After the relative lull of the international break, the Premier League returns next midweek. As for this weekend, the FA Cup quarter finals take centre-stage.
We’re looking at all four matches across Saturday and Sunday with the view to making the best bet available in each.
Fulham v Crystal Palace – Saturday at 12.15, ITV1
Fulham are generally pretty good going forward and that’s the key angle in this game. It can be argued that the FA Cup brings the best out of teams like them, teams that may be more circumspect in league games when a draw brings them a diplomatic point. This game could be ideal for the home side.
If you do fancy Fulham, you’ll be hoping that the law of averages kicks in here. Neither of these two teams has scored a home win against each other in 8 attempts. That has to change at some point.
Fulham lost their league game against Palace 2-0 here in February, an own goal kicking things off. Since then, they’ve won three and lost a game 2-1 at Brighton which isn’t bad form at all.
In fairness, Palace have won all three since winning here in the league. Their 4-1 win against Villa was impressive but beating 10-man Millwall in the cup and then beating Ipswich 1-0 doesn’t inspire masses of confidence.
There’s no hex. Fulham did beat Palace away back in November in the league. They’re also 6 points clear of their rivals in the league, and they now look pretty decent value to beat them in the cup.
Best Bet: Fulham to win @ 13/10
Brighton v Nottingham Forest – Saturday at 5.15, BBC1
Do high-flying Nottingham Forest have one eye on the midweek league games with Champions League football getting closer? We’re unsure, but the bookies seem to think so.
Forest did thrash Brighton 7-0 in the league on February 1, drawing the other game at the Amex 2-2 in September. Since the 7-0 game, Brighton have gone on a good run.
The Seagulls beat Chelsea twice at home, scored four at Southampton, beat Bournemouth, put Newcastle out of the cup, beat Fulham and drew at Man City. They’ve been close to faultless in truth.
Forest, after that enthralling win, went to extra-time at Exeter and lost at both Fulham and Newcastle. They then drew with Arsenal, beat Ipswich on penalties, beat Man City 1-0 at home and then won 4-2 at Ipswich in the league.
That’s another good run of form, cementing for now their third place in the Premier League. Being picky, you could argue that their run isn’t quite as impressive as Brighton’s however making this a juicy clash.
Brighton will be fully motivated for this game after losing 7-0 to the same opposition. They look primed for a semi-final or even a final spot.
Best Bet: Brighton to win @ 4/5
Preston v Aston Villa – Sunday at 1.30, BBC1
Aston Villa are 2/5 and under to win this game. We can’t take that, while even the 9/2 ‘draw no bet’ for Preston isn’t that tempting either.
Preston are very much a middle of the road side in the Championship. They currently sit 14th in the league, scoring 48 points from 38 games. They’ve won 10 and lost 11 in that time. They’re solid enough, conceding only 44 goals, in fact they’ve shipped only 15 in 19 home games and that is the key betting angle.
Villa will want this, and they obviously have the quality to win the game. That said, the Champions League and qualifying for it again are the main priorities. The Premier League is tight this year however, so winning the FA Cup and guaranteeing European qualification is important for them and other sides.
Preston are more than capable of keeping things tight. You’d think in fact that it will be the players’ main remit. It would be no surprise in that case to see Villa winning, but a 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 has the right feel about it. Taking a chance on that happening at around 11/10 looks the right way to go.
Best Bet: Aston Villa to win and under 3.5 goals @ 11/10
Bournemouth v Manchester City – Sunday at 4.30, ITV1
This is a game between contrasting names and reputations, but let’s deal with the truth. This is a potentially very close game based on form.
Man City have gained 48 points from 29 games in the Premier League this season. They now travel away to a side which has amassed 44 in the same time. As well as this, Man City won only 1-0 here in the league late last season, losing 2-1 in the same fixture back in November.
Since the FA Cup fourth round, Bournemouth have won at Southampton, lost with 10 men to Wolves, lost 2-1 at Brighton, beat Wolves in the cup on penalties, draw 2-2 at Tottenham and lost narrowly to Brentford.
In the same time period, Man City beat a lacklustre Newcastle, lost over two legs to Real Madrid, lost at home to Liverpool, won at Tottenham, beat Plymouth, lost at Forest and drew with Brighton. There are some more glamorous names there, but the achievements aren’t dissimilar to those of Bournemouth.
This is a tight game and Bournemouth will be trying very hard, no doubt. The draw may be the smart play.
Best Bet: Draw @ 5/2