FA Cup Final Betting: Hornets can sting Man City's quadruple mission

Ben McAleer
07 April 2019

Can Gracia guide Watford to glory?

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The odds are stacked against them, but Ben McAleer argues that Watford can pull off an upset when they take on Manchester City in next month's final...

"City are overwhelming favourites and rightly so, but they were so too in the 2013 final, where a late winner from former Watford fan favourite Ben Watson secured Wigan the FA Cup six years ago."

This weekend's FA Cup action threw up plenty of entertainment, but in the end; only two could progress. Manchester City had their backs against the wall for periods against Brighton on Saturday, however managed to book their place in the final courtesy of Gabriel Jesus' first half goal.

They were joined by Watford in extraordinary fashion on Sunday, as the Hornets came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in extra time. Wolves were matched as short as 1.021/50 to win in 90 minutes - and 1.011/100 to qualify - but Javi Gracia's men pulled off the almost impossible.

Manchester City favourites as they pursue the quadruple

At 2-0 it looked like game over, before Gerard Deulofeu halved the deficit with a sublime chip and in the dying moments, a penalty was awarded to the Hornets. Troy Deeney smashed home to equalise, before Deulofeu, again, netted in extra time to give Watford a chance of their first FA Cup win, having come so close in their first final in the tournament in 1984, losing 2-0 to Everton. Manchester City, though, come into the final as overwhelming favourites to win the FA Cup at 1.192/11.

Pep Guardiola's side remain in the hunt for an unprecedented quadruple having secured the Carabao Cup in February. The quest for glory is by no means easy for City and Watford will provide a stern test in next month's final. On Sunday, their never say die attitude shone through impressively and while the Hornets will have previously struggled to kick things up a notch domestically following their Premier League return, under Javi Gracia, they are very much in with a chance of upsetting the odds in May.

Watford to win the FA Cup is at 6.25/1 and if they can replicate their spirited display from the semi-final when they take on City next month, this could prove a bargain backing. Yes, City are overwhelming favourites and rightly so, but they were so too in the 2013 final, where a late winner from former Watford fan favourite Ben Watson secured Wigan the FA Cup six years ago.

Watford can capitalise on the pressure City are under

There's always a chance for a sting in the tail in the FA Cup as a number of giant killings have proved in the past and next month's final is no different. It may be two Premier Leagues sides facing off at Wembley, but the sheer level of City's financial power compared to Watford renders the final a David vs Goliath clash, albeit on a smaller scale.

In this instance, Watford can use the pressure that'll be piled on City to their advantage. The Hornets will approach the fixture as the outsiders, much as they did against Wolves, and this could work in their favour. Effectively playing pressure free, it'll allow Gracia's side to play their natural game and while their record against City stands at 10 successive defeats coming into the final, the fact that City could still be playing for the quadruple by the time these two face off plays into Watford's hands.

With the progress made by Watford in Gracia's first full season at the Vicarage Road helm, they will indeed be confident of securing their first FA Cup. The Spaniard has assembled a solid core squad of players and there is ample competition for regular action, so much so that Deulofeu started Sunday's win over Wolves from the bench. After a couple of false starts in the past, Gracia seems the real deal for Watford and the ideal way to finish off the campaign would be with a piece of silverware.

Trust in Gracia going a long way

Captain Troy Deeney is enjoying, arguably, his strongest Premier League season to date. While the likes of Deulofeu, Roberto Pereyra and Will Hughes are able to express themselves technically, safe in the knowledge that Abdoulaye Doucoure and Etienne Capoue are effectively shielding the backline.

The fact that he has been bringing out the best in Andre Gray highlights just how impressive a man manager Gracia is and after a series of failed experiments, the Watford board look to have finally struck gold in the 48-year-old.

In November, he became the first Watford boss in the Pozzo family's seven-year ownership to be handed a contract extension and their faith in Gracia was being rewarded with the club currently one point off seventh place matched with their upcoming FA Cup final appearance. Even defeat to City next month wouldn't lessen Gracia's achievements, but there is no reason why Watford can't lift the trophy next month.

It won't be easy, yet fans have every reason to be optimistic that, on their second ever FA Cup final, they can upset the odds and capitalise on the amped up pressure on City's shoulders. "I'm happy because the club trusts me," Gracia said on Friday and with a contract until 2022, it seems at long last that the only way is up for Watford. Victory over City would be the culmination of a fine season's work and while Guardiola will be demanding a first FA Cup winners' medal of his career, never say never over a one-off 90-minute match with a FA Cupset on the cards.

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