Statistics on all four televised FA Cup fifth round games

Will we see more Tic Tac adverts than goals this time around?

Fulham, Chelsea and Manchester United may be under pressure to avoid FA Cup giantkillings but that is nothing compared to the scrutiny ITV’s coverage will suffer following their Merseyside derby blunder. Here’s our guide to the four games that will be shown on TV, subject to further “technical problems”:

Swansea v Fulham (12.45pm, Saturday, ITV1)
The last time these two sides met in 1997, they were both competing in the fourth tier of English football. Despite not winning away from home in the league all season, Fulham have won on the road in the last two rounds of the FA Cup. However, Swansea are unbeaten in fifteen games, nine of which have been draws, so Fulham’s best chance might be to take the game to a replay. Three of the last five meetings between the two sides in Wales have finished 2-2, which is 16/1 on 888sport, while both sides won one each 2-1.

Watford v Chelsea (5.30pm, Saturday, Setanta Sports 1)
It’s Lampard versus Lampard at Vicarage Road this weekend as the Chelsea midfielder comes up against the team where his dad works as a football consultant for former Blues reserve manager Brendan Rodgers. Chelsea have failed to win either of their two previous FA Cup away games against Watford, drawing one and losing one. Even if that record ends, it could be worth betting on the visitors conceding for the eighth straight cup match. The Hornets have lost just three of their last ten home games and have only failed to fire in one of those. Bet365 offer evens on both teams scoring.

Everton v Aston Villa (2.30pm, Sunday, Setanta Sports 1)

Posted: February 13th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Check out Man Utd’s record against lower league teams

All the key stats for Manchester United’s FA Cup trip to Derby

chickendinner have teamed up with Betfair to produce this interactive betting wizard which tells you everything you need to know about Manchester United’s record against “minnows” in cup competition to help you spot areas to make money. Click here to check it out now!

The Superfacts:

Posted: February 13th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Previews of tonight’s other FA Cup fourth round replays

Three more games that have conquered the snow will take place

While the Merseyside derby is the big game of the day, there are three other important FA Cup replays taking place. Martin O’Neill looks to avoid more FA Cup disappointment as they host Doncaster, Blackburn face Sunderland for the fifth time in under three months and Billy Davies and Nigel Clough face their former clubs once more:

Aston Villa v Doncaster
Doncaster are unbeaten in four straight away games, winning three, having previously gone twelve matches without a win on the road. In contrast, Villa have won just five of their last sixteen home games and were eliminated from the Carling Cup at home to Championship strugglers QPR. Martin O’Neill’s side have only been past the fourth round once in eight years so they will be wary of an upset.

Blackburn v Sunderland

Posted: February 4th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Redknapp’s record means he can still evade the blame

Five stats about this weekend’s football

1. Manchester United have won seven of their last eight matches while Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal have all only managed just three wins each over that period.

2. Luiz Felipe Scolari has lost four consecutive meetings against Chelsea’s Big Four rivals, while Rafael Benitez has won three and drawn one of four this season.

3. Just one of Arsenal’s last five league draws has been followed by a win, which doesn’t bode well for next weekend’s trip to Tottenham.

4. Bottom club West Brom haven’t lost consecutive league games since November, whereas last year Derby only once managed to get through two without a defeat.

5. Despite their recent struggles, Tottenham still have the ninth-best Premier League record from the weekend Harry Redknapp took charge onwards. Over the course of his sixteen games in charge they have taken just five points less than Arsenal and six less than Chelsea. However, if they still fail to deliver now after a month of heavy spending, Redknapp will no longer be able to fall back on Juande Ramos’ shortcomings as an excuse.

Posted: February 3rd, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Why Derby could face they second cup exit in four days

Derby/Forest, 7.45pm, Setanta Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Nigel Clough hosts former club Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup tonight and it looks like his tough introduction to Championship management could continue. Forest may have won just one in eleven against Derby but they are flying under County’s former boss Billy Davies and look good value at 2/1 with 888sport to triumph:

» Forest have scored ten in their last four games including three in the last round against Manchester City.

» Rob Earnshaw has scored in all four of Forest’s last games and Paddy Power are offering 11/5 that he will find the net at any time tonight.

» Forest have five clean sheets in their last seven matches and have scored exactly two in four of their last six. As a result, a Forest 2-0 win at 17.5/1 with Betfair represents good value.

Posted: January 23rd, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Manchester Utd aren’t good at overcoming first-leg deficits

As Jose Mourinho will no doubt vouch…

Besides their incredible comeback against AS Roma in the Champions League quarter-finals two years ago, Manchester United have never overcome a first-leg deficit under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Most of their two-legged encounters have taken place in Europe which means it doesn’t offer a flawless indication of whether they will recover against Derby however on the previous occasion they lost a League Cup first leg they ended up being eliminated by third-tier York City.

An encouraging sign though is the fact that they have only lost the second-leg three times under such circumstances:

Posted: January 20th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment