FA Cup betting tips: The best hopes for first-round upsets
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FA Cup betting tips, odds and preview
Plenty of lower-league teams will be hoping for a decent cup run to boost their coffers and we have picked out a few possible upsets for our FA Cup betting tips.
The competition has a long history of surprise results and here are just a few of the ties where the odds could be defied this weekend.
Reading v MK Dons
Reading’s season seems to be going from bad to worse, with the Royals having lost their last five League One games to sit bottom of the table.
They have also been referred to an independent disciplinary commission by the EFL over money owed to HMRC, so a lucrative FA Cup run could come in handy.
However, despite MK Dons sitting mid-table in League Two, this first-round tie has all the hallmarks of an 11/4 away win.
Sutton v AFC Fylde
Sutton have struggled so far this term and are rock bottom of the English Football League having won just three games all season.
AFC Fylde have hardly been ripping up trees in the National League, but they head into this clash unbeaten in four matches in all competitions and with recent FA Cup history on their side.
The Coasters made it to the third round for the first time in their history in 2020, and are 10/3 to cause a minor first-round upset this weekend.
Hereford v Gillingham
Hereford’s giant-killing FA Cup pedigree is among the best, with Ronnie Radford’s memorable goal in the 1971-72 third-round replay at Edgar Street earning a shock 2-1 victory over Newcastle.
More than 50 years later, Paul Caddis’ side sit comfortably in mid-table in the National League but are on a roll after suffering just one defeat in their last eight matches in all competitions.
The Bulls are 15/4 to upset League Two side Gillingham, who have won just one of their previous five games.
Scarborough v Forest Green
Only two teams are below Forest Green in the EFL so there is the obvious danger of an FA Cup upset when they make the long trip to the North Yorkshire coast.
Rovers eased their relegation fears with a couple of home wins last month but a recent run of six straight defeats highlighted their limitations.
Scarborough have struggled on their travels this season but have a strong home record in National League North, winning five of their seven games and only conceding four goals.
In front of a sell-out crowd, the Seadogs – managed by former Manchester United midfielder Jonathan Greening – are 11/4 for another scalp after beating National League outfit Oxford City in the previous round.
Charlton v Cray Valley Paper Mills
The biggest possible upset in the first round, according to the FA Cup odds, would be Cray Valley Paper Mills beating Charlton at 28/1.
The BBC cameras will be at The Valley hoping the visitors, who play in the eighth tier of English football, can take advantage of any complacency from their League One hosts.
Charlton were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by lower-league opposition, losing 3-1 at Newport despite having 73 per cent possession, so Cray Valley may look to adopt similar tactics.
Slough v Grimsby
Grimsby know all about FA Cup upsets after reaching the quarter-finals last season but this time it is the Mariners who are in danger.
Their poor form resulted in the recent sacking of Paul Hurst as manager and Slough look a good shout to add to their misery at 16/5 for our FA Cup betting tips.
The National League South side caused an upset by beating Ebbsfleet in the previous round and Arbour Park will be bouncing for Sunday’s tie.
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All odds and markets correct at date of publication
