FA Cup Final: Crystal Palace destined to halt Man United resurgence

Michael Lintorn
26 April 2016

Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew has a chance to secure Europa League football next season

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Man United are meant to start their re-ascent by winning the FA Cup, but the case for Crystal Palace is compelling...

"Crystal Palace have scored first in every round, conceded twice throughout and haven’t trailed for a single minute regardless of difficult draws and only playing at Selhurst Park once."

Recommended Bet: Back Crystal Palace to win the FA Cup @ 3.412/5

Betting.Betfair first tipped Crystal Palace to lift the FA Cup at 9.2 in February, reiterating the stance at 5.6 last month. Now that they have added Reading and Watford to an impressive list of victims which began with Southampton, Stoke and Tottenham, they have moved in to 3.412/5 for the trophy.

You might think that your best chance to back a team who were once available at 50.0 has passed, but there are a number of reasons to believe that they remain a great bet at 3.412/5 to overcome Manchester United.

There is certainly no need to be spooked by the head-to-head statistics which show that the Eagles have suffered five defeats and fired five blanks in their six meetings with the 20-time English champions since their return to the Premier League in 2013.

After all, the last time that they clashed in cup competition in 2011, the Londoners prevailed in extra time despite being confronted by three obstacles that won't exist at Wembley: the game was Old Trafford, the hosts were a lot better (title holders) and they were a mid-table Championship club.

Currently 11 league positions separate the sides rather than 30 back then and even the point gap is a slender 20. Indeed, they were actually level at Christmas before Palace allowed their top-flight focus to fade in the pursuit of FA Cup glory, yet that can now work to their advantage.

Alan Pardew's men have absolutely nothing to play for in the final three Premier League rounds. It would take the almost unthinkable combination of three losses plus Sunderland and Norwich both winning three of their closing four fixtures to relegate them, which affords them the opportunity to rest any squad members who have overexerted and experiment with new combinations and tactics.

Man United by contrast have the dual challenge of trying to chase down Manchester City or Arsenal for a Champions League place and, if that proves unviable, ensuring that they aren't hustled out the top six by two of West Ham, Liverpool and Southampton, so they must graft all the way to Wembley.

Another thing to be aware of is that the Reds being hot at present, triumphing in six of their past seven matches, offers no guarantee that they will be on May 21.

They were winless in four prior to that burst, which in itself was preceded by a four-game victory streak, three without success, five wins in seven and eight without one. In short, Louis van Gaal's team jolt in and out of form so frequently and suddenly that what they do now likely has no bearing on what they will do in four weeks.

But even if Palace get Man United at their best, they shouldn't be intimidated because quite simply they have been better than them in the FA Cup this season.

Whereas the favourites have faced one top-half Premier League club and required a comeback and a replay to eliminate them, the Eagles dumped out three just to reach the quarter-finals, beating each in 90 minutes and two on their travels.

They have scored first in every round, conceded twice throughout and haven't trailed for a single minute regardless of difficult draws and only playing at Selhurst Park once.

Man United have leaked twice as often despite being gifted two League One opponents and another from the Championship, and indeed leaned on a 90th-minute penalty to creep past Sheffield United. Instead of fear, Pardew and Palace should feel excitement at the chance to avenge the 1990 final.

Recommended Bet: Back Crystal Palace to win the FA Cup @ 3.412/5

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