THE FA Cup this year has had its fair share of upsets but this weekend we reach the quarter-finals and five of the Premier League\’s top six are in action.
The first game of the weekend is an all Premier League clash at the Riverside between struggling Middlesbrough and in-form Man City. This match couldn\’t have come at a worse time for Middlesbrough who has dropped into the relegation zone for the first time after just one win in their last seven matches.
The big problem for Aitor Karanka\’s side all season has been their inability to score goals and that puts me off a 9.00 upset that is available at Green Listed Bookmaker BetVictor.
Bor has now failed to score in four consecutive Premier League matches and I can\’t see them scoring again.
Man City let odds-on backers down in midweek when failing to beat Bournemouth and can they be trusted again at the general 1.45?
I believe City will win this as they are expected to put out a very strong line-up but my advice would be to make them win to nil at the general price of 2.30.
Arsenal takes on non-league Lincoln in the David v Goliath tie of the round and despite the Gunners\’ problems, this is expected to be a fairly straight forward assignment.
Arsene Wenger is a man under huge pressure after a terrible 10-2 aggregate defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League but whenever he\’s been in trouble in recent seasons the FA Cup has always been his “get out of jail” card.
The Gunners\’ are the shortest price on the FA Cup coupon at just 1.08 with Ladbrokes and although they will win, NOBODY should be advised to take those prices.
Lincoln went to Premier League opposition and won in the last round at Burnley and they might be hard to break down but to start with and Arsenal\’s class will shine through eventually.
The non-leaguers are a massive 41.00 with Stan James for the win and if you are new to betting $2 on that means that you will lose $2.
They will put up tough opposition and my best advice would be to back the draw at half-time and Arsenal to win at the final whistle which is 5.50 with BetVictor.
IT\’s and All-London derby on Sunday when Tottenham host League One Millwall at White Hart Lane.
Spurs\’ are going about their business very nicely at the moment and it\’s no surprise that they are a heavy 1.14 favourites with Coral and Bet365 to make it into the Wembley semi-finals.
Mauricio Pochettino\’s side is unbeaten in their last four and boasts the best home record in the Premier League and they will have little problems in winning this.
Millwall has had some big wins already in the FA Cup beaten Premier League sides Bournemouth and Watford, but both of those were at home and away from home they\’ve won just the once in their last six matches.
You can get 21.00 with Ladbrokes on a shock win for the Lions\’ which I wouldn\’t take but one bet I will be having is the 3.20 with Bet365 on Harry Kane to score the opening goal.
The England striker has scored the first goal in the last three Spurs\’ matches and he\’s also managed to get on the scoresheet EIGHT times in those games and against a side, two divisions below the Hurri-Kane is set to capitalize.
THE tie of the round is on Monday night when Jose Mourinho returns to Stamford Bridge when Chelsea host Manchester United.
Both of these sides are bang in form with United arriving in West London with just one defeat in their last 27 matches and Chelsea winning their last 12 matches at home. The bookies make this a close one to call with the home side 1.86 for the win with BoyleSports and I think that is well worth taking and of the two sides, they will be the ones fresher and ready for the battle ahead.
The Blues\’ haven\’t played for seven days compared to United who will be traveling back from their 4,000 miles trip from deepest Russia on Thursday night in their Europa League draw against Rostov and that traveling could take its toll.
United are general a 4.50 chance for the win and if they are to get in they are going to have to do it without their talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic who misses this cup tie through suspension.
When the two met in the league Chelsea came out a comfortable 4-0 winner and although this isn\’t going to be as straight forward as that they will win again and I expect them to start a lot shorter than the current 1.86.
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