Seeley’s Selections – Everton v West Ham

The FA Cup third round continues with it’s more traditional kick-off time of 7.45pm on Tuesday night (what’s all that about?) when struggling Everton host high-flying West Ham at Goodison Park in an all Premier League tie.

Why has this round run into a fifth day I really don’t understand, well I do actually, money. Traditionalists like myself aren’t happy bunnies, but it has left the best tie of the round until last.

Everton boss Roberto Martinez is a man under serious pressure and one thing you can guarantee is that the Toffees will be taking this season’s FA Cup very seriously.
Martinez famously guided Wigan to FA Cup success two seasons ago and this Everton side are a 16/1 chance with BoyleSports to replicate that this year. Before we get carried away with dreams of a Wembley final, they have showed no cup winning form whatsoever in recent weeks and have a very tricky assignment to negotiate first.

Everton just aren’t very good at the moment losing six of their last seven matches and yet BoyleSports still make them even money to win this one. At home last season they were phenomenal, but they’ve only won once in their last four and were dreadful in their last Goodison Park appearance a 1-0 defeat against Stoke.

The big problem for Martinez is they just aren’t scoring goals with five blanks in those seven and that is the problem. Romelu Lukaku is a 9/2 chance with BoyleSports to open the scoring and is a player that thrives on confidence but has none at the moment.

West Ham arrive here unlike their hosts full of confidence and are many people’s outside bets to win the FA Cup for the first time since 1980.

Sam Allardyce’s men are rated a industry best 29/10 with BoyleSports to win here and on current form they look a great shout.

They do however have a terrible record in the blue half of Merseyside, which puts me off slightly with only one win in their last 17 visits and were well beaten 2-1 in the Premier League at the end of November. Last year, Allardyce put out a reserve side at this stage in a 5-0 hammering at Nottingham Forest and his team selection will be crucial for betting in this one.

I’m gambling that he will put out a decent starting XI and I’m happy to take the BoyleSports offer of 29/10 on the Hammers adding to the increasing pressure on Martinez with a win in this one. In the nine away games West Ham have played this season, both teams have scored in eight and at 8/13 with BoyleSports, I do like that despite the Blues’ goalscoring problems.

The Everton defence looks vulnerable to pace and they don’t come much faster than Enner Valencia and I’m taking the 5/1 with BoyleSports on the Ecuadorian international to score the opener in a 2-1 West Ham win at BoyleSports’ 10/1.

B Lucky!

Seeley’s Selections:
West Ham to win @ 29/10
Both teams to score @ 8/13
Enner Valencia First Goalscorer @ 5/1
West Ham to win 2-1 @ 10/1