12 Jun 2019
This weekend sees third round action in the FA Cup, the stage at which the ‘big’ teams enter the fray. Reigning holders Chelsea host Nottingham Forest in one of 32 fixtures being held over the next four days.
Here Genting Casino pick out three games to keep an eye on for the best of the betting.
TRANMERE vs TOTTENHAM
The third-round action kicks off on Friday night when Tranmere Rovers welcome eight-time FA Cup winners Tottenham Hotspur to Prenton Park.
Tottenham last played Tranmere in the 2001/02 season and are unbeaten against the League Two side in their last eight meetings. With Tottenham sat third in the Premier League, there are some 74 teams separating the two sides in the Football League. That gulf is reflected in the betting with Tranmere 12/1 outsiders to cause an upset whilst Tottenham are 2/9 favourites.
Spurs have scored 15 goals in their last four Premier League games for an average of 4.66 goals per game. They ran out 4-0 winners the last two times they played Tranmere, so Spurs to win 4-0 at 9/1 and over 4.5 goals at 13/5 are worth a look. Pochettino’s side have advanced from 17 of their last 18 FA Cup ties when playing teams from a lower league, so it’s a difficult task that Tranmere face here.
That said, Tranmere forward James Norwood is League Two’s joint top scorer this season with a goal every 141 minutes in the league. The 28-year-old is 11/1 to score first in the football betting odds and 10/3 to score anytime. With Pochettino likely to ring in the changes tonight, Norwood will certainly be looking to capitalise on that and get on the scoresheet.
BOURNEMOUTH vs BRIGHTON
In one of two all Premier League ties, Bournemouth host Brighton at the Vitality. Both come into this game off the back of high-scoring draws in the league, with just one point separating the two sides. Bournemouth hosted Brighton as recently as 22nd December, coming away with a 2-0 victory.
That score line is reflected in the betting for this tie, with Bournemouth fancied at evens while Brighton are available at 11/4 for the win. The two sides were involved in 3-3 and 2-2 draws respectively in their most recent league outing, so over 3.5 goals at 12/5 in this fixture is well worth consideration.
MANCHESTER UNITED vs READING
The Red Devils look a completely different side under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Since the Norwegian took over, they’ve won four on the bounce and are rightly installed as 1/10 favourites with Reading a 22/1 outside chance in this one.
United have averaged 3.5 goals a game in their last four outings. When these two sides met at this stage of the competition two years ago, Juan Mata and co secured a comfortable 4-0 victory. In-form Marcus Rashford bagged two that day and has scored in each of his last two games. If the young forward gets the nod to start, Rashford to score first at 14/5 offers a decent return.
If Solskjaer rotates his squad for this game, one man who could be in line for a return to the starting line-up is Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean scored twice the last time he faced Reading in the FA Cup, in a semi-final clash with Arsenal back in 2015. Sanchez to bag the first goal at 15/4 represents good value.
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