FA Cup: The upsets to be looking out for this weekend
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The Third Round of the FA Cup may have lacked some sparkle in terms of big Cup upsets, but the draw for Round Four has bags of potential for that bit of magic.
No fewer than six Premier League teams face away days at lower league opposition, while a handful of Championship sides also find themselves heading to grounds from lower down the Football League.
How many of those will emerge unscathed as Monday dawns? We think quite a few big names could be dropping out…
Nottingham Forest to beat Watford @ 15/8
Forest are going great guns of late under Dougie Freedman and are unbeaten in 18 matches.
The Reds haven’t lost at the City Ground since early October and have conceded just six goals in their last 11 home games.
Watford have been on the wrong end of some unfortunate decisions in recent weeks, and the only two wins in the Hornets’ last seven matches have come against struggling Newcastle.
Oxford Utd to beat Blackburn @ 13/10
Michael Appleton is doing fine things at Oxford United this term, and his side sit a handy third in League Two.
The Kassam Stadium has been jolly difficult to win at over the last 12 months, with the U’s beaten on just three occasions in their last 28 home fixtures.
In contrast, Paul Lambert’s Blackburn have won just one of their last eight games, scoring just three times.
Portsmouth to beat Bournemouth @ 2/1
The 2008 FA Cup winners have endured a dismal time since that famous day at Wembley, but Pompey are going well in League Two this term.
Fratton Park has proven frugal for visiting teams, with Portsmouth conceding just four times in their last 12 matches.
Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth have more pressing matters as they battle to ensure their stay in the Premier League lasts more than one season and they may well have one eye on Tuesday night’s tricky trip to Crystal Palace.
Carlisle to beat Everton @ 5/1
While Carlisle revel in their return to Brunton Park, Everton are licking their wounds following a bruising few weeks.
The Cumbrians have lost just four of their last 22 games at ‘home’ while Roberto Martinez’s Toffees can count just two away wins in nine matches.
Everton are under pressure to step up their performances, but a trip to a vibrant Carlisle might be coming at just the wrong time.
MK Dons to beat Chelsea @ 17/2
Having won the FA Cup four times in the last nine seasons, few can say Chelsea don’t take the competition seriously.
With a top-four place all but gone, an FA Cup win is the sole chance of salvaging something from a disastrous season in west London.
The Blues are unbeaten under Guus Hiddink too, but with a trip to Watford looming on Wednesday, some lesser-known names may take to the pitch against an MK Dons side who are no strangers to Cup upsets – hammering Man United 4-0 last season.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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