English FA Cup 3rd Round Previews
The past couple of weeks have been very busy for the British football clubs. In the icy weather of G.B. the Boxing Day fixtures were held as normal, followed by the New Year's day games... and then yet another round, mid week this time! This weekend, it is time for some to rest as it is FA Cup matchdays!
Arsenal v Leeds Millwall v Birmingham Blackburn v QPR Bolton v York Brighton v Portsmouth Bristol City v Sheff Wed Burnley v Port Vale Burton v Middlesbrough Coventry v Crystal Palace Doncaster v Wolves Fulham v Peterborough Huddersfield v Dover Hull v Wigan Norwich v Leyton Orient Preston v Nottingham Forest Reading v West Brom Scunthorpe v Everton Sheffield United v Aston Villa Southampton v Blackpool Stoke v Cardiff Sunderland v Notts County Swansea v Colchester Torquay v Carlisle Watford v Hartlepool West Ham v Barnsley Stevenage v Newcastle FA Cup second round replay Lincoln v Hereford
This time last year Leeds took the scalp of Manchester United at Old Trafford. The draw has not been any kinder to them here and they are 10.00 to pull another rabbit out of the hat at the Emirates. Last year's goal hero Jermaine Beckford has since moved on but Simon Grayson's side have enjoyed a lengthy unbeaten spell in the Championship which only came to an end last Monday with a 2-1 defeat at Cardiff. They are sure to provide some thrills and spills as 46 goals scored and 43 conceded in the league suggests so it will be a shock if the Gunners aren't unable to exploit some of the gaps at the back.
Verdict: Arsenal 3 Leeds 1
Millwall are on a good run in the Championship and no defeats in eight has seen them climb up to ninth in the league. An excellent defence has been the foundation with just two goals conceded during that spell so a rather toothless Birmingham should hold no fears for them at the New Den. Alex McLeish's side managed to find the target twice to beat Blackpool on Tuesday but they have hardly been prolific with midfield seemingly coming up with the goals of late rather than any combination up front. These two look pretty evenly matched on balance and a replay would not be the biggest surprise in the world.
Verdict: Millwall 1 Birmingham 1
The hosts seem in upbeat mood at the moment with the likes of David Beckham and Ronaldinho being linked with moves to Ewood Park under the new ownership. The latter will have been happy with the action on the pitch too as Rovers swept aside Liverpool in midweek and a repeat of that panache would be good enough to see off QPR. Most firms have them at a shade of odds-on to progress at the first time of asking but only once this season have they strung back-to-back victories together. Neil Warnock's side continue to set the pace in the Championship but have shown signs of frailty lately with their first three league defeats in their last six games. Neither really boasts a compelling case and this could be resolved on another day.
Verdict: Blackburn 1 QPR 1
Bolton had just 15 players available to them in the midweek draw against Wigan so Owen Coyle's will be forced to play his big guns against the visitors from the Blue Square Bet Premier. Robbie Blake and Martin Petrov came off the bench and made an impact so they look sure to start as the home side look to land the odds at 1.25 (bet365) to make the next round. York are well up for the game but the worry is they may be a little undercooked having had three out of four games recently postponed due to the weather. That said, they did win 3-0 at Gateshead on New Year's Day and do have a decent handful of players in their ranks that have experience at a higher level. They gave Stoke an early fright by taking the lead in the Cup at this stage 12 months ago and are 5.00 to repeat the trick here. That price is tempting but not quite enough.
Verdict: Bolton 2 York 0
It's the one thing Gus Poyet seemed hell-bent on avoiding but circumstance indicates it might just be Brighton's destiny to enjoy a lengthy cup run this season. As if pulling non-league opposition at home in the opening two rounds wasn't fateful enough, the Seagulls now head into a glamorous local derby against Portsmouth at a time when morale in the opposition camp has been ravaged by a wrangle over player contracts. The 2010 finalists might have been a decent outside bet for a return to Wembley had the club found a way to resolve disputes with Michael Brown and Richard Hughes but they look like an accident waiting to happen the way things are. Naturally, Poyet is more concerned with getting Albion back into the Championship but he'd be crazy to look this particular gift horse in the mouth and a strong team selection should see the hosts progress.
Verdict: Brighton 2 Portsmouth 1
Bristol City extended their unbeaten home run to eight matches with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Cardiff on New Year's Day but fatigue could play a part as a refreshed Sheffield Wednesday side visit Ashton Gate. The Owls returned to action with a narrow defeat at high-flying Huddersfield in a televised League One clash on Monday but this could be when they really the feel the benefit of an 18-day winter break against a team that fulfilled all four of their scheduled matches over the festive period. We're not so keen on Alan Irvine's men that we'll tip them up at 4.00 (bet365) beause the Robins' home record under Keith Millen probably deserves a bit more respect, but the visitors ought to have enough in the tank to take the tie back to Hillsborough.
Verdict: Bristol City 2 Sheff Wed 2
Port Vale have a new boss in Jim Gannon but with the recent managerial rumoil at both clubs, you can only assume this tie will be settled by the quality and improvisation of the players out on the pitch rather than any deep tactical inspiration from the dugout and that, if anything, probably reduces the chances of an upset. Few buy into the idea that Brian Laws added much of real significance to Burnley's stock and Stuart Gray is a man of reasonable experience, so we should expect the Clarets to progress in fairly routine fashion based on a pretty solid home record and the 42 places separating the two clubs in the current league standings. Port Vale's progress over the past 18 months has owed much to Micky Adams and his departure has obviously had a demoralisingeffect judging by the 5-0 defeat in their last away game at Rotherham.
Verdict: Burnley 3 Port Vale 0
Tony Mowbray is slowly getting to grips with the task of turning Middlesbrough into a more cohesive entity but the Teessiders still have enough concerns to tread carefully around this particular banana skin. Boro have made a better fist at controlling games in recent weeks but they shall remain vulnerable for as long they fail to turn their periods of dominance into goals and Burton will no doubt fancy their chances of causing an upset. The Brewers are comfortable on home soil and will set about their guests with real purpose but they do tend to run out of ideas against superior opposition. Boro should be strong enough to hold out and take the tie back to the Riverside, but it might not be without the occasional hairy moment.
Verdict: Burton 0 Middlesbrough 0
Coventry are in the bad books with Aidy Boothroyd but they should be grateful for home advantage as they bid to end a six-match winless sequence with victory over poor travellers Palace. The Sky Blues were gearing up for an automatic promotion assault three weeks ago but picked up just one point from the last available 15, dropping back to 11th. However, a roasting from the manager in the wake of Monday's defeat at Barnsley ought to sharpen the focus and a decent tempo should reap full reward against the managerless Eagles. The Londoners have shown themselves to be capable of retaining their Championship status for another season by virtue of some confident performances at Selhurst Park but a sequence of ten defeats in 13 on the road tells its own story and we shouldn't expect a great deal to change until they've made a permanent appointment.
Verdict: Coventry 2 Crystal Palace 1
A team with only one home league defeat all season plays a team with only one away win so it is no surprise that we are keen to back the hosts when Doncaster entertain Wolves. Rovers continue to impress in the Championship with plenty of neat football played under Sean O'Driscoll's management and they will fancy their chances of causing a minor upset - there is only 16 places between the sides in the football pyramid. Wolves beat Premier League champions Chelsea 1-0 in midweek but there is still no hiding place from their dreadful away record in the current campaign. Striker Billy Sharp is Doncaster's key player with three goals in his last two games and he has admitted this week that the Yorkshire side don't want a replay. Back him to get his wish with a victory putting Rovers in the fourth round draw
Verdict: Doncaster 1 Wolves 0
The Cottagers looked to have turned a little bit of a corner over Christmas with two wins from three in the Premier League rounded off by a confident display in midweek to beat West Brom 3-0. So the best price of 1.44 (bet365) to beat Posh looks a little bit more solid although the visitors are on a decent run themselves - four without defeat in League One and have suffered just one defeat in seven. The dangerous Craig Mackail-Smith has 16 goals in all competitions this season after he bagged another two in the 4-1 success over Walsall on Monday. Mark Hughes' men will be keen to remain in winning form and should just edge it but they arenot exactly rock solid and the visitors could make it interesting.
Verdict: Fulham 2 Peterborough 1
Dover have made headlines with a couple of league scalps in the opening two rounds but this is surely where the dream ends for the Conference South outfit. It's one thing beating mediocre opposition from the basement without leaving the boundaries of Kent but an altogether different experience awaits them in west Yorkshire. Huddersfield have suffered enough hiccups on home soil to understand the importance of earning the right to play but they're capable of tearing a team to shreds once they get their noses in front. Organisation has been the bedrock of Dover's progress so far but there's an obvious gulf in quality between the two teams and you suspect the Terriers will possess far too much creativity and firepower to be denied in their own backyard.
Verdict: Huddersfield 5 Dover 0
The Tigers have been one of the form teams of the Championship of late with just one defeat in their last 10 outings and sources from inside the club have expressed how seriously they are taking this competition. An extended run would be a nice reward for the loyalty of the fans following relegation and they have the chance to avenge last year's 4-1 defeat at the same stage to Saturday's rivals. Depleted Wigan pleased boss Roberto Martinez with a battling point at Bolton in midweek and their resources have been stretched further with Tom Cleverly and Chris Kirkland both casualties at the Reebok Stadium. Just one win in nine hardly has you rushing to back them at 2.60 (Bwin) and the hosts could well just edge into the fourth round.
Verdict: Hull 2 Wigan 1
Orient have been scoring goals and playing with great confidence in recent weeks but one result stands head and shoulders above all others in relation to the task awaiting them at Carrow Road. The Londoners had bagged at least two goals in each of their previous seven matches before the trip to Brighton on New Year's Day but the Seagulls exposed their lack of pedigree in cruel fashion with a 5-0 pounding. Clean sheets have been few and far between for both sides in recent months but that shouldn't overly concern Norwich in the context of this clash. The Canaries will know enough about Russell Slade's men from their time in League One last term and they can be trusted put that knowledge to good use.
Verdict: Norwich 4 Leyton Orient 1
Preston are down to the bare bones after messing with the wrong crowd, stripped of all the temporary assets that Darren Ferguson brought in to cover up the cracks of a job clearly beyond his personal capabilities. Now the Lilywhites must weather a gloomy period coming to terms with the legacy and it's difficult to imagine them not falling into the traps set by former boss Billy Davies and his momentum-gathering Nottingham Forest side. The Reds are coming strong and they will see some economic value in the promise of a lucrative fourth round tie before the transfer window shuts at the end of the month. Davies knows a money-spinning televised clash against a Premier League heavyweight could tip the balance in favour of the acquisitions committee landing one of his primary targets, so he should play his hand accordingly in respect of team selection. The away win is available at 2.30 (Betsson and bet365) and that's big enough for us.
Verdict: Preston 0 Nottingham Forest 2
An FA Cup weekend could be pleasant distraction for the Baggies after five straight league defeats has left them languishing in 16th spot in the table. Gaffer Roberto Di Matteo admits the mood around the dressing room is a bit low following a 3-0 thumping at Fulham as a catalogue of defensive injuries, illness and suspensions takes its toll. They look vulnerable here against a Reading side that enjoyed a great run to the quarter-finals in the competition 12 months ago and saw off Liverpool in this round following a replay. They also defeated West Brom in the fifth round as well after another replay and manager Brian McDermott says the FA Cup will always have a special place in his heart as his side's run helped him secure the job on a permanent basis. Their current form is good with just one defeat in 10 matches so it is not hard to see why they are well up for this one again. Take the 2.25 (Betsson and bet365) on them knocking out the opposition at the first time of asking.
Verdict: Reading 2 West Brom 0
Everton have been a bit of an enigma this season having mixed some really promising performances with equally lacklustre displays. Their 2-1 midweek victory over Tottenham at Goodison fell very firmly into the first category and boss David Moyes acknowledged his side had shown "improved vigour and determination" to beat a very, very good side. The key will be carrying that form over to a less glamorous tie and even if they are not quite so scintillating, they should have too many guns for Scunthorpe at 1.61 (bet365). The Iron reside in the bottom three of the Championship and six straight home defeats has seen crowds dwindle - there were under 4,500 at Glanford Park on Monday for the 2-1 loss to Watford. They are in dire need of a tonic but it is hard to see where the boost will come from - they were in much better form 12 months ago when they hosted Manchester City in the fourth round of the FA Cup and still got outclassed 4-2. This should be straightforward for the Toffees.
Verdict: Scunthorpe 0 Everton 3
Gerard Houllier is on a very slippery slope at Villa with fans chanting for his removal already after they dropped into the bottom three of the Premier League. The euphoria of their late 3-3 draw at Chelsea said more about the struggles of the latter and Villa's 1-0 loss at home to Sunderland in midweek sums up how things are going following Emile Heskey's glaring miss in the first half. Micky Adams is settling into his new job as Sheffield United boss and this looks a great chance to really win over the fans. His side showed plenty of bottle to force a 2-2 draw with Doncaster in his first match and Adams has promised to make his side fitter and more organised. His first observation was that they conceded goals too easily and if he has begun to address that issue, then the 3.30 (Bwin) on them taking advantage of Villa's continued shakiness is very tempting indeed.
Verdict: Sheffield United 2 Aston Villa 0
South coast hosts the Fylde coast as Ian Holloway's side try to continue their fine record on the road this season. They have already bagged five wins away from Bloomfield Road in the Premier League sotravelling to lower league opposition will not be particularly daunting. They will have to bounce back from a home defeat to Birmingham but will draw some confidence from a better display in the second half that nearly got them a point. They are a best price of 3.50 (bet365) for victory but Nigel Adkins has his side on a decent run of their own and have won three times since Christmas with 11 goals scored. Striker Rickie Lambert seems to be finding his touch once again having suffered a bit of a slump and admitted after scoring their third against Dagenham & Redbridge that he is feeling "a bit confident now". He is 2.30 (bet365) to score anytime and that makes some appeal in what could be an enthralling clash.
Verdict: Southampton 2 Blackpool 3
Tony Pulis was happy with Stoke's display at Manchester United despite the 2-1 reverse and the feeling after the match was one of frustration that they did not get something out of the game. They did push the Red Devils close again though and a repeat of that sort of performance should be good enough to see off an erratic Cardiff side. The visitors received a much-needed boost by beating Leeds in the Championship in midweek which saw them move back to second behind QPR. But six losses from their last 11 league fixtures does not make the Bluebirds a reliable punting medium and they may find the hosts just a bit too good - but not by much.
Verdict: Stoke 1 Cardiff 0
Sunderland have injury problems ahead of this clash but they will still have too much quality for League One Notts County. David Meyler and Danny Welbeck picked up injuries in the 1-0 win at Aston Villa and will miss out on Saturday. Manager Steve Bruce has bemoaned the festive fixture pile-up and he has rued the fact that he is unable to rotate "eight or nine players" for games. Midfielder Jack Colback has been recalled from a loan spell at Ipswich and his return will ensure that the absence of Bolo Zenden and Lee Cattermole is not felt too badly. County are safely in mid-table but they don't have the momentum behind them this term that helped them secure victory in the fourth round against Wigan last season. Expect the Black Cats to secure a routine win.
Verdict: Sunderland 3 Notts County 0
The wheels are starting to come loose on Colchester's League One campaign and you can only assume they will lack the necessary confidence to upset the odds at one of the Championship's toughest venues. Swansea might not be in the habit of putting teams to the sword by heavy margins but there's seldom any way back for any team that falls behind at the Liberty Stadium. The U's have been involved in some high-scoring encounters lately but they serve only to highlight the frequency with which defensive errors occur on both sides at their level and mistakes will be few and far between from the Jacks. This isn't a game that warrants special attention but those looking for additions to long list accumulators shouldn't quarrel with the 1.53 (bet365) about Brendan Rodgers' men. A routine home victory is to be expected.
Verdict: Swansea 2 Colchester 0
As if the League One fixture list isn't cruel enough on Carlisle, Noel Gallagher pulled them an absolute stinker with a 740-mile round trip to Devon. The Cumbrians boast a decent cup pedigreeagainst lower league opposition but this could be a real hiding to nothing and their recent away form gives us enough incentive to take them on. Recent trips to Exeter, Bristol Rovers, Walsall and Tranmere have yielded just a solitary point and a capable Torquay side might be viewing this as an ideal opportunity to revitalise their season after tailing off the promotion pace in recent months. The Gulls have taken a couple of sizeable scalps in recent seasons and run a few others close. If they can maintain the mean of their FA Cup standards under Paul Buckle, then they look decent value at 2.50 (Betsson). We make the home win no better 11/8 on our tissue.
Verdict: Torquay 2 Carlisle 1
Hartlepool's recent spurt of good form came to an abrupt end with defeat at Notts County on Monday but they still possess the tools to cause plenty of problems at Vicarage Road. The Monkey Hangers have developed an uncanny habit for keeping clean sheets and it resulted in them winning three successive away games by a single goal prior to the setback at Meadow Lane. Watford might be flavour of the month with punters after making mincemeat of QPR, Cardiff and Portsmouth but home defeats to Leeds and Scunthorpe earlier in the season have exposed the Hornets' inability to unlock a team that puts bodies behind the ball. Pools will certainly do that and they can also play on a significant age difference by roughing the hosts up a bit. All things considered, the 6.50 (Bwin) about the away win doesn't look a bad bet.
Verdict: Watford 0 Hartlepool 1
The 5-0 defeat at Newcastle on Wednesday night has heaped the pressure right back on West Ham boss Avram Grant and he will be anxious for his men to avoid this potential banana skin. Grant is confident the Hammers can get back on track quickly and their recent run of results at Upton Park will give him hope with only one defeat in eight games. 
Barnsley sit eight points above the Championship relegation zone and manager Mark Robins has done a really good job at Oakwell since taking over in September 2009. One man to watch out for from the Tykes squad is star winger Adam Hammill with the former Liverpool man heavily tipped for a move in the January transfer window. West Ham should be able to secure victory if they can deal with the 22-year-old and, for the time being, we will treat the humiliation at St James' Park as a blip in their recent recovery.
Verdict: West Ham 2 Barnsley 1
These two met back in 1998 with Stevenage forcing a draw at Broadhall Way before Toon edged past their rivals 2-1 on Tyneside after a controversial header from Alan Shearer opened the scoring. Current boss Graham Westley has been handed the task of righting that wrong and they may just provide the day's upset result on the back of a 4-2 success over Barnet. Alan Pardew hailed Newcastle's 5-0 rout of West Ham in midweek as a "complete team performance" but he was throwing teenagers on from the bench and ended the game with 10 men after injuries to Steven Taylor, Cheik Tiote and Jonas Gutierrez depleted his resources even further. Hat-trick hero Leon Best was taken off late as well with a heel injury but is expected to be fit with Pardew desperate to get another player in before the weekend. With Andy Carroll injured also, this is a real banana skin for the visitorsand a shock could well be in the offing.
Verdict: Stevenage 1 Newcastle 0
The magic of the FA Cup works in mysterious ways but don't be fooled by the improbability of these two sides meeting at this stage. The last remaining second round tie has been put back to this date following a draw at Edgar Street and three subsequent postponements due to a frozen pitch at Sincil Bank. A trip to Wycombe on Tuesday awaits the winners and only a brave man would invest their hard-earned on either the Imps or the Bulls progressing beyond the trip to Adams Park. With both teams operating at less than a point per game towards the foot of the basement and progressing beyond the first round by virtue of home ties against non-league opposition, it's extremely difficult to pick a winner. So without a hint of shame, we'll sit on the fence and predict a penalty shoot-out.
Verdict: Lincoln 1 Hereford 1