Seeley’s Selections – FA Cup Weekend

THE FA Cup returns this weekend and my general impression of the fifth round match-ups aren’t that inspiring.

With so many big clubs out of the competition this round will see a lot of smaller clubs believing that they can go all the way to Wembley and lift the trophy and the quality of football we could witness looks set to suffer.

The last round was probably THE best in the tournaments 142 year history, but this one could be one to forget.

West Brom v West Ham
We start off on Saturday lunch time with a clash between West Brom and West Ham at the Hawthornes this sees Tony Pulis going head-to-head with Sam Allardyce and that says it all really.

Pulis, has lost just once in his seven games in charge in the West Midlands and in a game that has a history of seeing goals, I think that all changes at the weekend with under 2.5 goals the best bet in the match at BoyleSports 4/5.

In the seven games that Pulis has taken charge of, five of them have seen both teams failing to score and at evens with BoyleSports that also looks a play and if not in a single than certainly in the weekend accumulators.

This pair have clashed twice this season in the Premier League with the Hammers’ winning the league fixture 2-1 and at the Boleyn Ground they played out a 1-1 draw. With so much at stake, the draw is the bet I like in this one at BoyleSports 5/2.

Last weekend there was four draws in the five live Premier League matches and in games like this when it’s the biggest price of the three outcomes and probably the most likely, its the sensible option.

West Ham have drawn their last two matches against Southampton and Manchester United and they have become the draw specialists in the last few weeks with six in their last eight matches.
With goals NOT expected I wouldn’t be surprised to see no goalscorer in this one at BoyleSports 17/2.

Big Sam’s men drew 0-0 in midweek with Southampton and Pulis has already had a 0-0 in his first league match away at Everton and at 17/2 there are a lot worst bets this weekend than that one.

Seeley’s Selections
Under 2.5 Goals @ 4/5
Draw @ 5/2

Crystal Palace v Liverpool
SATURDAY evening though and things will get a lot more exciting when Liverpool travel to the capital to take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Alan Pardew will have fond memories of this match after he netted the winner in a 4-3 FA Cup semi-final classic back in 1990 and that is all the motivation he will need in this one.

The two met earlier in the season and Palace ran out the comfortable 3-1 winners and thats 28/1 with BoyleSports to happen again and remarkably the Reds’ haven’t won in South East London since 1997.

Last season Liverpool lost the Premier League here when throwing away a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 and with all this in mind why are the visitors BoyleSports short 21/20 favourites?

History is against them and skipper Steven Gerrard looks likely to miss the trip and for that reason, I’m out.

But it’s not all bad news, stop the press, Mario Balotelli scored in the 3-2 win against Tottenham and Daniel Sturridge looks set to start in this one and he will be a popular first goalscorer selection with BoyleSports customers at 9/2.

Unlike most of the games this weekend, Im actually looking forward to this one and I fancy a few goals.

Five of the last six clashes in this fixture have seen both teams scoring and at 3/4 with BoyleSports that’s a bet I really like again, for big players on the single or for most of you on the BoyleSports both teams to score coupons.

One man who Brendan Rodgers side always have problems with is Dwight Gayle and the pint-sized striker has now scored three goals in his last two matches at home to Liverpool.

The former Peterborough hit man is 8/1 with BoyleSports to open the scoring which I like , but in a game where I can see lots of goals I much prefer the 13/5 with BoyleSports on him scoring at anytime.

If you want a bit of fun then have a quid on another 3-3 between these two at a monster 50/1 with BoyleSports that will give you a decent run for your money and the change of a big return for a small stake.

Seeley’s Selections
Both Teams To Score – Yes @ 3/4
Over 2.5 Goals @ 10/11
Dwight Gayle Anytime Goalscorer @ 13/5

Other Bets
In the other FA Cup games on Saturday I can’t see many shocks and I like both Stoke and Derby to book their places in the quarter-final draw.

Derby host Reading at the Ipro and even though they are pushing for promotion back to the Premier League I think they will be far too strong in this one at BoyleSports industry best 4/5.

The pair have already met twice in the league this season with the Rams running out comfortable winners 3-0 and 2-0 and another win to nil looks tempting as well at 19/10 with BoyleSports.

Stoke should be far too strong at 6/4 with BoyleSports to beat Blackburn at Ewood Park.
Blackburn beat Premier League Swansea in the last round, but that result flattered the Championship team with an early sending-off changing the whole game.

Stoke will be confident of making another FA Cup Final this season and with just two losses in their last 10 games and only one defeat in their last six on the road, I think they will show their Premier League class in this one.

B Lucky,

Nigel.