The FA Cup is back this weekend, will we see a couple of giant-killing matches? We’ve taken a look at three matches where it’s the Championship vs the Premier League, can the plucky underdogs take some scalps here and where can we find value in the betting markets?
Fulham vs Aston Villa, Sat, 15.01
This doesn’t exactly come at the best time for both clubs. Fulham are third in the Championship and will surely be preoccupied with thoughts of making the Playoffs. Aston Villa are just a point above the relegation zone in the Premier League and have only won four away matches from 13 played across all competitions this season.
Fulham are pretty good at home, of their 15 home matches this season they’ve lost only five. Of their five most recent matches at Craven Cottage they’ve won three and lost two, scoring nine and conceding five, keeping two clean sheets.
Villa, well, Villa are muck on the road. One win (v Burnley on New Year’s Day) in their last five on their travels, scoring five and conceding 10. In two of those five matches they failed to score. In their last five meetings at Craven Cottage, Fulham have won four and one has ended in a draw,
Fulham have the momentum and home advantage.
Selection: Fulham to Win @ 11/10
Southampton vs Huddersfield, Sat, 15.01
Southampton have been on a great run of late, taking 10 points from a possible 12 over the Christmas period in the league. A team that had been giving manager Ralph Hasenhuttl all manner of headaches are now giving him a totally different one. Do they go for the win and keep the momentum in their sails or rotate the team to concentrate on their Premier League survival?
The Saints’ home record is very good of late, winning three, drawing one and losing one of their last five, scoring only five goals though and conceding four. Both teams to score has happened in 4/5 of those matches.
Huddersfield come into this match two places above the relegation zone in the Championship but have some breathing space, there are eight points between themselves and Stoke. Their away form is pretty bad though, just one win in their last five on the road, losing three and drawing one. They’ve scored five over those matches but have conceded 10. BTTS has also occurred in 4/5 of those matches.
Selection: Southampton to Win & BTTS @ 2/1
Preston vs Norwich, Sat 15.01
Preston come into this match as slight favourites and with Norwich having won just one away game so far this season, it’s easy to understand why. Preston’s form at Deepdale though isn’t the best, they’ve won just two of their last five at home scoring four and conceding seven. In three of those matches they failed to scored.
Norwich are rock bottom of the Premier League and of their last five matches away from Carrow Road they’ve won one, drawn one and lost three. The Canaries have scored four goals over those four matches and conceded six. They failed to score in two of them.
Norwich have got bigger things than an early FA Cup exit to worry about, so we’re looking at Preston to leverage their home advantage. Their home record isn’t great of late though so let’s take some insurance and go with the home side and the draw no bet option.
Selection: Preston / Draw No Bet – 13/20.
*Prices correct at time of publishing on Thursday & the treble pays just over 9/1 at the advertised prices.
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