The eight teams left in the FA Cup are all one win away from making it to Wembley. With the semi finals so tantalisingly close, a great deal rests on this weekend’s matches and we have the chance to make a tidy profit out of the potential chaos. Below are three accas of increasing odds to wet your whistle while you sit back, relax and watch other players and fans on the rollercoaster of the cup.
Easy Winner – 9/10
- Liverpool v Blackburn over 1.5 goals (2/9) – Liverpool are playing some lovely stuff at the moment and they come up against a Blackburn defence which concedes an average of 1.5 goals per game in the Championship. There are sure to be more than two goals in this one so it is the first bet in our banker.
- Aston Villa v West Brom under 3.5 goals(1/5) – Villa manager Tim Sherwood saw his team win for the first time as they snatched a win with a last-gasp penalty against West Brom on Tuesday night. That game had fewer than four goals (as we tipped in our midweek acca) and so, in all probability, will this one.
- Manchester United v Arsenal over 1.5 goal (2/7) – 81% of all Manchester United league games have had over 1.5 goals this season, for Arsenal, it’s 93%. This is another game where two goals as a minimum is an absolute certainty.
Medium Risk – 7/1 (Coral)
- Manchester United v Arsenal both teams to score (4/6) – These two have had some classic cup encounters in the past and should serve up another one on Monday night. Both managers are desperate for some success to boost their popularity after up-and-down seasons so will be going for the win at the first time of asking – leaving them free to concentrate on the battle for a top four Premier League finish.
- Bradford v Reading both teams to score (5/6) – Bradford’s incredible cup record over the past few seasons will give them the belief that they can overcome Championship opposition and get to Wembley. They may well have to score at home as both teams have scored in over half of Reading’s away games this season.
- West Brom/Draw double chance(4/9) – The Baggies’ defeat on Tuesday was their first away reversal under Tony Pulis. He will ensure that doesn’t happen again and will fire his team up for instant revenge. Take the 4/9 that they will either win or take the game to a replay at the Hawthorns.
Long Shot – 75/1 (Bet365)
- Liverpool v Blackburn, Steven Gerrard to score (13/8) – Gerrard will do all he can to ensure that he gets to go to Wembley for one final time before leaving Liverpool. The former England captain takes set pieces and penalties and we all know how deadly he can be from outside the area.
- Aston Villa v West Brom Saido Berahino to score (9/4) – Berahino scored an equaliser on Tuesday night and with the potential for this to turn into an end-to-end cup tie, he can score from set pieces or in open play and continue his fine scoring run.
- Manchester United v Arsenal, Wayne Rooney to score two or more (8/1) – Rooney has been playing up front again and is enjoying it, with Robin van Persie currently injured. He scored twice last weekend and often comes up with the goods in the FA Cup. He can be the player to put the Arsenal defence to the sword.