 and here are our thoughts on the games that caught our eye & the value betting options that we feel are worth consideration:

Walsall vs Norwich City – (Tuesday 7.45pm)

The standard of football in League 1 is pretty high these days and certainly Walsall & Norwich City play their part & this should be a very good game.

Walsall are a good, solid, well organised club who look to play the right way & certainly can test any team in the league on their day so we are expecting a good performance from them here.

Norwich City are absolutely flying at present coming into this match on a great run of form which has taken them to the top of League 1 & certainly looking a rock solid bet for promotion.

Confidence is sky high within the Norwich City squad at present & they are playing fantastic, attacking football which is giving them the opportunity to score goals & win games and they will believe they can do the same here.

This should be a decent game & Walsall will make it a test for Norwich City but on current form it is hard to oppose Norwich City & they look a decent bet to have too much quality & win this.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Norwich City to win

Correct Score options: Norwich City to win 2-0/2-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Martin/Hoolahan/Johnson

Brentford vs Southampton – (Tuesday 7.45pm)

Competitive, high energy football looks the order of the day here between Brentford who are strong at home & Southampton who are in great form so should be a decent game.

Brentford have 5 wins & 6 draws at home in the league this season & they will certainly go into this match believing they can get a result & will use the fact they played very well against Championship side Doncaster last week as motivation for this.

Southampton are absolutely flying now under the excellent management of Alan Pardew & they look as though believe they are going to win every game they play in at present so we expect another positive show here.

This should be a competitive contest & indeed a scoring draw is tempting but we like the way Southampton are playing at present & after beating Ipswich at the weekend, they will be flying going into this match & they look a value bet to win again here.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Southampton to win

Correct Score options: Southampton to win 2-0/2-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Lambert/Barnard/lallana

Rochdale vs Port Vale – (Tuesday 7.45pm)

Twenty two points seperate League 2 leaders Rochdale from mid table Port Vale but nevertheless both sides like to play football & decent, competitive game looks likely here.

Rochdale are having an absolutely fantastic season so far, sitting 9 points clear at the top of League 2 with promotion looking virtually secured already & this home game is another opportunity to work towards that.

Rochdale come into this match in excellent form having won 17 of their 26 league games which has seen them score an incredible 58 goals and we are expecting Rochdale to go for the goals again here.

A very impressive 4-1 away win at the weekend should see Rochdale come here with great confidence & belief and we expect them to go all out for the win right from the star in this one.

Port Vale are 22 points behind Rochdale which suggests they will struggle but they have improved greatly in the last few months & certainly will feel they have a chance of getting a positive result from this match.

Port Vale’s away record is excellent so far this season with only 2 away defeats & that proves they have the ability & character to go to Rochdale and get that result if they play to their best & things go there way on the night.

Rochdale will be positive from the start & Port Vale are capable of making it a real test so this should be very competitive & closer than many will expect but we have to side with Rochdale at home & they look a solid bet to win again here.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Rochdale to win

Correct Score options: Rochdale to win 2-0/2-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: O’Grady/Dagnall/Taylor

Other Recommendations for League 1 & League 2:

Exeter City vs Carlisle United – DRAW 1-1/2-2 – Anyinsah/Stansfield/Stewart score 1st/anytime

BRIGHTON to beat Stockport – 2-0/2-1
- Forster/Murray score 1st/anytime

Accrington Stanley vs Aldershot – DRAW 1-1/2-2
- Symes/Grant/Straker score 1st/anytime

ROTHERHAM UNITED to beat Chesterfield – 2-0/2-1
- Le Fondre/Ellison score 1st/anytime

Dagenham vs Notts County – DRAW 1-1/2-2
- Benson/Hughes/Rodgers score 1st/anytime

Round 3 of the F.A. Cup proved there was still plenty of magic left in the competition & this weekend sees the latest round of the F.A. Cup as teams chase their dreams of a Wembley Cup Final in May.
As usual there are loads of very interesting ties for us all to enjoy with plenty of value betting options to consider & here are our views on the matches that caught our eye.

Preston vs Chelsea – (Saturday 12.45pm)

Championship strugglers taking on Premier League leaders might sound like a complete mis-match but this is the cup & Preston will certainly have no fear as they entertain Chelsea in what looks set to be a cracking match.

Preston earned their place in round 4 by producing a fantastic performance to beat Colchester 7-0 & amazingly that was only 3 days after Alan Irvine had left as manager.

Darren Ferguson is the new man in charge & this match against Chelsea represents his first home match as Preston Manager so this is an extra special occasion for him & one that he will be determined to make an immediate impact in.

The first area that Darren Ferguson has committed himself to impacting on is Preston’s defensive problems which were highlighted again in their 4-2 away at Bristol City last weekend & Ferguson knows that they cannot afford to be defensively fragile against Chelsea who come here in top form.

This cup tie is a welcome break from the pressures of the league for Preston & we are expecting Darren Ferguson to send out the Preston players with a very positive attitude & commitment to compete for everything with a high tempo style to prevent Chelsea playing their natural game.

Carlo Ancelotti has made it clear that he wants to win whatever competitions he can & with Manchester United & Liverpool out of the way already, he knows that Chelsea have an excellent opportunity to repeat last seasons win in the F.A. Cup.

We are expecting Chelsea to take this match very seriously & coming off the back of a 5-0 win against Watford in Round 3 & then last weekend’s amazing 7-2 win against Sunderland we do expect Chelsea to go all out for the win here.

Confidence levels within the Chelsea squad are sky high & scoring 12 goals in their last 2 matches proves that Chelsea are playing very well & that all their key players are top form again.

The one aspect that Carlo Ancelotti will remain concerned about is the defence which still seems shaky & that could be a concern if Preston go for the direct approach & gather momentum in this match so the Chelsea defence will have to be solid.

Preston’s last two matches have seen 13 goals go in & Chelsea last 3 matches have seen 17 goals scored so this should be an entertaining match & the goals could fly in but in our view it is more likely to be Chelsea doing the scoring & they look a very solid bet to win here.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Chelsea to win

Correct Score options: Chelsea to win 3-0/3-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Lampard/Anelka/Ballack

Scorecast options: Lampard/Anelka/Ballack score 1st & Chelsea win 3-0/3-1

Double Result: Chelsea Half Time & Full Time

Reading vs Burnley – (Saturday 12.45pm)

Championship strugglers Reading welcome Premier League strugglers Burnley to what should be a cracking cup tie & fantastic game of open, attacking football.

Clearly Reading & Burnley have bigger, more importants targets of staying in their respective leagues but this F.A. Cup 4th round tie is a welcome break from the weekly pressures of the league & both teams will believe they can progress further.

Reading earned their right to stage this match after deservedly beating Liverpool over 2 matches & the confidence gained from those games should see an improvement in performances from Reading over the coming weeks in the league & of course while they are still in the cup as well.

After the delights of winning at Liverpool, Reading were brought back down to earth by Nottingham Forest who beat them 2-1 but that was not such a big surprise given how much effort the Reading players put into the Liverpool game & we expect them to be much fresher here.

Reading will know what to expect from Burnley in terms of tactics & indeed Burnley’s positive, open style should give Reading the chance to play their own football and if they hit their best form they are clearly capable of beating Burnley here as well.

Brian Laws faced the ultimate task in his first game in charge at Burnley has he took his side to play Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Ultimately Burnley lost that match but they played very well & actually should have scored first so that should have given Brian Laws great confidence that he has the players who can get Burnley out of trouble.

Brian Laws knows that one key area that Burnley have to improve in is their away form & he will see this away cup tie as the perfect opportunity to improve the mentality & confidence of the Burnley players when they play away.

Tactically both Reading & Burnley like to set-up to play open, passing football & always look to create chances but both equally have defensive issues as well so this should be a cracking match & the goals could well go in here.

Reading’s victory over Liverpool makes it tough to ignore their claims & they will be competitive again here but in our view Burnely look a value bet to have the edge on the day & win through to round 5.

Betting Recommendations:

Outrigth Match Result: Burnley to win

Correct Score options: Burnley to win 2-1/3-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Alexander/Eagles/Nugent

Scorecast options: Alexander/Eagles/Nugent score 1st & Burnley win 2-1/3-1

Double Result: Burnley Half Time & Full Time

West Brom vs Newcastle United – (Saturday 3.00pm)

Fascinating battle of two of the three leading lights in the Championship here as 3rd place West Brom welcome Championship leaders Newcastle United to what should be a fantastic, entertaining cup tie.

Amazingly these two sides clash for the 2nd time in 6 days having fought out a cracking 2-2 draw at Newcastle & both sides will believe they can win this so another cracker looks on the cards here.

That 2-2 draw at Newcastle & indeed the 1-1 draw these sides shared on the opening day of the season both proved the quality within each squad & how closely matched they are so there is unlikely to be too much between the sides again here.

The fact that this is a cup tie & not another Championship match should see the pressure lifted off the players as well & that should further encourage them to play more open, attacking football & the prospect for goals is again very high.

Both Roberto Di Mattteo at West Brom & Chris Hughton at Newcastle know that it is promotion to the Premier League that really matters but with this cup tie being against their key rivals, this is a fantastic opportunity for both sides to score at least a psychological victory & we expect both managers to be very positive here.

This could well prove to be on the best & most competitive 4th round ties & should provide great entertainment with any result entirely possible given how closely matched both teams are but ultimately we think home advantage could be the key & West Brom look worth a bet to edge this on the day.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: West Brom to win

Correct Score options: West Brom to win 2-1/3-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Bednar/Dorrans/Brunt

Scorecast options: Bednar/Dorrans/Brunt score 1st & West Brom win 2-1/3-1

Double Result: West Brom Half Time & Full Time

Accrington Stanley vs Fulham – (Saturday 3.00pm)

Out of all this weekend’s 4th round ties, could this clash of league 2 mid table side Accrington Stanley versus Fulham of the Premier League be the one that provides the shock & the magic we all look for in the F.A. Cup?

The answer in our view is it could well be just that & this tie certainly does look to have that classic David vs Goliath look to it that only the F.A. Cup can produce.

Accrington Stanley currently sit 11th in League 2, are a side who like to play attacking football & for them this is a fantastic opportunity for the club to show what they are about & indeed bring a much needed boost to the finances of the club.

Accrington Stanley have been relatively strong at home this season & win, lose or draw they always make sure they give their opponents a real test at the Crown Ground & that it what we expect against Fulham in this match.

A 1-0 home win over League 1 side Gillingham in round 3 on tuesday saw them progress to this 4th round tie & that win should give them the confidence to have a real go here & Fulham’s poor away record gives them a chance of getting something from the match.

Roy Hodgson is knowlegable & experienced enough to know that this match at Accrington Stanley is going to be a real test for his players & he will know what to expect.

Roy Hogson knows that he has a talented squad who have superior technique & skills to that of the Accrington players but equally he knows that Accrington Stanley will be be totally pumped up for this one & Fulham will have to be very competive & organised here.

Fulham have struggled away from home this season & indeed come into this match with 3 defeats from their last 4 games so team confidence is bound to be affected by that & that could be a problem here.

Ordinarily we would all expect Fulham to win this match but they are struggling a little at present & the F.A. Cup is a great leveller so we are taking Accrington Stanley as a value bet to win this & provide more F.A. Cup magic.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Accrington Stanley to win

Correct Score options: Accrington Stanley to win 2-0/2-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Miles/Symes/Grant

Scorecast options: Miles/Symes/Grant to score 1st & Accrington Stanley to win 2-0/2-1

Double Result: Accrington Stanley Half Time & Full Time

Notts County vs Wigan – (Saturday 3.00pm)

Having beaten non-league Forest Green in round 3, Notts County now come up against Premier league side Wigan in what should be another fascinating cup tie.

Just as with the Accrington Stanley vs Fulham game, this is another case of League 2 vs Premier League which adds to the interest & certainly provides plenty for us to get interested in.

Notts County currently sit 8th in League 2 & have had a steady season so far with their home form particularly strong which will give them confidence ahead of this match.

Notts County won here in the cup on wednesday & have only lost once in 11 home league matches which illustrates how tough they are to play at home & certainly does give them a chance of getting a positive result here.

Positive, attacking football is what Notts County like to play & certainly they have a capacity to score goals which should give them the confidence & belief to take the game to Wigan & give it their best shot.

Roberto Martinez’s Wigan side have been on a roller coaster all season with massive ups & downs and nobody knows from week to week what to expect from Wigan which does make it tough to assess them.

The one consistent factor with Wigan is Roberto Martinez’s belief in playing positive, passing football & we certainly expect Wigan to play that way here as well.

The Wigan squad should come into this match confident after a very important 2-0 away win at Wolves & indeed the fact this is a cup tie should take the pressures away & Wigan certainly have the attacking quality to cause Notts County real problems.

We are expecting this to be a fascinating & indeed entertaining match with any result possible given how both sides play but for a fun, value bet we are taking Notts County to make home advantage pay & make their own F.A. Cup history.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Notts County to win

Correct Score options: Notts County to win 2-1/3-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Hawley/Hughes/Rodgers

Scorecast options: Hawley/Hughes/Rodgers score 1st & Notts County win 2-1/3-1

Double Result: Notts County Half Time & Full Time

Other F.A. Cup Recommendations:

Everton vs Birmingham City:
Everton to win 2-0/2-1
- Fellaini/Cahill/Saha e/w 1st goalscorer /score anytime

Stoke City vs Arsenal:
Stoke City to win 2-0/2-1
- Fuller/Shawcross/Tuncay e/w 1st goalscorer/score anytime

Portsmouth vs Sunderland:
Sunderland to win 2-1/3-1
- Bent/Malbranque/Jones e/w 1st goalscorer/score antyime

Tottenham vs Leeds United:
Tottenham to win 3-0/3-1
- Defoe/Keane/Modric e/w 1st goalscorer/score anytime

Derby County vs Doncaster Rovers:
Doncaster Rovers to win 2-0/2-1
- shiels/Coppinger/Sharp e/w 1st goalscorer/score anytime

Wolves vs Crystal Palace:
Crystal Palace win 2-1/3-1
- Moses/Ambrose/Danns e/w 1st goalscorer/score anytime

The Championship, League 1 & League 2 are probably the three most complex & difficult leagues for football punters to assess with confidence & the weekly challenge of finding winning selections is indeed a very tough one.

We have had a good look at all the fixtures in those leagues & here are our thoughts on where the best value may lie:

The Championship:

Swansea vs Q.P.R.:

Very interesting game in prospect here as Swansea manager welcomes his former team Q.P.R. to what should be a good game of positive football

Swansea have started slowly this season with 5 draws & only 2 wins in their first 10 league games & the most worrying fact is that they have failed to score in 6 of those games.

Swansea will be looking to this game to build on their terrific 2-1 win against Sheffield United in their last home game which should give them confidence for this match.

Q.P.R. come into this game in good confidence & in a run of form which has seen them only lose 1 game in the last 8 & that was a 1-0 defeat by Chelsea.

Q.P.R. were very impressive when winning on their last visit to Wales when the beat Cardiff 2-0 & they followed that up with an excellent 5-2 home win last weekend & a very solid 1-1 draw away at Newcastle United.

We are expecting a good game of positive football with both managers philosophy based on entertaining so it should be a very competitive game.

Swansea will be determined to build on their last home win but in our opinion, Q.P.R. are in better form & have more quality in attacking areas so they look a good value bet to get another important away win.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match betting: Q.P.R. to win

Correct score options: Q.P.R. to win 2-0/2-1

First goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime options: Simpson/Buzsaky/Routledge

Sheffield United vs Doncaster Rovers:

We expect this match to be an intense local derby & it should provide a game with great atmosphere & competitive spirit on the pitch.

There is no love lost between the folk of Sheffield & Doncaster and you can be certain everybody connected to both clubs will be fully up for this game.

Sheffield United are odds on favourites to win this game but they deserve to be given how they are unbeaten at home & certainly have the edge in terms of quality in the squad.

Doncaster Rovers always attempt to play good passing football & they are a solid team unit with a good team spirit which makes them hard to break down but at the same time they struggle to win games.

This should be a cracking atmosphere & match to go with it but given how good Sheffield United looked against arch rivals Sheffield Wednesday, the local rivalry should inspire them & they look a solid bet to win this battle.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Betting: Sheffield United to win

Correct Score options: Sheffield United to win 2-1/3-1

First goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime options: Evans/Henderson

The remaining fixtures in the Championship look very, very difficult to assess with any outcome entirely possible & there is a good chance that there will be a higher percentage of draws.

The games that appeal as likely DRAW candidates are:

Barnsley vs Ipswich, Coventry City vs Leicester City, Preston vs West Brom & Derby County vs Sheffield Wednesday

League 1:

The League 1 fixtures list looks incredibly tough this weekend & the potential for a higher proportion of draws is certainly there – the highlights of the fixture list are Colchester vs Huddersfield Town & Leeds United vs Charlton Athletic.

Colchester vs Huddersfield Town:

4th place Colchester welcome 6th place Huddersfield Town to what is definitely a very important clash but equally could well be very entertaining one given the quality within both sides.

Colchester have been excellent this season losing only 2 of their 10 league games with 4 wins from their 5 home matches & clearly they are very strong at home.

That point was proven with their fantastic 3-0 home win against Charlton last weekend & that result should drive Colchester to be very positive & go for the win again here.

Lee Clark’s Huddersfield Town come into this game having suffered a poor spell of results after a great start to the season so clearly they need to bounce back here.

Lee Clark is a very positive manager & Huddersfield definitely have got the necessary talent within their squad to go to Colchester & be positive in their play although they will have to be much defensively solid than they have been in recent matches.

We like the look of this match & the prospects for entertainment & goals certainly look high & it what is likely to be a very competitive game, a scoring draw appeals as a value bet here.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Betting: Draw

Correct Score options: 1-1/2-2

First goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime options: Lisbie/Odejayi/Rhodes/Kay

Leeds United vs Charlton Athletic:

It does seem incredible that these two former Premier League sides now clash in a League 1 tie but that is the case & here we have what is certainly the biggest League 1 game so far this season & probably will be the biggest all season in League 1.

Leeds United & Charlton come into this massive match sitting 1st & 2nd respectively after both enjoying tremendous starts to the season.

Leeds United are unbeaten so far & Charlton have only lost 1 game so far so clearly this is going to be a very competitive game & one that looks incredibly tough to call.

The home record of Leeds United in the past year or so is phenomenal & clearly Leeds United fear nobody when playing at Elland Road so we expect them to be very positive against Charlton here.

Charlton suffered their first loss of the season when going down 3-0 away at Colchester so they have to get over that but previously they had looked very confident & certainly have the quality within their squad to achieve a positive result at Leeds.

This game should provide a lot of entertainment given the quality within both sides but equally there is a lot of pressure on this game & with that in mind we feel that neither side will want to lose & a scoring draw looks a sensible bet.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Betting: DRAW

Correct Score options: 1-1/2-2

First goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime options: Beckford/Becchio/Shelvey/Burton

League 2:

League 2 is a notoriously competitive league to solve & incredibly difficult for football punters to find a consistent winning edge & we have to say the League 2 fixture list looks tough again this weekend but here are the teams we think have a great chance of winning:

Notts County to beat Cheltenham

Chesterfield Town to beat Accrington

Rotherham United to beat Crewe

Shrewsbury Town to beat Morecambe

Bournemouth to beat Port Vale

This game really did catch our eye with the local rivalry involved, two good footballilng sides involved & now of course all of the added hype surrounding Notts County with Sven Goran Eriksson now part of the set-up there.

It might sound dramatic & over-stated to say that this is a massive game but to all of the loyal followers of both Chesterfield & Notts County, this game is massive & with local pride & bragging rights up for grabs in what should prove to be a cracking game with an extra edge to it.

Chesterfield Town will be fully up for this game after their home win at the weekend & the fact it is against their local rivals Notts County as well will certainly add an extra edge to their determination to be positive & go for this game.

Notts County come into this match on the back of two sensational wins with a 5-0 win at home to Bradford & then a 4-0 win away at Macclesfield so you have to believe they will come into this game fully confident & expecting to win with a determined attitude to keep their momentum going.

Local pride is at stake in this one & with two teams looking determined to go for the win this could well be a very good, competitive game with any outcome entirely possible but in our minds the bet that appeals most in terms of value is the draw as we envisage the two teams proving hard to break down & ultimately cancelling each other out.

Bet Recommendations:

Outright Match Betting:

Draw

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Correct Score options

1-1/2-2

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First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime:

Jack Lester/Lee Hughes

Double Result:

Draw Half Time & Full Time

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They’ve got new owners with wealth & ambitions to match, Sven Goran Eriksson is their Director of Football, a whole host of new players have been drafted in & they’ve just won 5-0 at home on the opening on the day of the season. So you can see why we’ve highlighted this game.

Knowing that about Notts County, the question to answer is what more do they want at this point & the simple answer is; that they want more and to achieve it quickly as well. The pressure is firmly on.

Winning 5-0 against Bradford City was a statement that Notts County do mean business & although there is tremendous hype because of the presence of Sven, the facts are that Notts appear to have a good side & if their momentum continues to build, then they could well take some stopping this season in League 2.

Macclesfield Town started their season with a low-key & tepid 0-0 draw away at Northampton Town. Considering that Northampton Town are rated as contenders in League 2, that result deserves some credit at least although clearly Notts County at home will be an entirely different test.

If Notts continue to do well it will prove increasingly difficult to get decent big odds on them winning & prices are going to be shorter than they perhaps deserve to be, but on this occasion we feel the bookmakers are offering a fair prices for a Notts County win & that what we’re going for.

Bet Recommendations:

Outright Match Betting:

Notts County to win

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Correct Score options:

Notts County to win 0-2/0-3

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First goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime:

Lee Hughes/Luke Rodgers

Double Result:

Notts County Half Time & Full Time

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Sven Goran Eriksson at Notts County