FA Cup 4th Round Weekend 23rd and 24th

The magic of the FA Cup was alive and well in round 3. Two of the most successful teams in the FA Cup, Liverpool and Manchester United, went crashing out to lower league opposition.

This weekend sees some very intriguing fixtures. For the FA Cup romance, we have the clash between Premiership Fulham and League Two Accrington Stanley. There are a full 70 league places between the teams which is reflected on the online football betting websites giving Accrington Stanley very slim odds. With the recent injuries to their star performers this season; Zamora and Dempsey, Fulham may be forced to field some second string players such as Andy Johnson but this should still be too strong from Accrington.

In the third round, Leeds United rolled back the years beating Manchester United and in the process securing another financially beneficial tie with Champions League hopefuls, Tottenham Hotspurs. Tens years ago, this tie could have been a final although the year doesn’t end in a 1 so Spurs are unlikely to win the final anyway. If “Super” Leeds show the same courage and determination coupled with a potentially weakened Spurs team there could be another Premiership team falling to the White Rose Army which seems hell bent on marching on together all the way to Wembley. The midweek fixture at Anfield may have some interesting consequences for Spurs, however they are still firm favourites to win this one.

Two teams vying for promotion for the Championship will meet at the Cardiff City Stadium in the FA Cup this weekend with Cardiff hosting Leicester City. Cardiff got the better of Bristol City midweek thanks to an Own Goal by Bradley Orr which is the first win since they beat Middlesbrough on the 13th December 2009. Leicester hasn’t exactly been setting the world alight but the bookies still have the home team as favourites for this one.

Portsmouth has been plagued by financial issues and hasn’t been far the news all season. The FA Cup is offering them a real opportunity to try and help balance their accounts. However Portsmouth have been hit hard by the African Cup of Nations and a transfer embargo meant that one of the star players this season has returned to Spurs after a O’Hara’s loan deal ended. Portsmouth face a Sunderland team fresh of the back of an absolute battering at the hands of Premiership pace setters Chelsea. This tie is a perfect opportunity for both teams to get some confidence back and try and kick start their seasons. This game is too close to call with a draw looking like a solid bet or will the Pompey chimes be ringing on the south coast?

Wigan Athletic has been keeping everyone guessing this season. One week they comprehensively beat Chelsea at home then go to White Hart Lane only to get slaughtered 9-1. Notts County are one of the founding members of the football leagues and have been through a lot since the inaugural season of 1888-89. Having made it to the final twice in the 1890’s they have struggled to keep pace with the Jones’. Notts County’s new Middle Eastern ownership has ambitions of pushing this old club back up the leagues. Currently just outside the play-offs with a few games in hand, they are having a great season and an FA Cup run is giving fans something to really sing about. Hosting Wigan will be a great experience for them but a betting man will put smart money on the Premiership club!

Traditionally, two of the most boring teams in the Premiership go head to head this weekend when Everton entertain Birmingham at Goodison Park. This season has been a little different for Birmingham having gone 12 games unbeaten in the Premiership and 14 in total, being a club record for them. Everton, on the other hand have had a injury ravaged season which has left them in the lower half of the league but after two fantastic results and more importantly performances, away at Arsenal and home to Manchester City, their season seems to be back on track. Winning at Goodison is a tall order for anyone but with one of the meanest defences around, Birmingham have a great opportunity. The online betting websites are making Everton the favourites but this game is going to be close so a draw may well be a good prediction.

Saturday, 23 January 2010
Accrington Stanley v Fulham
Aston Villa v Brighton
Bolton v Sheff United
Cardiff v Leicester
Derby v Doncaster
Everton v Birmingham
Notts County v Wigan
Portsmouth v Sunderland
Preston v Chelsea
Reading v Burnley
Southampton v Ipswich
Tottenham v Leeds United
West Brom v Newcastle
Wolverhampton v Crystal Palace

Sunday, 24 January 2010
Scunthorpe v Man City
Stoke v Arsenal