FA Cup Preview

Man City are the 11/2 (general) favourites for the FA Cup after a favourable home draw with Watford in the third round. Gianfranco Zola will hope his side can spring a shock at the Etihad.

Man Utd are out to 13/2 (general) after they were handed an away visit to fellow Premier League side West Ham. These two sides recently met at Old Trafford in the league and the Red Devils were made to work hard for a 1-0 victory. Chelsea are the 15/2 (bet365/Skybet/paddy Power) third favourites for the FA Cup and they will begin their campaign with a tough looking all-Premier League tie with Southampton. The last time these sides met in the FA Cup was back in 1977 when Southampton knocked out the Blues in a replay.

Arsenal have been handed a difficult looking trip to Swansea who just outplayed them at the Emirates and as such are out to 10/1 (general) to lift the trophy. The Gunners will be desperate for their first silverware since 2005 (which was also the FA Cup). Tottenham are 11/1 (general) for the FA Cup and will start their campaign against Coventry at White Hart Lane in what is a repeat of the famous 1987 FA Cup final which the Sky Blues famously won 3-2.

Liverpool face an away game with a non-league side though which one is still to be decided after Lincoln and Mansfield drew 3-3 with each other. The Merseysiders are 11/1 (Blue Sq/Stan James/888 Sport) to lift the trophy.

Everton face an away tie with either Cheltenham or Hereford (who meet Monday) and are 16/1 (Coral) for the trophy. I think David Moyes men look to be worth a little investment. They have been one of the top six sides in the Premier League this season and are capable of holding their own with the big sides as they showed when they got a point at the Etihad on Saturday.

Newcastle are 33/1 (BetVictor) for the FA Cup though they face a tricky looking third round game against Championship side Brighton. Fulham are also 33/1 (general) chances for the trophy and they get their campaign underway at home to Blackpool. West Brom are 40/1 (general) chances and they open with a trip to Loftus Road as they take on fellow Premier League side QPR. You can get 66/1 (BetVictor/Stan James) that Harry Redknapp leads QPR to FA Cup glory.

Sunderland are also 40/1 (bet365/BetVictor) hopes for the FA Cup though they face a difficult game at Bolton. Stoke also have a difficult game at Crystal Palace and have been eased out to 50/1(general). Swansea are 66/1 (bet365) after a though draw against Arsenal. Aston Villa are 66/1 (general) and former Norwich boss Paul Lambert has been handed an interesting home encounter with Ipswich and Mick McCarthy. Blue Sq and 888 Sport have Norwich at 100/1 (188bet also do though they do not pay EW) and that looks very generous. The Canaries are on an eight game unbeaten run in the Premier League and have a third round encounter with Championship strugglers Peterborough which should not strike too much fear into them. Norwich have already made the last eight of the League Cup and will be a match for anyone at Carrow Road. Burnley at 500/1 (BetVictor) also look some value as they have a game away to Barnsley in the third round. In Charlie Austin they carry a real goal threat while in Sean Dyche they have a manager who can organise a team for a one off game.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Everton EW to win the FA Cup, 16/1 (Coral)
SILVER: Norwich EW to win the FA Cup, 100/1 (Blue Sq/888 Sport)
BRONZE: Burnley EW to win the FA Cup, 500/1 (BetVictor)

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03/12/2012     © Frixo 2024