FA Cup
Lee Phelps’ FA Cup Picks
FA Cup Third Round weekend as a punter means either a big accumulator or finding a couple of so-called banana skins and a big outsider winning. You don’t need me to find a load of favourites, so let’s try find some upsets or at least a decent price or two!
Sunderland v Newcastle – Saturday 12:45
The first port of call has to be the Stadium of Light. Sunderland aren’t exactly flying but they’re in a play-off spot in the Championship, they’re unbeaten in three games and more importantly have a goalscorer in their ranks, in Jack Clarke, who will cause a fragile Newcastle backline some problems. He’s scored 12 in 26 and has just returned to form since Boxing Day after a lean patch through December.
I’d take a chance on a Sunderland win, they’re 3/1 at home by the way, with Jack Clarke scoring at 7/1, but if you don’t want to include the home win, Clarke is nearly 3/1 to score and a similar price to have over one shot on target in the match.
Newcastle have lost their last three and also went out of the League Cup on penalties to Chelsea, conceding nine goals in that run.
Luton Town v Bolton – Sunday 14:00
Obviously a lot of this depends on team news and one side who may take the chance to give their first teamers a breather is Luton. They face a Bolton side who are on a four game winning streak, three of those won to nil and are second in League One.
Now, I know there’s a big gulf in class between the top flight and the third tier, and if the price of 10/3 isn’t big enough for you, then how about Dion Charles to score in the match? He’s rattled in 16 goals across all competitions this season and got three for Northern Ireland in qualifying too. He’s 5/2 to score in this match.
Cupsets?
Finally a couple more potential upsets depending on the starting line-ups. Blackpool beat Nottingham Forest 4-1 at this stage last season and with the Premier League side missing six players on international duty and likely to rest more, 6/1 may be a bit big for a big upset.
Middlesbrough at home to Aston Villa is the other one I have a sneaky feeling about. Will Villa weaken down enough, with a top four assault in mind, to come unstuck at The Riverside? 4/1 for Boro is worth a go.
