FA CUP QUARTER FINALS: The Striker previews FULHAM v CRYSTAL PALACE and BRIGHTON v NOTTINGHAM FOREST both with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
FULHAM V CRYSTAL PALACE
12.15pm It’s FA Cup Quarter-Final weekend on BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE! We have two fixtures on Saturday and then the final two on Sunday – we have an excellent weekend ahead with some very competitive markets. Most football fans will be expecting Manchester City to win the competition given the sides that are left, but obviously they haven’t been themselves this season. That means we could easily have history for a club and that’s exactly what the four sides on Saturday will be thinking anyway! We have two all Premier League clashes, and we kick off the day with Fulham hosting Crystal Palace. We have a reasonably open betting heat here; Fulham come into the game as the favourites at 2.44 with Crystal Palace 3.35 and the draw is also trading 3.35 at the time of writing. Fulham have been having a great season, and they are in the mix (although outsiders) for a European finish this season. They currently sit in eighth spot, and they have seventh best attacking figure in the Premier League so they deserve to be in-and-around where they are sitting. Crystal Palace had a terrible start to the season, but they have been having a good season too – they’ve only lost three times in 17 Premier League games.
The sides met in the Premier League in early November, Crystal Palace didn’t really have any momentum at the time but Fulham managed to win 2-0. Then Palace got their revenge with a 2-0 win when they were away from home! There really isn’t much between the sides here to be honest – Fulham have an average xG created of 1.53 and Palace are on 1.47. Fulham have an average xG conceded of 1.31 and Palace have conceded more chances at 1.43. Why Palace aren’t further up the table is they haven’t been converting all their chances this season, but at the same time sides haven’t been taking their chances against them. I’m going to keep stakes low here because it’s a Cup game and I’d expect the two sides to go for it as we get to the end of the game, but this looks like it’ll be an exceptionally close game in my opinion and I’m happy to support the draw at 3.35. We have an open market, I’d have the market even more open – we should have a very close affair.
The Striker Says:
One point win Draw at 3.35 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/FAFuCr
BRIGHTON V NOTTINGHAM FOREST
5.15pm Next we have Brighton hosting Nottingham Forest, and this should be a cracker. It’s a fascinating market too; Nottingham Forest have been doing remarkably well in the Premier League this season but Brighton come into the game as the odds on favourites with home advantage. Brighton are trading 1.86 with Nottingham Forest 4.5 and the draw is 4.0 at the time of writing. As I have highlighted in my recent Premier League previews, Forest have been massively over-performing this season – they have a mid-table attacking figure and a pretty high average xG conceded of 1.62. That’s in the bottom six defensive figures, but you have to give them credit for getting as many results as they have – it’s been a remarkable season. Everyone is just waiting for them to drop out of the Top Four, yet they keep getting results – they even beat Manchester City recently which will surely make the squad believe that they can actually hold on. On pure under-lining numbers, they are scoring more than they should and at the same time, sides haven’t been taking their chances against them so basically everything is going right for Forest this season. I doubt their fans care about their performance figures though – they are living the dream!
Brighton have been clearly performing better, but they haven’t been getting over the line in enough games. They’ve been very sloppy at the back, conceding more goals than they should be – that has been a consistent problem for a few seasons now to be honest. This fixture does come at a good time though. That 7-0 loss against Nottingham Forest seems to have focused the squad – surely there were some hard conversations in the dressing room after that! They had an FA Cup game straight after and bounced back well; they haven’t been beaten since with four wins and a draw in the Premier League; the draw coming against Manchester City too. I do feel the 1.86 is a little short on Brighton given all the results Forest having been getting this season, but I’m going to stay out of the match odds market here. This game screams goals, and I’m very happy to back Over 2.5 goals at 1.79 in what should be an open and entertaining game.
The Striker Says:
Three points win Over 2.5 goals at 1.79 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/FABrNo
