The FA Cup returns to our screens this weekend and our Editor has selected a couple of matches that are definitely worth watching and betting on.
The fourth round of the competition kicks off with a bang as Arsenal and Manchester United battle it out at the Emirates Stadium on Friday night, but we’ll be looking at other eye-catching matchups taking place on the weekend.
Saturday 26 January
15/20 Brighton | 51/20 | West Brom 34/10 (17:00)
Premier League outfit Brighton welcome promotion-chasing West Brom to the Amex Stadium on Saturday. The Seagulls are 13th in England’s top flight, while the Baggies sit fourth in the Championship. These sides met last season for the 
first time in the Premier League with each side winning their home fixture. Brighton’s last victory came in the third round of the FA Cup when they won 3-1 away to Bournemouth. They suffered back-to-back losses against Liverpool and Manchester United after that, however, they gave a good account of themselves in both of those games. West Brom – after eliminating Wigan in the third round – conceded late to draw 1-1 at home to second-placed Norwich in the Championship last weekend. Darren Moore’s Baggies have won four of their last five away games in England’s second tier. It should be a tight affair and Both Teams to Score at 17/20 looks the best and safest bet.
39/20 Newcastle | 22/10 | Watford 14/10 (17:00)
Newcastle host Watford on Saturday in an all‑Premier League affair. This will be the third time that these sides square off this season, having already played both of their fixtures in the 2018/19 Premier League. Ayoze Perez scored the only goal of the match when these sides met at St. James’ Park in November and shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road the following month. But prior to this season’s visit to St. James’ Park, the Hornets had won in each of their previous two trips there in the Premier League. Rafael Benitez’s men sit 17th in the table, just two points adrift of 18th-placed Cardiff, while Javi Gracia’s Hornets are buzzing in seventh position. I’m expecting a cagey contest and I’m going for Watford on the Win/Draw Double Chance & Under 2.5 Goals at 13/10.
Sunday 27 January
2/1 Crystal Palace | 9/4 | Tottenham 13/10 (18:00)
Another all-Premier League affair sees Tottenham travel to Selhurst Park on Sunday to face London rivals Crystal Palace. The Eagles will fancy their chances of causing an upset as Mauricio Pochettino’s side have an injury crisis. The Argentine boss will be without Harry Kane, Moussa Sissoko, Heung-Min Son (on international duty with South Korea in the Asia Cup) and possibly Dele Alli, who suffered a hamstring injury in Spurs’ 2-1 win at relegation-threatened Fulham last weekend. Lucas Moura and Victor Wanyama were absent in that victory at Craven Cottage and Pochettino will be sweating over their fitness. Roy Hodgson’s fearless Crystal Palace side made Liverpool sweat for their 4-3 win at Anfield last weekend and they’ll come out all guns blazing against Spurs. The Eagles, who lost to Manchester United in the 2016 FA Cup final, showed that they’re capable of standing up to the best teams in the top flight and it was just last month when they beat Manchester City 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League. My money’s on Palace to come out on top.
1/5 Chelsea | 11/2 | Sheffield Wednesday 11/1 (20:00)
FA Cup holders Chelsea will be expected to put Sheffield Wednesday to the sword at Stamford Bridge on Sunday night. The Blues slumped to a miserable 2-0 defeat away to Arsenal last weekend with Maurizio Sarri heavily criticising their performance and claiming his players are “extremely difficult to motivate”. Now it’s up to the players to respond. Will they pull up their socks or turn the Italian boss into Jose Mourinho 2.0? We shall see. The big elephant in the room is the striker issue. The imminent arrival of Gonzalo Higuain can’t come soon enough with Eden Hazard caught in no man’s land against Unai Emery’s side last weekend. Getting a couple of goals will do Sarri’s men wonders as they need the Argentine to settle into life at Stamford Bridge quickly. Although, this is a game they can cope without him. Back Chelsea to Win To Nil at 17/20.
QUAD @ 22/1
Brighton vs WBA BTTS 17/20
Watford Win/Draw Double & Under 2.5 Goals 13/10
Crystal Palace Win 2/1
Chelsea Win To Nil 17/20
Some of Chad’s Other FA Cup Tips
Derby to win away to Accrington at 17/20
Swansea to win at home to Gillingham at 5/10
Man City to beat Burnley 4-0, 5-0 or 6-0 at home at 51/20
Wolves to win away to Shrewsbury at 11/20
Everton to win away to Millwall at 13/20
West Ham to win away to Wimbledon at 5/10
*All played on Saturday
Chad Nagel
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