FA Cup / Richard Walker / 22 January 2009 /

Can Burnley get over their midweek heartbreak? Who will win the roaring battle at the KC? Have the Addicks got the steel to deal with the Blades?... Richard Walker recommends the best bets for this weekend's FA Cup fourth round.

West Bromwich Albion v Burnley

Poor old Burnley, eh? How cruel was their midweek Carling Cup heartache? Well, while we feel sorry for them, they're either going to turn in the performance of their lives at The Hawthorns to shake it out of their system - or they are going to get a hiding.

I fancy it will be the latter. Sorry, but they can't be travelling to the Midlands with anything other than glum faces and thoughts of what might have been. They were so near Wembley, now that's been reset to at least four steps away.

The Baggies have picked up in the Premier League of late and I expect their lively recent form to translate itself into this cup tie. They made short work of Peterborough away last round with a strongish side out. And that's the key; Tony Mowbray respects this competition and, while the Clarets will present a bigger challenge than The Posh, I take home advantage to pay full dividends.

Recommendations:

Back West Brom/West Brom at [2.98] in the Half-Time/Full-Time market
Back Over 2.5 goals at [1.98], with Burnley's players inevitably tiring to open the game up more than they'd like. Try 3-1 to the Albion [17.0] with a 2-1 [9.0] or 3-0 cover [19.5].

Hull City v Millwall

This will be a full-blooded encounter - both on the field and in the verbal stakes between the two sets of fans, no doubt, as the Tigers and Lions go roar to roar at the KC.

Phil Brown's under-strength City squeezed past Newcastle in a replay and he'll almost certainly field much the same line-up in attempting to dispose of League One high-flyers Millwall.

Kenny Jackett's got the south Londoners in great shape this season and they've recently been buoyed by crowd favourite Neil Harris passing Teddy Sheringham's all-time club goalscoring record. However, I reckon his strike partner Tresor Kandol might well bag one for the visitors. On loan from Leeds, he's no stranger to goals with eight this term.

The hosts will want to avoid both slipping up on a large-ish banana skin and the threat of a replay, which would totally scupper the thinking behind playing the second-string as far as Brown's concerned. So I fancy this'll be another game both sides will commit fully to winning first time up.

Recommendations:

Back Over 2.5 goals at [1.97] and afford yourself a tickle at the Over 3.5 goals scenario when the market develops.
Take Millwall to cause a stir, if not an upset, by Laying Hull to a [1.71] liability. Braver souls might back the travelling Lions at [6.2].
Invest at around [5.5] on Tresor Kandol in the To Score market, with odds taking shape on the day of the game.

Sheffield United v Charlton Athletic

The Addicks recorded their only win in 18 games when they sneaked past Norwich City in a 3rd Round replay. Imagine following your side for that long without a hint of success. It would've been reasonable to take them to go on a bit of run after that...but no, they were stuffed 4-1 at Sheffield Wednesday four days later.

The Blades, a club with a great cup tradition of recent years, will capitalise on the Londoner's acute frailties at the back and almost amble into the next round without having to slip into higher gears.

It'll be far from a landslide but a routine home win - for a team in decent nick - is on the cards, making it is a miserable week of visits to the Steel City for Phil Parkinson's relegation certs.

Recommendations:

Back Sheffield United to prevail at [1.65].

Play Under 2.5 goals, reflecting the need not to get too excited about this win, at [1.99] (the same price as Overs, by the way).

Go for 2-0 to the hosts, an [8.2] shot in the Correct Score list. Cover, if you want it, seems logical at 1-0 [7.4]

Watford v Crystal Palace

Watford host Neil Warnock's Eagles and, I'm afraid, I can't see when the Hornets are next going to win a match. New boss Brendan Rodgers holds some laudable footballing ideals, but he appears to be applying them in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It could be a draw, with [3.45] not to be sniffed at if you feel strongly, but laying the hosts also accounts for the chance of a Palace victory, the much more likely to emerge triumphant of the two sides.

The corresponding cup fixture last season went the way of the home team with Warnock having to concentrate on his SE25 charges avoiding the drop but, with Palace in ruder health, I reckon he'll be more committed to winning this one and will select a side to get the job done.

Recommendations:

Lay Watford to a [2.72] liability or, if you prefer to back, side with the visitors at [2.88]
Back Draw/Palace at [8.0] and also Watford/Palace [34.0] since they can throw away a lead well enough.

Over 2.5 goals (just) is the call, [2.18] to back with a 2-1 Palace victory [11.0] the preferred scoreline.

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