Monday FA Cup & Tuesday Carling Cup Bets
Monday
Blyth Spartans are looking to continue their giant killing exploits in the FA Cup when they meet Blackburn in their third round tie tonight.
The non league side have already put out League Two side Bournemouth in this season’s competition and while Blackburn are a far stiffer test, the Premier League side won’t be relishing a trip to the Conference North strugglers.
Blyth have a giant killing pedigree in the cup and they reached the fifth round back in 1978. They are currently second bottom of the Conference North and their only two wins in their last ten matches have come in the FA Cup. It’s a huge task for the non leaguers to try and match Premiership Blackburn and to be honest an upset doesn’t really look to be possible, although a meeting with North East neighbours Sunderland I the next round could prove a huge incentive for the Blyth players.
Sam Allardyce will be looking for a good result to keep their momentum going. Blackburn are currently three matches unbeaten and they are expected to win comfortably at odds of 2/9 (Paddypower) tonight.
Could there be an upset? Anything is possible and Blackburn really are on a hiding to nothing tonight as they are expected to win easily. We don’t expect Blackburn to win by a wide margin, but we do expect them to do a professional job and get through to the next round.
Blyth are 14/1 (Skybet) to get the shock result and while we wouldn’t put you off of you wanted to back them, we don’t think they will be good enough. We’re going for Blackburn to win and think a bet on a correct score of 2-0 11/2 (Coral) could see a return on your stake. Jason Roberts 4/1 (Paddypower) is our pick to be first goalscorer.
Tuesday
The Carling Cup Semi Final first leg between Tottenham and Burnley is the big game tonight. Burnley were shock winners against Chelsea in the last round and their form away from home this season in the league has been good. Burnley do seem to be going through something of a little dip in form and haven’t managed to win any of their last three matches. They will be up for this one though and while they will be missing a few players through injury and suspension we expect them t be able to do enough to keep the tie alive for the second leg at Turf Moor.
Spurs have improved since Harry Redknapp’s arrival, but they are still just outside the relegation zone and they have only won one of their last six matches. The 4/9 (VCBet) on a Tottenham win isn’t a great price in our opinion, given their current form.
Burnley are 7/1 (Paddypower) to win and we think that’s unlikely. A draw is a better betting proposition at 7/2 (Bet365) and could be worth backing.
There probably won’t be too much between the two teams and we’re going for a narrow Spurs win with a 2-1 scoreline 7/1 (Ladbrokes).