Saturday, 20 March 2021

FA CUP QUARTER FINALS WEEKEND - 20th / 21st MARCH 2021

  EMIRATES FA CUP R6

FA CUP SIXTH ROUND
This year's FA Cup has reached it's 1/4 Final stage, all the games will feature on live TV either BT Sport or BBC One, one Championship side still in the competition, Bournemouth, will open the fixtures and as we move closer to the end of the season there is a chance of some fans being allowed back in soon, the Final itself is expected to have up to 20,000 spectators under the current Government guidance. 

SATURDAY 20th MARCH
Bournemouth vs Southampton

AFC Bournemouth 0 - 3 Southampton [12:15]
Live on BT Sport
First cup tie live on Saturday lunchtime sees a battle on the south coast as Championship side Bournemouth fight it out against Premier League Southampton for a place in the semi finals of this most famous competition. Quite fancy Bournemouth here as Southampton have been struggling in the latter part of their Premier league season and much will depend on the strength of the sides put out.

Bournemouth should be fancied having beaten high flying Swansea 3-0 in midweek, Dominic Solanke is the main goal threat, while Southampton were beaten at home against Brighton last weekend Che Adams has scored in his last three games and James Ward-Prowse is always a danger from set pieces.

Selected Bets Probably a low scoring game so 1-0 either side for us.

Result - A comfortable win for the Saints, could have been a more emphatic success as VAR reversed a couple of goals.
Everton 0 - 2 Manchester City [17:30]
Live on BT Sport
A big test for Everton and manager Carlos Ancelotti, up against the runaway league leaders and although the cup can be a great leveller they will have to be on their absolute best to come through this tie. Pep Guardiola has a wealth of talent to call upon for the cup games, I hope that Phil Foden will start, and more goal threat from the likes of Raheem Sterling as well as Sergio Aguero who's City future is still uncertain. City still trying to win four trophies this season, will be facing Tottenham in final of League Cup (April), won 2-0 in their Champions League midweek tie against Borussia Mönchengladbach (4-0 on aggregate) and well ahead in the Premier League.

Everton have a decent front line, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison while waiting on news to see if James RodrĂ­guez is fit enough to even sit on the substitutes bench this evening while Jordan Pickford will miss Everton's FA Cup tie this weekend and three World Cup qualifiers this month after sustaining an abdominal muscle injury against Burnley.

Selected Bets - Over 1.5 goals in first half @7/4. 
Penalty awarded and scored @2/1.

Result - Not the most thrilling of games, and Everton nearly held out but conceded in the final few minutes to an Ilkay Gundogan goal closely followed by one from Kevin De Bruyne for the win.

SUNDAY 21st MARCH
Chelsea vs Sheffield United FA Cup Tie

Chelsea 2 - 0 Sheffield United [13:30]
Live on BBC One
Chelsea have shrugged off the disappointment of losing last years final and also seeing manager Frank Lampard replaced by Thomas Tuchel to find themselves close to another chance of silverware this season. They remain in the Champions League places in the Premier League and on Wednesday they overcome Atletico Madrid in the last 16 of this years UCL competition. All signs point to a home win here, as Sheffield United have also parted company with Chris Wilder and sit bottom of the league. They have installed the former Leeds boss Paul Heckingbottom as Chris Wilder's replacement until the end of the season, he might be hopeful of once again turning his temporary position into a long-term gig. Suspect Chelsea will rotate players and still have enough to win this, hopefully they will give the likes of Pulisic, Giroud, Hudson-Odoi a chance to start having been on the bench midweek. 

Selected Bets - Over 1.5 goals in the first half @13/8.
Olivier Giroud to score first @3/1.

Result -  2-0 A poor game in all truth, but Chelsea managed to get through thanks to a lucky own goal and a clinical finish in stoppage time to secure their place in the semi finals.

Leicester City vs Manchester United FA Cup

Leicester City 3 - 1 Manchester United [17:00]
Live on BBC One
Our final 1/4 tie features a top four battle which should be interesting to see who wants this most and if they both put out strong teams, hopefully it will be a proper cup tie, Leicester played Sheffield United last weekend in a thumping 5-0 home win, while Manchester had a midweek Europa League tie away at AC Milan. 

Kelechi Iheanacho scored a hat trick in that 5-0 win and together with Jamie Vardy will be a dangerous partnership. Depending on how Manchester United get on during Thursday night might dictate their priorities for this game. The made it through with a Paul Pogba goal 1-0, and appears that Dean Henderson now has the No1 spot in goal. Hopefully it's a high intensity game with plenty of action.

Selected Bets - Jamie Vardy to score anytime @13/8.
Penalty awarded and scored @3/1.

Result - .

FA Cup Semi Final Draw;
Leicester City  vs  Southampton.
Chelsea   vs  Manchester City

This year's semi-finals will take place at Wembley over the weekend of 17th / 18th April 2021.  While this year's final should be then be held on Saturday 15th May 2021 and the possibility of fans in the stadium even if it's only a max of 20,000 at this stage, details will emerge and be updated in the future. 

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