FA Cup First Round Tips: Don't expect any upsets with prestigious League One trio in action

• Pompey kick off against Hereford
• Bet Builder options come into play to boost odds
• Al Dudman previews Portsmouth, Derby and Ipswich for the FA Cup first round

Head to the Goalscorer markets for Pompey's tricky trip to Hereford

Hereford United v Portsmouth
Friday 4th November, kick-off 19:55
Live on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer

It's televised FA Cup action all the way involving League One clubs across Friday to Monday and it was a nice touch from Pompey boss Danny Cowley this week as he paid tribute to former Hereford star Ronnie Radford, who died this week at the age of 79. Radford, scorer of one of the most iconic goals in FA Cup history back in 1972, went into folklore with that long-range strike - what seemed about 40 yards on one of the worst pitches imaginable. At the time it was a quite a shock against Newcastle, and it's a goal I saw plenty of times growing up in the 1980s.

'I think for the world of football, really, he was an iconic person who created an iconic moment, and when I personally think of the FA Cup, which, to me, is the best cup competition in the world, that is a moment that I would go to immediately," said Cowley this week ahead of Friday night's game under lights at Edgar Street.

Hereford are big outsiders here at 9.417/2 with Pompey a prohibitive 1.364/11 and that's about right and I can have no qualms with the prices as this is the first time Hereford have appeared in the competition since the qualifying stages since 2017 - when they were knocked out by Fleetwood. Playing in the sixth tier these days, the Bulls are in the National League North and are some 81 places down on Portsmouth.

The visitors have a fine pedigree themselves - winning the trophy twice, most latterly in 2008. Cowley has some history too - he took Lincoln, then a non-league side, all the way to the quarter finals back in 2017.

Hereford manager Josh Gowling has had quite a few injuries to deal with, and their recent qualifying win against Bromley saw them down to the 'bare bones' as Harry Redknapp would say. However, that's a decent scalp in Bromley.

Cowley has had a problem of his own this week following the news that Joe Rafferty is out for three months with a groin injury - but there's better missives in the shape of Tom Lowery and Marlon Pack, who are on the way back. Cowley recently had to do without four midfielders for the 0-1 at Forest Green, so he's had issues with the hectic schedule.

After a fast start; the League One club have dipped slightly but remain in the promotion pack and are going into Friday on the back of a 0-1 win and two 1-1 draws.

The Under 2.5 Goals is a potential angle at 2.568/5, as there is a big differential in the prices for that market, and Portsmouth have been fairly mediocre of late. They were absolutely dismal too at Charlton and it hardly inspires me to play at 1/3.

Pompey only managed a 1-0 win against Harrow Borough last term despite the huge gulf in class, and even one of my old team mates in the late 2000s played for Harrow Borough(Mark Henry), which goes to show the gap! It will be the same here with Pompey set to have plenty of possession - indeed they had over 70% of the ball recently against Shrewsbury in a 1-1, their sixth draw in 15 and at that stage just one win in six.

A couple of players could make a difference for Pompey on Friday if they start. Ronan Curtis is a quality player and has six goals this term from 19 appearances, although five have been in cup competitions. If he starts, a moment of magic from him could tee up an Anytime Scorer bet on the Sportsbook at 8/5. Dane Scarlett is another, who early in the season looked excellent but hasn't scored in his last nine games.

Rather than get involved in the short prices as Pompey are hardly flying, I am also interested in Colby Bishop for First Goalscorer as he has nine in 16 and also takes penalties. Playing him in Sportsbook double with Pompey Half-Time using a Bet Builder pays a generous 5.98249/50.

Collins could be the answer for Derby for Torquay clash

Torquay United v Derby County
Sunday 6th November, kick-off 15:00
Live on ITV and ITV Hub

An even bigger price awaits for a non-league side with Torquay priced at 14.013/1 on the Exchange for Sunday's FA Cup first round match at Plainmoor.

It's been a while since Torquay have been anywhere near national TV, but they have a good manager in Gary Johnson and they produced a sparkling 6-1 win against Aldershot on Tuesday, but Johnson knows the magnitude his side will face as Derby will have a wage bill that he can only dream of. He said this week: "They are a formidable team, but we've got the confidence to say that we are looking forward to it. We will know them inside out by the time we play them, and we'll try and find their weaknesses."

At least his loan players are available with Mark Ellis (from Barrow), Lucas Ness (Charlton), Stephen Wearne (Grimsby) and Dillon De Silva (QPR) all set for starts as the quartet impressed on Tuesday.

The gulf in class is apparent with a cursory glance at the shortest player in the goalscorer markets. David McGoldrick is 11/4 to net first, and McGoldrick is a proven Championship forward with goals at Forest, Ipswich and Sheffield United.

Derby - FA Cup winners themselves in 1946 are 1/5 on the Sportsbook, so it's hardly a market to tip in the outrights, but there is 8/13 on the Sportsbook to cover the -1 on the Handicap, and that's reasonable considering how short they are in the match betting. They do have an xG of around 1.7 both home and away in League One this term, and Torquay are rock-bottom of the National League with a F15 A17 record - which is the second worst home defence in the fifth tier. Derby have only netted six on the road all season, so while I don't expect an avalanche, they should be able to score at least twice.

McGoldrick to Score A Hat-Trick on the Sportsbook is 14/1, with James Collins at 19/1. Collins is in a run of five in eight and recently bagged a couple on the road in the 0-2 win at Cambridge. Preference is for him in the Anytime Scorer market.

Mammoth task awaits Step Three Bracknell

Bracknell Town v Ipswich Town
Monday 7th November, kick-off 19:45
Live on ITV4, ITV Hub and STV

The TV cameras clearly had in mind one or two upsets with League One teams over the three days in the FA Cup, as Ipswich are another with a fine pedigree. Bracknell less so, and this is their first appearance at this stage for 22 years.

The Tractor Boys won the competition in 1978, and went on under Bobby Robson to European success in the early 1980s with a wonderful team. Kevin Beattie played in the 1978 final, and my old manager Terry O'Donnell, who was an apprentice at Southend before playing at Chelmsford once had to mark Beattie in a reserve game. I must have heard the story a thousand times, as he said Beattie was the best he had seen in the air and smashed a header on the bar from a corner.

Ipswich are lacking the prestige these days, but the intensity of Kieran McKenna has seen them turn into genuine title contenders this term, although their defensive frailties have become a problem of late as they were absolutely kamikaze at the back in the 4-4 at Charlton recently - a game with four goals from 90 minutes onwards.

"I think on the whole we went into a very tough week where if you'd have offered us seven points at the start of the week I'm sure most of the people around the club would've took it and it's to another tough game after a tough away game midweek and a tough game against Derby." reflected the Ipswich boss after a topsy turvy few days.

McKenna might use some of his fringe players for this, and at 1/7, it's another ultra-short price to deal with meaning we have to explore other options. And there are plenty on the Sportsbook. Bracknell are 14/1, and could be 140/1, as they have little chance here.

The hosts have a new management team in Jamie McClurg and Carl Withers and they have previously guided Binfield to a qualifying 4-0 win against Tonbridge Angels, and as much as I know non-League teams, I had never heard of recent FA Vase finalists Binfield - which goes to highlight the size of the gargantuan task here. But they did beat Banbury 2-1 from the National League North to get to this stage.

Sandhurst will have a bumper crowd, although I couldn't quite believe it is £25 for a ticket!

Ipswich have displayed home excellence with their defence this term with just six goals conceded, and while their away games have produced more goals (20 scored), their xG numbers are impressive with an xG away of 2.02 and an xA of 1.16. You can treble those numbers and more against Bracknell.

The defence could be key and the Both Teams To Score at 9/10 on the Sportsbook could be the bet with Ipswich to keep a clean sheet. Perhaps the recent goalfest at the Valley has influenced this market and price as a little bigger than it should be, but they have three clean sheets on the road this term and even kept out Derby 1-0 at Portman.

A little bit shorter is the Ipswich/Ipswich bet on the HT/FT market at 4/7. The team news won't be easy to predict with Town regarding any plays in the Goalscorer markets. Freddie Ladapo came off the bench in the 4-4 last weekend to net, and he is 9-20 this term and has featured in three of the Papa John's games, so he perhaps could come in line for a start.

Edwin Agbaje, Albie Armin, Fraser Alexander, Zanda Siziba, Tawanda Chriewa and Gerard Buabo are names from the U-21s that have featured in the Pizza tournament, and perhaps McKenna will opt for a bit of youth with veteran Richard Keogh perhaps to steady the ship.

The treble on Portsmouth, Derby and Ipswich to win pays 1.804/5 on the Sportsbook using the Bet Builder and that's one way of making a profit with the trio of long odds-on shots.

You can click here to read Ian Lamont's preview of the FA Cup involving League Two sides and Wrexham.

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