FA Cup Fourth Round Accumulator

Brentford v Chelsea: Verdict – Chelsea

Norwich v Luton: Verdict – Norwich

Manchester United v Fulham: Verdict – Manchester United

Middlesbrough v Aldershot: Verdict Middlesbrough

Leeds v Tottenham: Verdict - Tottenham

4/1

          The third round of the FA Cup was a lucky weekend for us.  We recommended avoiding teams such as Wigan and Newcastle and called a comfortable fivefold.

The fourth round of the FA Cup is more than bound to throw up some unlikely results this weekend, and our first point of order is to recommend treading carefully as far as stakes are concerned.  Chelsea, even as the team having won the most FA Cup titles over the last decade, have been known to falter against lower league opposition in the early rounds. Brentford could well force a replay against Chelsea, which would be a huge financial gain to the club.

          However, Chelsea, with the league all but confirmed by the club to be unachievable, will be looking at the FA Cup, tucked neatly away in their cabinet, with a renewed sense of enthusiasm.  A loss to Brentford seems hugely unlikely, although not outside of the realms of possibility given Chelsea’s start to the year.

          Norwich have been fairly strong at home this season but, just as Luton will see themselves in this fixture, they are FA Cup underdogs.  Luton have given Premier Leauge sides, most notably Liverpool, a good run for their money in recent years but with the FA Cup being the only chance of silverware for Norwich this season, we don’t expect them to bow out just yet.

          Middlesbrough are a club that will be eyeing up a fifth round FA Cup tie with a Premiership side to show they can still compete at the highest domestic level – having been labouring in the Championship for some time now.  We expect them to show the determination that’s been responsible for placing them in a strong position to earn a chance at promotion this season against Aldershot, who have relegation to the conference to worry about.

          Fulham are unlikely to be able to better Manchester United at Old Trafford, although Leeds were able to upset Manchester United in the competition a couple of seasons back in the cup’s early stages.  You should expect a home win from a team keen to win having been frustrated by Tottenham late on at White Hart Lane.

          Tottenham are 4/5 to beat Leeds, which we think it an excellent price considering Tottenham’s form this season and Leeds’ lack of consistency.  Chelsea were able to break Leeds down over the course of ninety minutes when they met in the Capital One Cup this season and we expect the same to be the case in this match, with a tense first half leading to a clear display of strength and grit from the Premiership side in the second half.  If however, you do see Leeds having more than a slim chance to force a replay you can leave them out of the line-up for a shortened price of 9/5.

          There are several notable teams who have escaped our attention heading into the fourth round.  Arsenal are away to Brighton, who could well force a replay if they take advantage of the poor starts to games made by Arsenal this season.  Stoke’s tie with Manchester City is one we don’t fancy backing and the same can be said of Wigan’s trip to Macclesfield – although seemingly straightforward, they are bound to some upsets somewhere, which is why the FA Cup is still such a popular and prestigious competition.

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