Alongside a huge weekend of Premier League action, Saturday’s slate of matches also features a host of FA Cup Second Round games, with the potential for a few shocks on the cards.
Football tipster Shane O’Brien has dived into the long list to offer up four picks for an old-school Saturday FA Cup acca.
Saturday’s FA Cup Acca tips
3pm: Barnsley vs Bristol Rovers – Barnsley to win
3pm: Crawley Town vs Lincoln – Crawley Town to win
3pm: Salford City v Cheltenham – Salford City to win
3pm: Morecambe vs Bradford – Morecambe to win
- An acca with these bets pays at approximately 41/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
Barnsley vs Bristol Rovers – Barnsley to win
Promotion-chasing Barnsley welcome mid-table Bristol Rovers in this all-League One clash at Oakwell on Saturday.
Barnsley have not won any of their last three league outings, but are rightfully installed as odds-on favourites for the visit of Bristol Rovers, who needed extra time to struggle past Weston-super-Mare of the National League South in the First Round.
Barnsley, on the other hand, recorded an impressive victory away to League Two leaders Port Vale in their opening cup tie and have already beaten Bristol Rovers at home this season, winning 2-1 in September.
They can put an end their short winless streak with victory on Saturday, and give their promotion push a shot in the arm, ahead of the crucial Christmas period.
Crawley Town vs Lincoln – Crawley Town to win
Lincoln have not won any of their last four league games, causing them to fall out of the League One play-off places.
They have also managed to win just two of their last eight outings in England’s third tier.
Crawley Town, on the other hand, may be teetering on the edge of the League One relegation zone, but they are undefeated in their last five games, winning two and drawing three.
That nine-point run has seen them jump out of the relegation spots for the first time since the end of September. More crucially still, that run also included a 3-0 home win over Saturday’s opponents Lincoln, at the end of October.
Lincoln appear to be stuck in a rut and home advantage could prove crucial. Lightning could strike twice, although perhaps not in the shape of a 3-0 victory.
Salford City v Cheltenham – Salford City to win
Salford and Cheltenham sit side by side in the League Two table on 21 points apiece, with Cheltenham one place above their FA Cup opponents, courtesy of goals scored. Salford, however, do have a game in hand.
Like the two fixtures above, this game has already taken place this season, providing punters with an insight on a possible result.
Salford overcame Cheltenham in a 2-1 home victory in September, coming from behind thanks to Hakeeb Adelakun’s second-half brace, with the winner coming in the 86th minute.
That encounter, coupled with their respective league positions, indicates Saturday’s FA Cup tie will be incredibly tight and almost too close to call.
Salford, however, have predominately relied on home form this season, with four of their five League Two victories coming at Moor Lane.
Morecambe vs Bradford – Morecambe to win
Another cup tie between teams in the same division, Bradford are heavily-fancied to advance as they travel to relegation-threatened Morecambe.
This fixture, like all of the ties already mentioned, has already happened this season, with Bradford heading to Morecambe in October for a league clash that ended in a 1-1 draw.
Bradford appear to be the smart bet. The Bantams are currently three points off the promotion places in League Two and face a Morecambe side currently occupying one of the two relegation places in the league. Morecambe are only avoiding last place in the table thanks to goal difference..
But Morecambe have shown signs of life in recent weeks. They have won two of their last three games to move off the foot of the league, while all three of their league wins this season have come since October 9.
Bradford have not won in four league games, in a run stretching back to mid-October, that has seen them fall out of the play-off places.
The FA Cup almost always sees some surprise results and, while a team winning at home against another team from the same division doesn’t exactly qualify as a cup shock, a Morecambe victory on Saturday would certainly be a surprise.
It’s not beyond the realms of possibility by any means.
Saturday’s FA Cup betting tips
3pm: Barnsley vs Bristol Rovers – Barnsley to win
3pm: Crawley Town vs Lincoln – Crawley Town to win
3pm: Salford City v Cheltenham – Salford City to win
3pm: Morecambe vs Bradford – Morecambe to win
- An acca with these bets pays at approximately 41/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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