FA CUP QUARTER FINALS: We preview Saturday’s three FA Cup Quarter Finals between WATFORD V CRYSTAL PALACE, SWANSEA V MANCHESTER CITY and WOLVES V MANCHESTER UNITED all with a recommended BETDAQ bet and extended match stats.
WATFORD V CRYSTAL PALACE
12.15pm It’s FA Cup Quarter Final weekend and we kick things off with an all Premier League clash as Watford host Crystal Palace. With Watford 8th position in the Premier League table and Crystal Palace in 14th, this is undoubtedly the biggest game of the season for both sides. There is a chance Palace could get dragged into a relegation fight; however all their focus will be on the FA Cup for now.
The match odds at the time of writing currently trade; Watford 2.44, Crystal Palace 3.3 and the draw is 3.4. Perhaps we should be lumping on 0-0 in the Correct Score market here, as neither side have conceded a goal yet in the competition this season! That’s quite a stat but we feel that Watford will edge this game and they look at least ten ticks too big at 2.44. They have already beaten Palace twice in the Premier League this season and with home advantage, they should have too much quality for Palace.
BETDAQ BEST BET:
Watford to beat Crystal Palace at 2.44.
You can view all markets here -> http://bit.ly/BDQWatCrl
MATCH STATS
- Watford and Crystal Palace have played each other seven times in the FA Cup, most recently in the semi-final in 2015-16, a 2-1 win for Palace.
- Crystal Palace have lost two matches against Watford already this season, both in the league – they haven’t lost three in a row in all competitions against the Hornets since March 1936.
- Watford have progressed from their last three FA Cup quarter-final ties, winning in 2002-03, 2006-07 and 2015-16.
- All four teams to eliminate Watford in an FA Cup quarter-final have gone on to reach the final, with three winning the cup – Newcastle in 1932, Liverpool in 1986 and Wimbledon in 1988; the other was Arsenal in 1980, who lost to West Ham.
- This is Crystal Palace’s eighth FA Cup quarter-final, progressing from four of their previous seven; however, they’ve been eliminated from both quarter-final ties against top flight opposition, losing to Everton in 1906-07 and Leeds United in 1964-65.
- Neither Watford nor Crystal Palace have conceded a single goal in this season’s FA Cup, with Palace facing twice as many shots (42) as Watford (21).
- Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has lost both of his FA Cup quarter-finals as a manager, losing with Fulham in 2008-09 and 2009-10 against Man Utd and Tottenham respectively.
- Crystal Palace striker Michy Batshuayi has scored in all three of his previous appearances against Watford, scoring four goals, all in Premier League games while at Chelsea.
SWANSEA V MANCHESTER CITY
5.20pm Swansea enjoyed a good 4-1 win over Brentford to reach the Quarter Finals, however they must have been gutted to see the draw! Playing Manchester City is akin to a death sentence; however perhaps we’ll see some magic of the Cup this evening. City arrive into this fixture off the back of beating Schalke 7-0 in the Champions League during the week, a bit of revenge for giving them a scare in the first leg and the markets can’t see anything but an easy City victory.
The match odds at the time of writing currently trade; Swansea 23.0, Manchester City 1.15 and the draw is 10.0. That’s definitely the shortest price this weekend! City have had three FA Cup games this season to get here and they’ve scored four or more goals on each occasion. It’s desperately hard to see how Swansea can stop them here and we like Any Other Away Win (City to score four or more and win) at 2.7 in the Correct Score market.
BETDAQ BEST BET:
Any Other Away Win at 2.7.
You can view all markets here -> http://bit.ly/BDQSwsMci
MATCH STATS
- This is the first ever FA Cup meeting between Swansea and Man City – the Swans are winless in their last 13 games against the Citizens in all competitions (W0 D2 L11).
- Manchester City have progressed from three of their last four FA Cup quarter-finals (2010-11, 2012-13 and 2016-17), with their only defeat in this time coming against Championship opposition in 2013-14, when they lost 1-2 to Wigan Athletic.
- Swansea City have been eliminated in six of their last seven FA Cup ties against Premier League opponents, winning the other in January 2014 away at Manchester United.
- Manchester City have scored at least four goals in each of their three FA Cup games this season – the last team to so in four in a row were also Man City, during the 1925-26 season.
- Swansea are looking to reach the FA Cup semi-final for just a third time, also doing so in 1925-26 and 1963-64.
- Manchester City could become just the second team to win two away FA Cup matches in Wales in a single season, having already won at Newport County – Norwich City beat Rhyl and Newport in the 1950-51 campaign.
- Man City’s Phil Foden has scored five goals and assisted one in five domestic cup appearances against non-Premier League opposition this season.
- Gabriel Jesus has been involved in 10 goals in six domestic cup starts this season for Man City (7 goals, 3 assists); the Brazilian has scored three goals in two previous appearances against opponents Swansea.
WOLVES V MANCHESTER UNITED
7.55pm Watford v Crystal Palace and Millwall v Brighton have quite similar odds; however this is definitely the tie of the Quarter Finals. Wolves have had a wonderful season in the Premier League after coming up from the Championship, and an FA Cup Semi Final would only add to that. They have already held United to a draw at Old Trafford this season; however that was under Jose Mourinho and as we all know, this is a new United side under Solskjaer. United suffered their first defeat under their caretaker boss away to Arsenal last weekend which was a huge blow in the race for a Top Four finish, and they will be looking to bounce back quickly.
The match odds at the time of writing currently trade; Wolves 3.3, Manchester United 2.42 and the draw is 3.4. United have had some very tough fixtures to get here; they’ve beaten Arsenal and Chelsea away from home – both times playing some very impressive attacking football. They have actually won nine of their last ten away FA Cup games and while last weekend was a setback, it’s hard to get away from backing them here at 2.42. They have been excellent under Solskjaer and you can argue that they are better away from home compared to at home with his style – we like the 2.42.
BETDAQ BEST BET:
Manchester United to beat Wolves at 2.42.
You can view all markets here -> http://bit.ly/BDQWolMun
MATCH STATS
- Wolves and Manchester United last met in the FA Cup in the fourth round in 2005-06, with the Red Devils winning 3-0 at Molineux.
- This is the 100th meeting between Wolves and Man Utd in all competitions. Their last encounter at Molineux came in March 2012 in the Premier League, a 5-0 victory for United.
- Wolves haven’t reached the semi-final of the FA Cup since 1997-98, when they beat Leeds United at Elland Road in that season’s quarter-final.
- Manchester United are looking to reach the FA Cup semi-final in consecutive seasons for the first time since doing so in 2003-04 and 2004-05 under Sir Alex Ferguson.
- Wolves haven’t won three consecutive FA Cup matches since February 2003.
- Manchester United have won nine of their last 10 away FA Cup matches, losing the other in quarter-final in 2016-17 against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
- Man Utd manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has a 100% away win record in the FA Cup, winning twice away from home with Cardiff City in 2013-14 and twice this season with the Red Devils.
- Wolves defender Matt Doherty has been involved in more FA Cup goals than any other player among the teams left in the competition (5, 3 goals, 2 assists).
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