Andy's Saturday tips - Easy for Man Utd
There are four FA Cup matches on Saturday - one all-Premier League fourth round replay and three fifth round clashes sending lower league clubs to top-flight stadiums. Here's how our main man Andy Gray sees them going...
Chelsea v Everton
Everton could easily have won when these two teams met at Goodison three weeks ago but it makes sense that Chelsea are favourites for the replay at [1.62].
My old club were very poor in their 2-0 defeat to Bolton last week and manager David Moyes was hugely disappointed. In fact, I don't think I've seen him as down as he was following that match in his entire nine-year spell at Goodison Park.
Of course, Chelsea have failed to perform in their last two matches - they were outplayed by Liverpool and huffed and puffed to no avail in their draw against Fulham but they haven't lost an FA Cup tie for three years so there's no way I'm opposing them at home.
Everton produced five goals a fortnight ago against Blackpool and but overall they have struggled to score this season. Mind you, Chelsea have drawn a blank in their last two matches and they will have half an eye on their midweek Champions League match against FC Copenhagen so Carlo Ancelotti may well rest players.
I will be very surprised if Chelsea make it three consecutive games without a goal but I don't anticipate a high-scoring match. Everton often do well away to Chelsea. They fought their way to a 1-1 draw earlier this season and, without the distraction of European football they will be up for this one.
I think Chelsea will just edge this one. As I say, I don't expect a flurry of goals but I do think we will see the 2.5 goal line broken. With speculation about which strikers Ancelotti will select, I fancy a bet on a midfielder to find the back of the net. There's no more reliable option than Frank Lampard so back him to score.
Recommended Bets:
Back Chelsea to win at [1.62]
Back Chelsea to win 2-1 at [9.4]
Back Frank Lampard to score
Manchester United v Crawley Town
What an occasion this will be for Crawley Town. As the first non-league club to reach the fifth round for 17 years, they deserve huge congratulations regardless of what happens at Old Trafford on Saturday teatime. I hope the match is a sell out and that Crawley earn themselves a big pay day.
Manchester United, however, have bigger fish to fry and with a potentially tricky midweek trip to Marseille in the Champions League, so Sir Alex Ferguson will not want to take any chances. He might rest key men but the likes of Javier Hernandez and Tomasz Kuszczack are very good players and can all help them to victory.
They drew against Exeter City at Old Trafford in the FA Cup and these contests can prove unusually frustrating for big clubs. I have some experience of playing against non-league opposition.
In 1985, when we were defending the FA Cup, Everton were almost derailed by a stubborn Telford side. They came to Goodison Park and dug in and, even though we played our strongest XI, we really struggled for long periods. What we found, and what is often the case in these games, is that once the top-flight club scores the first goal, the opposition crumbles. We didn't score until the second half but once we did, we were comfortable and ended up winning 3-0.
Crawley must try to enjoy the experience of playing at Old Trafford. Their job is to frustrate the home team for as long as possible but in the end Manchester United will have too much and I expect them to win by a comfortable margin.
Recommended Bets:
Back Manchester United -2.0 on the Asian Handicap
Back Manchester United to win 3-0 at [7.6]
Back over 2.5 goals at [1.38]
Andy's predictions for Saturday's 3pm kick-offs...
Birmingham v Sheffield Wednesday
Birmingham will have been disappointed to fall to a rare defeat against Newcastle in midweek. The FA Cup may not be Alex McLeish's priority but I believe they are good enough to bounce back against the Owls.
Recommended Bets: Back Birmingham to win at [1.7]; 1-0 at [7.8]
Stoke v Brighton
The Seagulls are flying high at the summit of League One but a trip to the Britannia is something few sides look forward to.
Recommended Bets: Back Stoke to win at [1.69]; 2-1 at [9.2]
Andy Gray is now on Twitter so follow him for his exclusive tips and his take on the biggest stories in football each week.
Published: 18 Feb 2011
Horace Horlicks (February 19, 2011 9:13 AM) said:
Hello Andy,
You're not usually right, but I must disagree with your comments on the outcome of the Chelsea v Everton encounter. Everton have been performing very well against the bigger teams this season away, securing good draws with Liverpool and Chelsea and a good victory against Man City. Chelsea will continue to flounder until Torres finds his feet. At the moment the only ones he can find are both left. I think the game will finish 0-0, with Everton finally going through on penalties.
Best Wishes Horace.
Konstantin (February 19, 2011 2:24 PM) said:
Great!!!
Thnx Horace Horlicks respect from Russia!!!!