The third round of the FA Cup is always one of the more celebrated sporting occasions in the UK. Chiefly because it gives the chance for the plucky upstart to give the established powerhouses a bloody nose, or better still, a knockout blow. Davids versus Goliaths, minors versus majors or small fry versus big fish, call it what you like. The Brits love an underdog so they love third-round weekend
We had a terrific Cup sequence last season in this column, tipping plenty of winners by picking out the best bets of the action. So we go again. Here are our selections…
Man City v Burnley
Are Burnley really a +2500 (Ladbrokes, Coral) chance here? Not in our book they’re not. Sean Dyche’s men are having a fine season in the Premier League and this is a free-hit where they can relax and be let off the leash.
City could well find it a struggle to get pumped for this one, particularly as Pep Guardiola has been making excuses for the last few days about a congested fixture list. We expect Pep to rest several key players and a malaise could set in.
Burnley will probably rest some players, too and that is probably factored into the price. Yet they’re not relegation material anymore so this is a tourney they could win.
Coventry v Stoke
This will be marked down by many as a potential giantkilling. Coventry, former Cup winners, will be higher than a Dreamliner for this clash, Stoke are on a hiding to nothing.
But we will go against the tide. Mark Hughes knows a defeat here could get him the sack so he would be foolhardy to take this lightly. Stoke have won two of their last 12 and the board has already discussed Hughes’s position.
But the bottom line here is that Coventry, who in their three outings against higher opposition in other cups this term have failed to win, are a League Two outfit. That is a huge gulf in class. And the -133 (William Hill) seems generous about Stoke.
Watford v Bristol City
This could well be a Premier League fixture next season. Watford look reasonably solid in the top flight while City are going great guns in the Championship in fourth. They have had a wobble in their last two outing, losing twice including a heavy defeat to Bristol City. But this could be just the tonic.
Lee Johnson, the City boss, will relish the chance to test his side against the Hornets. They have already knocked them out of the League Cup so taking the +600 (William Hill, Ladbrokes and other green listed bookmakers) doesn’t seem a risk.
Calculators
