FA Cup: Notts County’s cupsets, Birmingham City revival & more
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The FA Cup returns on Tuesday night with a trio of replays. The prize on offer is a place in the fifth round. That would equal the best ever run for Rochdale, who host Championship Millwall.
Meanwhile, resurgent Swansea City host one of League Two’s promotion hopefuls, and Birmingham City face a side struggling to stave off Premier League relegation.
The Coral News Team look at the big talking points ahead of kick-off…
County bidding to add to long list of cupsets
Notts County are no strangers to taking a big scalp in the FA Cup. Since the start of the decade, they’ve beaten then-Premier League sides Wigan Athletic and Sunderland.
They’ve also seen off several other higher-tier sides, including League One Bristol Rovers and Championship Brentford, on this season’s run to the Fourth Round. But despite their past heroics, this replay away to Swansea will likely prove a bridge too far.
Six weeks ago, a County victory would’ve been totally plausible. But Swansea have won three home games on the bounce under Carlos Carvalhal – including victory over Liverpool.
With the likes of Jon Stead and Shola Ameobi in their ranks, the Magpies have some wily old players who could well grab a goal.
But it’s unlikely to be enough. The Coral News Team fancy Swansea to Win and Over 3.5 Goals at 3/1. Meanwhile, the Swans -1 handicap at 7/5 could prove popular.
Will Lions and Dale produce another thriller?
It may not look like the most thrilling of FA Cup match-ups, but a closer look at Millwall’s replay with Rochdale suggests it’s likely to be a cracker.
The pair’s meeting 10 days ago ended in a 2-2 draw at The Den, with Ben Thompson’s 90th-minute equaliser keeping the Lions hopes alive.
That was just the latest in a string of thrilling clashes between the sides. Four of the last five have produced four or more goals, including a breathless 3-3 draw at Spotland in March 2017.
For Dale’s part, progression to the fifth round would equal the club’s best ever performance in this competition.
Over 3.5 Goals could be a value bet at 3/1, though the 10/11 on Both Teams to Score looks a great call.
Blues and their former Terriers man have nothing to fear
Things are looking bleak for Huddersfield Town right now, following five successive Premier League losses.
And to rub salt in the wound, they were denied an FA Cup victory over Birmingham City due to an equaliser from former Terriers player Lukas Jutkiewicz.
For Blues’ part, boss Steve Cotterill is turning things around after a tough start to the season. They head into this match on the back of successive league wins, and look good value at home to a hapless Huddersfield side.
Blues to Win is available at 17/10, while Jutkiewicz to Score Anytime at 23/10 could also prove popular. And having led at the half-hour mark in their last two games, Result After 30 Minutes: Birmingham could also be worth a flutter at 15/4.
Click here for the latest FA Cup odds from Coral.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
