After an intense festive period jam packed full of Premier League action, the FA Cup will come as a welcome break from the domestic madness this weekend. The third round of the world’s oldest cup competition is always a cracker, with a sprinkling of lower league opponents pitting their wits against some of the country’s elite in the hope that maybe, just maybe, they can cause an upset in front of millions.
This weekend sees the likes of AFC Fylde (the lowest ranked side still left in the competition) from the National League take on Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United of the Premier League. The non-league outfit will be looking to cause a stir and will certainly relish the opportunity of playing in front of a huge crowd at Bramall Lane.
Elsewhere, League One side Gillingham welcome West Ham to Priestfield hoping to imitate Oxford United’s success in the EFL Cup earlier this season, when the U’s dumped the east London club out of the competition after thrashing them 4-0 at the Kassam Stadium. Meanwhile, Tranmere Rovers visit Watford, Rochdale host Newcastle and Carlisle United take on Cardiff City on Saturday, and there’s another FA Cup Merseyside derby in the form of Liverpool v Everton on Sunday.
The ‘Magic of the Cup’ is a well-used phrase which epitomises the sheer unpredictability of this magnificent competition, and this weekend we’re certainly hoping to see some more upsets. Here’s a tasty 12/1 double for you to sink your teeth into for Saturday’s late K.O’s:
Wolves to beat Man Utd & BTTS
Wolves have not lost to Manchester United since their reintroduction to the top-flight back in 2018, winning two of their last three meetings against the Red Devils at Molineux. Nuno Espirito Santo’s men actually dumped United out of this tournament last season, defeating them 2-1 in the fourth round last March, so do carry plenty of momentum into this game.
United could well rest some of their key players as their main objective for the season remains breaking back into the top-four, though Wolves have little to lose here and could feasibly go the distance in this competition if they take it seriously throughout. If the visitors play as poorly as they did against Arsenal on New Year’s Day, they could be in for a drubbing. I’m predicting both sides to find the net – just like they have eight of the last nine times they’ve played each other – but feel as though the hosts will be slightly too strong for their opponents in the end.
Bournemouth to beat Luton & BTTS
Two sides struggling at the wrong end of their respective divisions locks horns at The Vitality Stadium on Saturday evening, as Bournemouth host Luton Town. Eddie Howe’s side were panned 4-0 by West Ham on New Year’s Day so are in desperate need of a positive reaction against the lowly Hatters. The Cherries need to avoid a potential banana skin here, and can count themselves extremely lucky that they’re facing a side who themselves are massively struggling for form at the bottom of the Championship.
That is not to say it will be an easy game, though with Luton’s away form considered (nine straight defeats) you have to fancy the hosts to prevail here. Bournemouth have conceded eight goals in their previous four games and are facing massive defensive issues at the moment, so it’s likely that Luton will score, but we think that Eddie Howe’s men will come away with the spoils in the end… just.
| Saturday – 5.31pm | Odds | Bets |
|---|---|---|
| FA Cup 12/1 BTTS & Win Double | ||
| Wolves to beat Man Utd & BTTS Best Bet | 10/3 |  |
| Bournemouth to beat Luton & BTTS | 21/10 | |
| Double pays around | 12/1 | |
Odds correct as of 2020-01-03 16:25:28