FA Cup Betting Preview 16-17th January 2007
Pinnacle Sports, a leading online sportsbook, offer betting tips and advice. This time, the FA Cup matches being played on 16-17 January 2007.
The draw for the last 32 of the FA Cup has already been made, but there is still plenty of unfinished business from the previous round, where 11 games ended in stalemate. Those loose ends will be tied up, one way or the other midweek. Pinnacle Sports has priced up the games, offering up to 50% better odds than opposition and the unrivalled service that punters have to come to expect of the internet's leading SportsBook.
Wednesday Looking for Midweek Cup Shock
Ten years ago Manchester City and Sheffield Wednesday were meeting in the Premiership, but the club's fortunes have taken them in different directions since. Stuart Pearce's side are enjoying their fifth consecutive Premiership season, though in that time they have rarely troubled the top of the table. City did reach the last eight of this competition last season, and a domestic Cup certainly remains the best opportunity for club silverware.
The Laser Blues had a productive Christmas period, and are unbeaten in their last four Premiership fixtures, winning three and keeping clean sheets in the same number. Facing Championship opposition, Pinnacle Sports have priced up the home side as favourites 2.02 (-1). Had this game been played earlier in the season, Pinnacle would probably be shorter about Man City, who strung together an eight game unbeaten run at their Eastlands home, keeping clean sheets in all but one. They have been less impressive in recent home fixtures winning just one of the last four.
The Owls recent form also contrasts to that earlier in the season, where they made a horrible start, winning just one of their first ten league games and reacted by sacking manager, Paul Sturrock. Under his replacement, Brian Laws, it has been a totally different story, with the club scoring for fun and moving to within touching distance of the play-offs. Pinnacle Sports rate the visitors 1.909 (+1), following the keenly contested game at Hillsborough, but crucially, Man City were without captain, Joey Barton, who will play here.
Boro Face Testing North-East Derby
Boro have a second bite at the cherry facing Hull at the Riverside, in an FA Cup tie they really should have killed first-time around. Manager, Gareth Southgate, will be hoping that the Teessiders don't come to regret spurning numerous opportunities in the 1-1 draw at the KC Stadium. They come into this game as favourites to finish the job, 1.893 (-1), with Pinnacle Sports.
The original meeting was Phil Brown's first game in temporary charge of Hull, after Phil Parkinson was sacked at the beginning of December, in reaction to worsening form that had sent the Tigers plummeting to the foot of the Championship table. The club have however, reacted positively to the change of management, going unbeaten in five out of their last six league games, winning four. For the short trip to the Riverside Stadium, Hull are 2.04 (+1) to shock their neighbours.
Spurs Fancied to Shoot Down Bluebirds
Cardiff and Spurs fought out a tense goalless draw at Ninian Park, and the replay adds unwanted pressure on Martin Jol's already tight fixture schedule. Tottenham have two Carling Cup semi-finals against bitter rivals, Arsenal, as well as the UEFA Cup which resumes next month. Conditions at White Hart Lane should be more conducive to Spurs' style than in the first game where the Londoners were up against passionate Cardiff fans, torrential rain and a heavy pitch.
The Bluebirds probably missed their chance at home, their recent form suggests they are up against it visiting their league peers. Cardiff have failed to score in five of their last six league games, and are without a win in eleven, the form of a side desperately low on confidence. Pinnacle Sports's prices back up this prognosis with Spurs 2.16 (-1.5) and Cardiff 1.794 (+1.5). However, before piling into the home side, bear in mind that they needed extra-time to beat both Port Vale (League 1) and Southend (Championship) in the League Cup despite home advantage.
Injury-hit Geordies Host Premiership Wannabees
Despite their squad being down to the bare bones, Newcastle recorded a gutsy win at White Hart Lane on Sunday. The Magpies will need another resilient performance as they face the Championship leaders, Birmingham, aiming for an immediate return to the Premiership. Given the choice Steve Bruce would certainly choose promotion against an FA Cup run, but his side should be relied upon to give a good account of themselves, while ever-optimistic Newcastle fans will be thinking this is the year that they end a long barren spell, going back to the Fairs Cup win in 1969. Pinnacle Sports are offering a split-ball handicap with Newcastle 1.935 (-0.5 & -1.0) and Birmingham (+0.5 & +1.0).
