EMIRATES FA CUP SEMI FINAL WEEKEND 6th - 7th APRIL 2019

Quadruple-chasing Manchester City face Brighton and Hove Albion in the semi-finals of the Emirates FA Cup after the draw was made on Sunday afternoon. Both clubs had to come from 2-0 down in their quarter final ties, City edging Swansea 3-2 while Brighton squeezed past Millwall on penalties. The second semi-final will be between 1984 Finalists Watford and Wolverhampton Wanderers, who defeated Manchester United to seal their place in the last four for the first time in 21 years. The draw was conducted by Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink and Leon Osman, who have both played in FA Cup Finals, in 2008 and 2009 respectively.

The schedule for the Emirates FA Cup semi-finals, to take place at Wembley Stadium, is now confirmed:

Saturday 6 April
Manchester City 1 v 0 Brighton and Hove Albion (5.30pm)
[Live on BBC One]
Brighton's reward for seeing off Millwall on penalties is a tie against Manchester City. Surely the team the others wanted to avoid, but as Wigan Athletic proved in the past even the biggest are there to be beaten. 

Expecting goals, probably if Manchester City score early this could well be a high scoring semi final. For the neutral fan we need to see Brighton play without fear and ideally take the lead, and set pieces might prove their best opportunity as they don't look like a team full of pace to get behind an organised City defence.

Bets - Manchester City to win and both teams to score. 
A penalty awarded in 90 mins. Raheem Sterling to score first.

Turned out to be a fairly drab and dull game for the neutral, yet Man City remain in the hunt for more silverware this season and will face the winners of the game on Sunday.

Sunday 7 April

Watford 3 v 2 [AET] Wolverhampton Wanderers (4pm)
[Live on BT Sport 2]
The second Semi Final is on Sunday and for me is very open, both have good attacking flair and on occasions they have a 'nasty' side to them too, don't mean they are dirty but physical and will take no prisoners. So will be looking at the bookings market here for a bet, and I do think Watford will win though many will be impressed by the way Wolves went after Manchester United last time. 

Bets -- Watford to win and both teams to score. 
Bookings over 45 points. 

Winning clubs will receive £1.8m from The FA prize fund while the losers will pick up £900,000. 

The Emirates FA Cup Final between Manchester City and Watford is scheduled for Saturday 18th May.