THE FA Cup third round is always one of the highlights of the English season as the minnows look to rack up famous wins over the big boys.
Trying to pick out who will come a cropper is usually great fun for punters but it’s a tough task this season with the current situation causing chaos.
Aston Villa had to field a team of kids against Liverpool last night, turning what should have been one of the ties of the round into a farce.
Derby County and Middlesbrough will also need to lean on their youth sides against Chorley and Brentford respectively.
That has made non-league Chorley just 8/5 at BetVictor to see off the Rams, who are 37/20 with 888Sport.
And it’s no surprise to see Brentford as 8/13 favourites with most firms to dump Boro out.
Plenty of top-flight gaffers might view the FA Cup as a hindrance this season with so many games to cram into a packed fixture list.
So expect plenty of teams to field weakened sides and that could throw up a few surprises.
Stoke City v Leicester City
Jamie Vardy and James Maddison will sit it out for Leicester away to Stoke and that makes the 15/4 McBookie offer on a home win pretty attractive.
Both teams to score is 21/20 with the same firm and also looks decent.
Arsenal v Newcastle
Arsenal’s clash with Newcastle is arguably the game of the day and you have to fancy the Gunners after racking up three victories on the spin.
But they are just 4/9 with McBookie to win so it might be wiser dipping into the anytime scorer market.
I’d expect Eddie Nketiah to start up front and he’s 13/10 with 888Sport to grab a goal.
Man Utd v Watford
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solksjaer should ring the changes for their tie with Watford after losing their League Cup semi-final in midweek.
Mason Greenwood looks set to start and is 28/17 with Sport Nation for anytime scorer.
Man City v Birmingham
Manchester City gaffer Pep Guardiola might also give youth a chance in their home clash with second-tier Birmingham.
Top prospect Liam Delap is 19/20 with BetVictor for anytime scorer.
Bristol Rovers v Sheffield Utd
Sheffield United can’t buy a win in the Premier League but a trip to Bristol Rovers gives them a chance to pick up a
morale-boosting victory.
The Blades are 4/5 with McBookie and that’s a great price given they are up against a side playing in League One.
Blackpool v West Brom
It’s a similar story as West Brom head to Blackpool and I’m surprised to see Sam Allardyce’s men as big as 23/20 with McBookie for a victory.
The Baggies have been poor in the top flight but Big Sam knows how to win a cup tie.
Marine v Spurs
Spurs will have too much for Marine but the minnows are a decent 6/4 with Bet365 to start with a four-goal advantage.
Super Singles
- Mason Greenwood anytime scorer (28/17, SportNation)
- Stoke to beat Leicester (15,4, McBookie)
Deadly Double:
- Sheffield United and West Brom to win (287/100, McBookie)
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