It's quarter final weekend in the FA Cup and we take a look at all four match ups including Bournemouth v Manchester City

 

 

 

Prices from Sportingbet are correct at the time of publication but subject to change.

 

 

 

Saturday, Fulham 13/10 Draw 23/10 Crystal Palace 21/10

 

This looks like an evenly matched London derby and the 2 league meetings this season went the way of whichever side was travelling with Fulham winning 2-0 at Palace in November and Palace coming out on top by the same scoreline iat Craven Cottage just over a month ago.

 

Fulham thrashed Watford 4-1 in a Round 3 home fixture and followed up with a 2-1 win away to League 1 side Wigan. A Round of 16 tie away to Manchester United finished locked up at 1-1 and Fulham won on spot kicks.

 

Palace faced lower league opposition in the earlier rounds, edging past Stockport 1-0 at Selhurst Park and following up with a 2-0 win away to Doncaster. They booked a quarter final place with a 3-1 home win over Championship side Millwall.

 

The Verdict

 

Palace have been very effective away from home in the EPL but Fulham are 6 points better off than them in the standings. Both sides will really fancy this and any of the 3 possible outcomes in the match result market would come as no surprise we might need to go beyond regulation time to settle this argument. 

 

Bet: Match result draw at 23/10 with Sportingbet

 

 

Saturday, Brighton 0.83/1 Draw 28/10 Notts Forest 3/1

 

The first of the 2 league meetings this season came in Brighton in September and it finished 2-2. The return in early Feb saw Forest romp to a 7-0 win.

 

Brighton's cup run started with a 4-0 win at Norwich and they followed up with a 2-1 home win over Chelsea. In the previous round their trip to Newcastle finished 1-1 in regulation time and Brighton found the winner in the extra period to win 2-1 on the day.

 

Forest were 2-0 winners at home to Luton before needing spot kicks to see off Exeter away from home (2-2 90 mins). Their Round of 16 home tie against Ipswich also went the full distance with Forest winning the penalty shoot out (1-1 90 mins).

 

The Verdict

 

With Forest looking good to qualify for Champions League football it could be that Brighton are the more hungry for this and that may explain the odds on quotes about the hosts. A Forest team sheet would be a handy weapon to have and it would appear Chris Wood has been ruled out. I still think Forest will be a handful and both teams on target in a game of 3 goals or more is my play.

 

Bet: Total goals and both teams to score? Over 2.5 and yes at 11/10 with Sportingbet

 

 

Sunday, Preston 5.75/1 Draw 7/2 Aston Villa 9/20

 

Preston are the last remaining side outside of the Premier League and they have enjoyed home advantage in all the previous rounds where they got the better of Charlton (2-1), Wycombe in a shoot out (0-0 90 mins) and then Burnley (3-0).

 

Villa also made home advantage count in the earlier rounds. They started with a 2-1 win over West Ham and then saw off Spurs by the same scoreline. In the previous round they beat Cardiff 2-0.

 

The Verdict

 

Villa are plenty busy enough including the UCL but the draw appears to have been kind and I think they will have to much for Preston.

 

Bet: Villa total goals, over 2.5 at 16/10 with Sportingbet

 

 

Sunday, Bournemouth 1.55/1 Draw 26/10 Man City 12/10

 

These teams have met just the once in the league season and Bournemouth were 2-1 winners at this venue in November.

 

Bournemouth thrashed West Brom 5-1 in a Round 3 home fixture and then won 2-0 at Everton. In the Ro16 they played out a 1-1 draw at home to Wolves and won the shoot out.

 

City were 8-0 winners at home to Salford in Round 3 before they were made to work hard for a 2-1 win at Leyton Orient. They booked a quarter final ticket with a 3-1 home win over Plymouth.

 

The Verdict

 

I really don't know what to make of City between now and the end of the season but this competition is their only chance of silverware so I'm nervous about taking them on.

 

Bournemouth have some tricky customers in wide areas and I'll take my chances they will be awarded 6 or more corners in regulation time.

 

Bet: Bournemouth total corners over 5.5 at 11/10 with Sportingbet

 

Note, odds are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change

 

 

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