FA CUP SEMI-FINAL: The Striker previews the second FA Cup semi-final between COVENTRY CITY v MANCHESTER UNITED with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
COVENTRY CITY V MANCHESTER UNITED
3.30pm We have a fascinating second FA Cup Semi-Final on Sunday afternoon on BETDAQ Betting Exchange. Coventry City take on Manchester United in a massive game for both clubs; while it’s easy to say this is one of Coventry’s biggest games ever it’s also a massive game for United who have been really struggling this season. The stakes couldn’t be any higher at Wembley! As you would expect, Manchester United come into the game as the odds on favourites. Erik ten Hag’s men are trading 1.53 with Coventry 6.4 and the draw is 5.2 at the time of writing.
While a lot of football fans might just view this as a Premier League club versus a Championship club and feel it might be a straightforward win for United, nothing seems straightforward with United these days. United have obviously suffered a lot of injuries at the back this season, but they have been all over the place. They have an average xG conceded of 1.74 this season which is the fourth worst defensive figure in the Premier League. Only Sheffield United, Luton Town and West Ham have given away more chances than United. For all the talk that United are having a poor season as they sit in seventh, it could actually be worse. Their actual goals conceded average is 1.50 which is a good amount away from the xG of 1.74!
Coventry sit in eighth place in the Championship; three losses from their last four games have really put them on the backfoot in the race for the playoffs. You don’t need me to tell you that this is their biggest game for quite some time; they’ve only ever reached an FA Cup Semi-Final once before, but they actually ended up winning it that year in 1986/87. This is their first time meeting Manchester United since 2007. They will definitely fancy their chances though given the way United have played this season – United have conceded so many goals recently that Coventry will know they will get chances at some stage. Even in the earlier rounds, Newport County scored twice.
Coventry’s stats in the Championship are very solid. Their average xG created is 1.38, only marginally over their average conceded of 1.35. It’s pretty much a reflection of where they sit in the table to be honest; although the Championship is a tight league and an average xG conceded of 1.35 is reasonably high; that would put them in the bottom half of the table whereas their attacking figure puts them in eighth; where they are! Obviously the big debate here is whether or not Coventry are good enough going forward to take advantage of the United issues.
I’m happy to stay out of the match odds market here because Over 2.5 goals looks a cracking bet at 1.5. Most games involving United at the moment scream goals, and Coventry have had goals in their FA Cup games too. Over 2.5 goals has landed in four of their five games, the only time it didn’t win was a 1-1 draw against Sheffield Wednesday but the replay saw five goals. United only know how to play an open game, and you wouldn’t be surprised to see plenty of drama here. I wouldn’t be keen on the United bet at 1.53 – I’d probably lean towards laying it – but at in-or-around the same odds Overs looks an excellent position.
The Striker Says:
Four points win Over 2.5 goals at 1.5 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/CovMun
