Football Tips: Paddy trader's FA Cup verdict for Saturday and Sunday

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Saturday 12pm: Everton v Rotherham

The reason we love the FA Cup 3rd round is because of the magic of the cup and the upsets that we see every year, but I don’t see one here for Rotherham. I think it’s going to be a really tough game for them.

In The Championship they’re in a really big relegation battle. They only have one league win in their last nine league games so I think the priority for them this season is just to stay up.

I think they will rotate and so will Everton which makes it difficult to predict either starting XI, but I’d imagine you’ll see a mixture of first-team players and squad players in there as well.

Everton To Win To Nil

It’s hard to see an upset, Everton can be put into any FA Cup accumulators that you’re putting on this weekend and to boost up the price if you want a single I like Everton To Win to Nil.

Gylfi Sigurdsson to Score Anytime

In the goal scorer markets I do like the look of Gylfi Sigurdsson to Score Anytime. He’d be on free kicks and penalties as well. He’s found a bit of form in the last couple of weeks. He’s scored a couple of goals against Sheffield United and Chelsea as well. With Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison maybe not starting, there’s a bit of value in him.

Saturday 3pm: Stoke v Leicester

Stoke come into this one in poor form and they’ve been knocked out of the cup in the third round in each of the last three seasons. It’s going to be very hard to see them getting past Leicester as well.

Leicester have only lost one of their last eight games and they have the best away form in the Premier League so far this season as well. Maybe it won’t be as easy as expected for them because I would suggest that there are going to be changes.

You look at the Leicester team, you would imagine Kelechi Iheanacho is going to start. He appears to be Leicester’s cup striker this season. He’s played in the Europa League and the EFL Cup as well.

Leicester to Win and Both Teams to Score

If I’m looking for a result in this game I think Leicester will just shade it but I think Stoke can get on the score sheet as well. I think Leicester win it, maybe 2-1, but I’m going to go with Leicester to Win and Both Teams to Score at a nice price.

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Sunday 1.30pm: Man City v Birmingham

You have to feel for Birmingham. They’re in terrible form with five defeats and a draw in their last six league games. They’re being dragged into a relegation battle in the Championship and now they have to go away to Man City in the third round of the FA Cup and try and put in a performance and keep a respectable score line.

That’s going to be very hard to do. Pep Guardiola and Man City, they never take their foot off the gas and I think the score really depends on how quickly Man City get that first goal. If they get it early it could be a rout. Again, we don’t know what changes will be made but we know with Man City, whatever players they put out they’re going to be world-class. Sergio Aguero might play as he hasn’t had many minutes this season and will be hungry for goals.

The possession stats in this game, you would imagine, will be 70%, 80% in City’s favour, it really just depends how clinical they are. I do think they’re going to win this one comfortably, though.

Manchester City (-2)

It’s going to be very difficult for Birmingham to keep it respectable so I think the Handicap Man City (-2) is definite value there for me.

Half Time: Man City (-1)

Another one I like to look of is the first-half handicap at Man City (-1). If they come out quick I’d be surprised if they don’t have a two-goal lead or more by the half time whistle.