Seeley’s Selections – Sunday’s Live FA Cup Matches

LOOKING at Sunday’s two FA Cup fifth round matches and I think it will be a similar day to what I predicted on Saturday with one game looking quite tasty and the other a very drab affair.

Aston Villa v Leicester City, 12:30pm BBC One
Let’s start with the drab one – the Midlands derby between Aston Villa and Leicester at Villa Park and the BBC have had a shocker in choosing this one for live TV viewing.

They choose two games in the last round (the best in FA Cup history) which both ended 0-0 and they could have had another nightmare in picking this suitable for primetime viewing.
These two are the lowest scorers in the Premier League and this has all the hallmarks of another drab affair.

Villa are BoyleSports 6/4 favourites, but how can anybody seriously contemplate backing them at such short odds? Saying that though, Leicester aren’t much better, in fact they are worse and there is no case to be made for them at the 21/10 available with BoyleSports.

Villa parted company with Paul Lambert in midweek and Tim Sherwood has been named as the new man in charge at Villa Park and his first task is to get this side scoring goals – which is easier said than done.

Villa have only scored just eight goals at home all season and in 2015 they have managed just THREE goals and it’s no surprises that all my betting on this one is on the goal markets or the lack of them. The best way to play is on the under 2.5 goals market which is banker material at BoyleSports 8/11, as is the both teams not to score at 20/21 with BoyleSports, which has been a winner in eight of Villa’s last 10 matches.

These two have met twice already this season in the Premier League and both have been fiery encounters and with so much at stake for both the sides I expect this to be another feisty affair and I would be surprised if both sides end the match with 11 men on the pitch.

Villa won the Premier League clash 2-1 and it was a 1-0 win for Leicester in the reverse fixture but this match has a history of draws with six of the last 12 meetings ending in stalemates and at 12/5 with BoyleSports that would be a bet I also like.

For an outsider, I never like advising this but no goalscorer does look decent shout at BoyleSports 15/2.

Seeley’s Selections
Under 2.5 Goals @ 8/11
No Goalscorer @ 15/2
Draw @ 12/5

Arsenal v Middlesborough, 4pm BT Sport 1
Now onto the half decent one and ARSENAL will be hoping to successfully defend the FA Cup this season but Sunday’s clash with Championship leaders Middlesbrough might not be as easy as BoyleSports predict.

The Gunners’ are red-hot favourites for this one at BoyleSports quote of 40/85 and although I think they will just edge it, I couldn’t back them at that price against a team that I think will win the Championship this season.

Arsene Wenger is expected to juggle his troops for this one and some key players will be rested after a very poor display in their last match in the 2-1 win against Leicester.
Middlesbrough are 13/2 with BoyleSports to pull-off the shock in this one and I know former West Ham and QPR coach Wally Downes was very keen on them in this weeks BetZone but I’m not so sure.

They had their big win in the last round at the Etihad when then beat the Premier League champions Manchester City 2-0 but it’s very rare that the minnows have their day twice in successive rounds.

That victory has spurred on their league form and the 2-1 win at Blackpool in midweek was their sixth straight victory and they haven’t lost in the Championship since December.
Before we get carried away though on their chances at the Emirates the Riversiders’ main priority this season is a return to the Premier League and although I think they will push Arsenal close, I can’t see them dumping out the holders.

One thing I do fancy Aitor Karanka’s side to do is score at the Emirates, especially if Wenger rests key man Lauren Koscielny in this one and I’m expecting both teams to score in this and I like that a lot at the 5/6 with BoyleSports.

The last couple of Arsenal games have ended 2-1 in the win against Leicester and the defeat at Tottenham and instead of backing the holders at the odds-on quotes a couple of quid on them to win by the 2-1 margin at BoyleSports’ 13/2 could be a decent approach.

Wenger is certain to make wholesale changes and first goalscorer bets should be kept to a minimum until we see the starting XI, but I fully expect England international Danny Welbeck to lead the Gunners attack.

Welbeck is available at 9/2 with BoyleSports to grab the opener and after missing a few games through injury this is the ideal time to get the former Man Utd striker match fit ahead of some important Premier League and Champions League fixtures, and I’m also tempted by the shorter price of 6/5 on Welbeck to score at anytime.

Seeley’s Selections
Both Teams To Score @ 5/6
Correct Score: Arsenal 2-1 Middlesborough @ 13/2
Anytime Goalscorer – Danny Welbeck @ 6/5