FA Cup First Round Bets: Fleetwood and other upsets

FA Cup / Gary Boswell / 10 November 2011 /

" class="free_bet_btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">

Fleetwood Back. A win for the Cod Army would be music to the ears of Gary Boswell and those following his recommendation.

"With Wycombe only 27 league places higher than their Conference Premier opponents, the gulf isn’t as huge as it might seem. The value therefore lies in backing the home advantage at the stunning odds of 2.7."

Ably assisted by senior researcher James, Gary Boswell looks for the best upsets in the ever intriguing, ever-dramatic first round of the FA Cup.

Alfreton Town v Carlisle United
Kick off : Saturday 15:00 November 12
Alfreton [7.2] Draw [4.0] Carlisle [1.6]

I'd like to think this was my number one possible upset with the price on the home team a seemingly big one, but sadly it's not. Just a possible and one that represents serious value given that league form can be chucked out of the window when assessing cup games.

Nicky Law's Alfreton proved that last round with the unexpected replay win at Lincoln and they do look to have found a striker in Anthony Wilson who might just get under Carlisle's hair. On paper the Cumbrians should cruise it as Alfreton have been a disappointing Conference Premier debutante following the mass player exodus after their Championship season in BSN.

Two things work in their favour here. They are a big physical side who have a wild disciplinary record. That has been known to upset Greg Abbott teams in the past. They also have the old chestnut of a tight little ground - as far away from the space at Brunton Park as you can imagine. I'll take the small risk involved in laying Carlisle at odds on.

Recommended bet: 1pt Lay on Carlisle at around [1.6]

Newport County v Shrewsbury Town

Kick off : Saturday November 12 12:30 at Spytty Park
Live on ESPN HD

Newport [4.1] Draw [3.7] Shrewsbury [2.08]

Can't say I'm huge on the Exiles as their BSBP season continues to stutter under experienced manager Justin Edinburgh, despite some initial improvement on his arrival. They do have players though to hurt Graham Turner's Shrews in Sam Foley, Danny Rose and Craig McAllister and the presence of the cameras and the oft hostile environment of Spytty Park might be the main two factors for me in giving the Welshmen a shout.

My main problem for Shrewsbury is their price at [2.08] which does strike me as a tad short, despite their form and the presence of Terry Gornell and James Collins - both of whom look set to taunt Newport. Much better at home and with only three wins on the road all season and a distinctly possible ' let's concentrate on making the league play-offs' mentality as a club, I wouldn't be chancing Shrewsbury to win at first attempt. It's a lay price for me.

Kick off : Saturday 15:00 November 12 at Stadium MK

MK Dons [1.3] Draw [6.0] Nantwich [13.1]

It's not that long ago that MK Dons, under their old guise of Wimbledon FC, were grabbing the headlines by beating the then invincible Liverpool to the FA Cup. Now Nantwich, in the first round for the first time in their 127-year history, are looking to cause a shock of a similar magnitude as they visit Stadium MK. The Northern Premier outfit, led by former Northern Ireland and Reading hero Jimmy Quinn (who is threatening to post himself on the bench despite his forty years) have fought hard to get this far, upsetting BSN outfit Nuneaton in the final qualifying round. At the back, the Dabbers have looked solid and they've been clinical when given the chance.

The Dons, whilst flying high in League One, have only passed the FA Cup first round once in the last four years. Nantwich, who are unlikely to get a replay held at Weaver Stadium, would surely relish a lucrative rematch at the MK. Dons could be a team to lay.

Recommended Bet: 1pt LAY on MK Dons at around [1.3]

Fleetwood Town v Wycombe Wanderers
Kick off : Saturday 15:00 November 12 at Highbury
Fleetwood [2.7] Draw [3.5] Wycombe [2.9]

Even more recently, Lawrie Sanchez, the man who scored the winner for Wimbledon in their triumphant final (and such things do matter for all these things are cyclical and interlinked), was managing Wycombe to their best ever FA Cup run, finally being knocked out by Liverpool in the semi-finals. Those halcyon days must seem long ago now though, as the Chairboys languish at the bottom of League One.

Gary Waddock's Wanderers are meeting the Cod Army at a bad time with no wins in their last four and just one win in their last six on the road. Fleetwood are fresh from thumping Mansfield 5-0 to get here and then winning 2-0 at Luton in a league six pointer that has given them a realistic platform on which to build their 2012 attempt to become a League team for the first time in the club's history. One feels they will be looking to couple that with equalling their best ever FA Cup performance by reaching round Two. With Wycombe only 27 league places higher than their Conference Premier opponents, the gulf isn't as huge as it might seem. The value therefore lies in backing the home advantage at the stunning odds of 2.7

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>