FA CUP PREVIEW & PREDICTIONS
Third round day is always one of the most exciting days in the domestic Football calendar especially for the League One & Two sides that have battled their way through to this stage. Here’s my take on what could happen………….
FRIDAY 4th JANUARY 2019
TRANMERE ROVERS v TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
The SWA’s game of the season in front of a packed house at Prenton Park where the home side are strong, Micky Mellon’s men will come into this tie justifiably confident given Tottenham’s struggles at Rochdale in last season’s competition where it took a Wembley replay to settle the tie. Spurs are a fine side with established internationals in every position but will they fancy a cold Friday night in Birkenhead?
Rovers may well get a second crack at this tie.
PREDICTION SCORE DRAW
SATURDAY 5th JANUARY 2019
BURNLEY v BARNSLEY
Sean Dyche’s Clarets will not be relishing the visit of Daniel Stendell’s L1 promotion contenders to Turf Moor in this potential massive Banana Skin for the Premier League strugglers. EPL survival will be Burnley’s main focus for the remainder of the season & if the Tykes approach this game & attack like they usually do they could well emulate Lincoln’s victory at Turf Moor a couple of seasons ago.
PREDICTION AWAY WIN
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY v LUTON TOWN
Another L1 promotion contending team will be fancying their chances as the Hatters make the trip up the M1 to face an Owls side that have been ordinary at best lately & sit in lower mid-table in the Championship. Wednesday have appointed Steve Bruce as their new manager but as he’s not due to take up the post until the 1st of February so caretaker Lee Bullen will get the chance of extending his record of 3 wins & a draw in his four games in caretaker charge. Nathan Jones will see a second successive promotion as a bigger prize than a Cup run so I’m taking the home side & their Championship experience to win out here.
PREDICTION HOME WIN
SHREWSBURY TOWN v STOKE CITY
New Shrews manager Sam Ricketts has certainly made his team tough to beat losing only once in their last five League One games & should be confident coming into this tie with the underperforming Championship Potters who have a side that is packed with internationals that have all disappointed since last season’s EPL relegation. The City fans aren’t happy with their team’s form & are particularly unhappy with manager Rowett’s style of play. This will be close & may well take a second game to sort out this tie.
PREDICTION NO SCORE DRAW
ACCRINGTON STANLEY v IPSWICH TOWN
John Coleman’s Accy will welcome this opportunity for his side against Championship opposition as they continue to search for the form that saw them comfortably in a play-off place a few short weeks ago before their recent struggles. Paul Lambert’s Tractor Boys will also relish a break from their hapless Championship campaign that has seen them bottom of the table for the entire season so far. Two teams in no sort of form at all may have to do it all again at Portman Road.
PREDICTION NO SCORE DRAW
BOLTON WANDERERS v WALSALL
Another League One team pitted against a struggling Championship side is Dean Keates’ mid-table Saddlers who notably knocked out Sunderland in the previous round. Things are very very wrong at the moment at the Reebok/Macron/ UOB stadium (delete as applicable) with poor form & off-field politics the subjects mostly talked about on the Trotters forums. Walsall have a reputation of being a good Cup team & are my tip to triumph here.
PREDICTION AWAY WIN
BRENTFORD v OXFORD UNITED
Karl Robinson takes his out of sorts U’s side to the capital to face a Brentford side who are looking decent again after a worrying recent run under new manager Thomas Frank. Oxford will have to contend with the Championship’s leading goalscorer in Neal Maupay & will do well to avoid a hammering.
PREDICTION HOME WIN
EVERTON v LINCOLN CITY
Danny Cowley takes his Imps team & their travelling thousands to Goodison with thoughts of 2016/17’s run to the quarter-finals still fresh in their minds but the Merseysiders must believe that the FA Cup is a trophy that they could realistically win & are sure to take this tie seriously. The tie will be a good one financially for the Sincil Bank outfit but only financially. A comfortable win for the Toffee’s & the Imps to concentrate on League Two promotion.
PREDICTION HOME WIN
FLEETWOOD TOWN v AFC WIMBLEDON
An all League One tie at Highbury which must have disappointed the Chairmen of both clubs. The Dons suffered their first reverse in five at Fratton Park & seem to be fighting hard for their new boss Wally Downes. The inconsistent Cod Army must frustrate the heck out of boss Joey Barton when they can hammer promotion hopefuls Donny 3-0 after losing to struggling Bristol Rovers recently. I actually have a feeling the Dons can win this one.
PREDICTION AWAY WIN
GILLINGHAM v CARDIFF CITY
Neil Warnock takes his EPL strugglers to Kent to face a tricky looking tie with League One Gills. Cardiff have picked up form wise of late but Premier League survival still looks a big ask so the Cup will come as a nice distraction for the Welshmen. Steve Lovell’s side have gone off the boil of late losing three of their last four in the league & I can’t see any shock result in this game.
PREDICTION AWAY WIN
MIDDLESBROUGH v PETERBOROUGH UNITED
Posh come into this difficult tie on Teeside on their worst run of the season with their impressive 4-0 win at Accrington their only win in their last six league games, severely denting their flagging play-off hopes. Boro are well in the Championship play-off chase boasting one of the best defensive records in the second tier & I’m sure manager Tony Pulis would relish a good cup run & I think this might be the start of one for them.
PREDICTION HOME WIN
BLACKPOOL v ARSENAL
Following the 8000+ away Sunderland following recently Terry McPhillips & his Pool team will be getting used to actually having a crowd to play for at Bloomfield Road as the North London giants come to the seaside for this televised clash. The tangerines are a more than useful side & their recent disappointing results haven’t been reflective of performances which have generally been good. The Gunners may well give some fringe players a run out as they generally do in the domestic Cups & their talented youngsters should take this tie.
PREDICTION AWAY WIN
CRYSTAL PALACE v GRIMSBY TOWN
Michael Jolley takes his Mariners side to the capital to take on ex England manager Roy Hodgson & his Eagles side who are performing quite well in the EPL with a win at Wolves the latest of some impressive recent results. Saturday’s home defeat by promotion contenders Mansfield checked an impressive run of results for Grimsby that propelled the Mariners towards mid-table in League Two. I hope the travelling Grimsby army enjoy their day out at Selhurst Park but they’ll be no shock result in this one.
PREDICTION HOME WIN
NORWICH CITY v PORTSMOUTH
An exciting looking tie at Carrow Road awaits as these two promotion contenders in their respective Leagues lock horns. Pompey continue to set the pace at the summit of League One while the Canaries along with Leeds are doing something similar in the Championship. I really can’t call this as I think Pompey are a good enough team to compete in the second tier now & will definitely cause problems for Norwich so I’m going to stick my neck out & go for a surprise win for the south coast outfit.
PREDICTION AWAY WIN
SUNDAY 6th JANUARY 2019
FULHAM v OLDHAM ATHLETIC
The Latics will have a 4000+ travelling army following them in West London for their clash with EPL strugglers Fulham & they have a chance of a result too. Despite (foolishly) sacking manager Frankie Bunn the Lancashire side are in good form & a new year tilt at the League Two play-offs isn’t out of the question. Claudio Ranieri will have EPL survival uppermost on his mind & cup progress might well hamper those ambitions, therefore, I’m going for Oldham to take the Londoners back to Boundary Park for a replay.
PREDICTION SCORE DRAW
PRESTON NORTH END v DONCASTER ROVERS
An interesting Roses clash at Deepdale as Alex Neil’s mid-table Championship Lilywhites take on Grant McCann’s League One Play-Off chasers Donny. Rovers looked very impressive in their 5-0 thrashing of Rochdale on New Year’s Day while PNE fell to a disappointing defeat at relegation-threatened Rotherham in the Championship on the same day however Preston don’t lose many at home & their greater experience in the higher tier will help them win this one.
PREDICTION HOME WIN
NEWPORT COUNTY v LEICESTER CITY
A bumper Rodney Parade crowd is guaranteed as Claude Puel brings his star-studded Foxes side to South Wales. The Exiles League Two promotion push has faltered of late following a series of disappointing results & will look to this tie to put smiles on fans faces as they did in running Tottenham close last season. Leicester shouldn’t have much trouble winning this tie at the first time of asking.
PREDICTION AWAY WIN
words Ian Bradley, D3D4 roving reporter and predictions guru. You can follow Ian on twitter @Millmoor1