FA Cup / Richard Walker / 24 January 2009 /

These two sides have never met before in any competition so, despite 'Arry's comments, the romance of the cup will be alive and well at 12.40pm this Saturday lunch-time at Hartlepool in front of the ITV cameras, writes Richard Walker.

A homely ground, Victoria Park is often subject to the worst of the weather, situated only a few hundred yards from the North Sea. If they're to prevail, West Ham need to put the likely adverse conditions to the back of their minds and get on with out-footballing their hosts, who can play a bit too.

Hammers' manager Gianfranco Zola has been saying all the right things pre-match, and there's been a flavour of respect for the grand old prize, unlike Redknapp's distasteful remarks which smack of Premier League is all. Well, yes it is in the eyes of top-flight fans, but the FA Cup at least gets in the way for a few weekends a season.

You won't be surprised to learn that the visitors are the [1.82] favourites. Pools are [5.0] to back with The Draw floating aimlessly in between - as it always does - at [3.8]. Much as I'm not shy of supporting perceived value, or a cup shock, I don't see it with this one. So back, back and back them again, the Irons, to see this one through at the first attempt.

Pools like to knock it about a bit and don't have the rough and tumble merchants lower-divisions sides often employ to unsettle glamorous opponents. West Ham are sitting quite comfortably in mid-table so this will allow Zola - who's already intimated as such - to play a stronger team than he might have done. They'll want to show there's plenty of life after Craig Bellamy and I take them to do just that in style with a bit of West Ham/West Ham in the Half-Time/Full-Time section, backable at [3.1].

On that point, however, while I feel a smiling Zola is the face we'll see on our TVs come 90 minutes, I think the lack of genuine quality to back up Carlton Cole's current good form might mean a low-scoring success, something like 2-0. That's [10.0] to back among the Correct Score options with 2-1 - my second favourite - priced at [8.8], showing that Betfair layers reckon Pools might have at least a goal to shout.

My back of the day, leading on from 2-0 and West Ham/West Ham, is for the Irons to win both halves. The 'Yes' is [5.0] to back on that so, even if there's more goals than I'm reckoning on, I can see a visitors lead at the break being built open as their hosts commit more men forward in search of a leveller. Just a thought.

The two scoreline suggestions makes the Over/Under 2.5 goals market hard to play, in my eyes. Overs is [2.08] with Unders a [1.92] chance. Perhaps have a go in-running early on then look to the Over 3.5 goals market to lay off your stake if there's early action.

Goals-wise, I think you've got to include Cole in his current mood. I'm far from his biggest fan, unable to warm to that laconic style of his. But he's scored in each of his last five games so anything above [2.5] in the To Score market should be considered. You might also want to throw in the home team's Aussie hitman Joel Porter. 15 goals from 30 starts is no mean feat in a side that's a long way from table-toppers. He's likely to be around [6.0] when the To Score list takes shape nearer kick-off. You could do a lot worse.

Whatever the result, sadly Jeff Stelling won't be singing "I feel good". His idol, striker James Brown, is out for the season with a cruciate ligament injury.

Plenty to shout about, plenty of profit. Game on!

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