FA Cup Preview: 30 January – 1 February

Posted on January 28, 2016 | Posted by Clint Vojdinoski

Derby County v Manchester United

Saturday January 30, 3.55am, iPro Stadium

Derby County kick off the fourth round of the FA Cup with a dream tie at home to Manchester United. In the third round, the Rams came from a goal down to record a hard-fought 2-1 victory at League Two’s Hartlepool United. The winner came five minutes from time when Darren Bent expertly volleyed Abdoul Camara’s deflected cross.

Manchester United will look to snap out of their Premier League woes with a decent Cup run but in the third round, the Red Devils needed a 93rd minute Wayne Rooney penalty to run out undeserved 1-0 winners over League One side Sheffield United. Louis van Gaal’s men put in a ponderous and lethargic performance against the Blades which emphasises the lack of attacking verve this United team displays.

Prediction

Derby have the most talented squad in the Championship but have hit a run of poor form at the moment, going winless in five league matches, with manager Paul Clement under increasing pressure to keep his job. Manchester United’s issues in attack are well known but the whole squad seems to be in a malaise. United to edge this tie in unconvincing fashion.

Suggested Bets

Match Result – Manchester United

Under 2.5 Goals

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Aston Villa v Manchester City

Saturday January 30, 11pm, Villa Park

Aston Villa needed a replay to overcome League Two Wycombe Wanderers. Villa’s players bore the brunt of fans’ frustrations when they put in an abject performance to draw the first tie 1-1. The replay was at Villa Park and it took 75 minutes for Remi Garde’s men to break down Wycombe with Ciaran Clark opening the scoring. Idrissa Gueye then sealed a less than convincing 2-0 win to put Villa through to the next round.

While Manchester City cruised to a 3-0 triumph over fellow Premier League club Norwich City. Sergio Aguero ran the show as he scored one and set up another for Kelechi Iheanacho before halftime. Kevin de Bruyne made it three as Manuel Pellegrini’s men sealed an easy path into the next round against a very passive Canaries.

Prediction

In their previous clash at Villa Park in November, Villa bagged a credible 0-0 draw but they failed to cause City any problems in attack. Villa are unbeaten in five matches in all competitions but Manchester City has the squad depth to overcome a side who would be prioritising Premier League survival.

Suggested Bets

Match Result – Manchester City

Over 2.5 Goals

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Crystal Palace v Stoke City

Saturday January 30, 11pm, Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace dumped Southampton out of the Cup for a second straight year, this time escaping with a 2-1 win. After an immense amount of Southampton pressure, Joel Ward put Palace ahead against the run of play. Southampton’s dominance was rewarded when Oriol Romeu equalised yet Palace stole the match with a little over 20 minutes remaining through Wilfried Zaha’s volley.

Stoke moved past the third round for the seventh year in a row but they had to battle strongly to overcome League One’s Doncaster Rovers. The Potters laboured to a 2-1 victory off the back of strikes from Peter Crouch and Jon Walters. While Walters thrashed a 57th minute winner, Doncaster would rue a series of missed chances to snatch a draw.

Prediction

Crystal Palace’s search for a much-needed striker is over after acquiring Emmanuel Adebayor on a short term deal but it remains to be seen how quickly he will adapt. Stoke’s form has been a tad inconsistent and much of the first team squad are coming off a midweek League Cup clash that went into extra-time. Take a draw as Palace are still out of form and Stoke will have to dig into their reserve squad as their first team have been involved in a lot of fixtures in January.

Suggested Bets

Match Result – Draw

Under 2.5 Goals

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Nottingham Forest v Watford

Saturday January 30, 11pm, City Ground

In an all-Championship tie, Nottingham Forest sent QPR bouncing out of the Cup with a 1-0 triumph. In a match with few clear cut chances, the winner came on 24 minutes when Jamie Ward turned in Oliver Burke’s mis-hit cross. Despite QPR improving as the game wore on Forest held firm to ensure QPR remained winless at the City Ground.

Watford overcame Newcastle United 1-0 in a tie where they were second best. The Magpies dominated with 60 percent possession and fashioned the bulk of the chances but it was Watford striker Troy Deeney who was clinical with a 44th minute winner. The Hornets had one clear chance which Deeney took, while their opponents froze up in front of goal.

Prediction

Since losing away to Brentford on the 21st of November, Forest are on a 13 match unbeaten run in all competitions, which has included seven draws. Their unbeaten run has been built on a miserly defence but has been tempered by a lack of goals. While Watford have struggled to create chances from midfield for their in-form forwards. Look for a low-scoring draw.

Suggested Bets

Match Result – Draw

Under 2.5 Goals

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Liverpool v West Ham United

Sunday January 31, 1.30am, Anfield

Liverpool needed a replay to overcome mid table League Two side Exeter City. In the first tie, Australian defender Brad Smith rescued a 2-2 draw, while in the replay a mixture of promising youth and first team players helped the Reds run out comfortable 3-0 winners. Sheyi Ojo became the youngest goalscorer in Liverpool’s FA Cup history and goals from Joe Allen and Joao Carlos Teixeira wrapped up the tie.

Nikica Jelavic’s first goal for West Ham helped Slaven Bilic’s men see off a dogged Wolves side 1-0 at Upton Park. In a tightly fought match, West Ham made hard work of their Championship opponents until Jelavic’s 84th minute volley clinched a victory the Hammers barely deserved.

Prediction

Expect an interesting tactical encounter as West Ham will be happy to give Liverpool plenty of possession and then hit them on the counter. Liverpool will create a lot of chances but need to display a cutting edge which seems to be inconsistent at the moment. Overall, look for Liverpool to take the tie at home.

Suggested Bets

Match Result – Liverpool

Over 2.5 Goals

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MK Dons v Chelsea

Monday February 1, Midnight, Stadium mk

Two penalties were needed as Championship strugglers MK Dons overcame League Two high flyers Northampton Town 3-0 in a replay. In a dominant second half, Ben Reeves netted the opener from the penalty spot on 53 minutes, then set up substitute Josh Murphy eight minutes later. Simon Church rounded off the scoring in the 89th minute, also from the spot.

Chelsea comfortably saw off League One opponents Scunthorpe United 2-0 at Stamford Bridge. The Blues suffered an embarrassing 4-2 home loss to Bradford City in last season’s Cup but there was to be no repeat of that as a goal in each half from Diego Costa and Ruben Loftus-Cheek kept the Blues on course for a competition that interim manager Guus Hiddink won in 2009, during his last spell in charge of the Blues.

Prediction

MK Dons have injury concerns and with an already stretched squad trying to stay out of the Championship relegation zone this is a match that should be comfortable for the Blues to win.

Suggested Bets

Match Result – Chelsea

Under 2.5 Goals

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