I'M sticking two words up at the FA Cup this weekend – but they're not what you think.
You might think we'll win f*** all on these ties but it won't be for a lack of trying and checking TEAM NEWS is vital. My tips on the Friday ties were spot on and came after doing my homework and I've gathered some vital info you should study befoee picking any FA Cup winners on Saturday.
One point to not is the number of loan players clubs have lost at the start of the window. Here is the latest team news and I'll do something similar with Sunday's matches.
Barnsley v Middlesbrough
George Williams could make his first start for Barnsley with Joe Dudgeon and James Bree both struggling for fitness, while striker Sam Winnall is continuing his rehabilitation following a hamstring problem. Goalkeeper Ross Turnbull is back in contention following suspension and boss Danny Wilson must decide whether to recall him or retain Adam Davies.
Striker Patrick Bamford will be included in the Boro squad after extending his loan spell to the end of the season. Boss Aitor Karanka also has no fresh injury concerns although Emilio Nsue is due to meet up with Equatorial Guinea ahead of the African Nations Cup. Ryan Fredericks (thigh), Muzzy Carayol (knee) and Damia Abella (knee) remain out.
Blyth v Birmingham
Alex Nicholson is expected to be fit for Spartans despite being withdrawn with a dead leg during the 1-0 defeat at Whitby which ended their seven-game winning streak. Stephen Turnbull, who scored in the win over Hartlepool in round two, is set to be restored to the starting line-up after coming off the bench in their last outing.
Nikola Zigic could make his first start for Blues since rejoining the club. Manager Gary Rowett admitted he may look to rest players following a punishing festive schedule. Will Packwood (groin), Gavin Gunning (knee) and Matt Green (knee) remain on the injury list.
Bolton v Wigan
Lee Chung-yong will miss out for Bolton after linking up with the South Korea squad ahead of the Asia Cup, while Matt Mills is a doubt after picking up a knock in the loss to Huddersfield. Craig Davies and Kevin McNaughton (both hamstring) are back in the squad but Joe Mason (hamstring), Mark Davies (knee), Marc Tierney (ankle) and Max Clayton (knee) are all long-term absentees.
Wigan will be without Callum McManaman, who begins a three-game suspension, and Grant Holt after the 33-year-old damaged cruciate ligaments during the final game of his loan spell at Huddersfield on Boxing Day. The departure of midfielder Roger Espinoza, who is heading back to the United States, was also confirmed this week, while Leon Barnett (hamstring) and Martyn Waghorn (shoulder) are still out.
Brentford v Brighton
Brentford new boy Lewis Macleod is ineligible after moving to the Bees from Rangers and will have to watch from the sidelines. Winger Sam Saunders could be in line for a first start of the season after recovering from a long-term knee injury. Right-back Alan McCormack (ankle) and striker Scott Hogan (knee) remain in the treatment room.
New Brighton manager Chris Hughton has a much-changed squad for his first game in charge, with loanees Darren Bent, Greg Halford, Gary Gardner and Elliott Bennett no longer around. Hughton can welcome back midfielder Jake Forster-Caskey but skipper Gordon Greer (knee) remains a doubt and fellow defender Bruno completes a three-match ban.
Cambridge v Luton
Ryan Donaldson, Harrison Dunk and Tom Elliott are still among those sidelined as Cambridge boss Richard Money struggles to establish a settled side. However, Ian Miller is available following a long-term Achilles problem.
Fraser Franks, Jake Howells, Ross Lafayette and Ricky Miller could come into the reckoning for Luton if boss John Still decides to freshen up his side. Paul Benson (broken leg), Luke Guttridge (foot), Alex Lawless (foot) and Pelly Ruddock (hamstring) remain out but the quartet should be back in contention this month.
Charlton v Blackburn
Oguchi Onyewu is a doubt for Charlton after pulling up with a hamstring strain in midweek, while keeper Stephen Henderson (shoulder), left-back Rhoys Wiggins (foot) and winger Franck Moussa (knee) remain sidelined and right-back Chris Solly could drop out if two matches in four days is too much for his troublesome knee. Callum Harriott will also be absent as he serves the second game of a three-match ban for his red card against Cardiff on Boxing Day.
Blackburn boss Gary Bowyer must decide whether to stick with Simon Eastwood in goal or recall Jason Steele who this week made his loan move from Boro permanent. Defender Tommy Spurr (groin) is set to make his first appearance of the season, while returning loanee John O'Sullivan could also feature. Corry Evans is still banned, Jason Lowe (foot) remains a couple of weeks away, Marcus Olsson is a major doubt, while Ryan Tunnicliffe was recalled by Fulham on New Year's Day.
Derby v Southport
Derby head coach Steve McClaren may take the opportunity to rotate his squad with Kelle Roos possibly in line to replace Lee Grant in goal while the likes of Ivan Calero, Lee Naylor and Kwame Thomas may come into the reckoning. Paul Coutts, who has recently returned from a long injury lay-off, could be given the chance to get some much-needed minutes as he rebuilds his match sharpness. McClaren will check on Jamie Ward, who has been struggling with a thigh injury recently.
Southport are again set to be without Micah Evans and Joe Connor (both hamstring). Luke Foster has been managing a back problem but came through the busy Christmas period unscathed. Defender Clayton McDonald was released after missing last Sunday's Vanarama Conference victory at Kidderminster, having made 13 appearances for the club on non-contract terms.
Doncaster v Bristol City
Richie Wellens (hamstring), Kyle Bennett (hamstring and thigh) and Nathan Tyson (calf) are all doubts for Doncaster. Rovers boss Paul Dickov said this week teenage midfielder Harry Middleton is close to earning a place in the starting line-up, while striker Curtis Main will also be pushing for a recall.
City hope to be able to field Matt Smith, who has scored three times in his last two games, with boss Steve Cotterill asking Fulham if they will let the on-loan striker play in this round. Cotterill has doubts over Kieran Agard (ankle) and Aaron Wilbraham (hip), but Chelsea loanee Todd Kane has been given permission to feature. Joe Bryan (thigh) and Wade Elliott (calf) will also be involved having shaken off their recent problems.
Fulham v Wolves
Lasse Vigen Christensen is out for Fulham with a hamstring strain while Costa Rican forward Bryan Ruiz will be checked over after he failed a late fitness test before the defeat to Brighton. Ryan Tunnicliffe has returned from his loan spell at Blackburn but is not eligible to play, while Tim Hoogland (hernia) and Fernando Amorebieta (knee) are still injured.
Kevin McDonald is serving a one-match ban after being sent off against Brentford but Bakary Sako will be available for Wolves before he joins up with Mali for the African Nations Cup. Danny Graham has returned to Sunderland following the end of a loan spell which saw him score one goal in five games but end up as an unused substitute in his last two matches.
Huddersfield v Reading
Huddersfield forward Sean Scannell is hoping to shake off a foot injury he picked up against Bolton, while Nahki Wells is pushing for his first start in four matches after scoring a late winner off the bench last time out. Boss Chris Powell has no other new injury or suspension worries, but defender Joel Lynch (groin) remains sidelined. Grant Holt is recovering from a serious knee injury back at parent club Wigan following the end of his loan spell.
Jamie Mackie could come into the Reading team after striker Glenn Murray returned to Crystal Palace at the end of his loan spell – Mackie came on as a substitute in the win over Norwich following a hamstring injury. Midfielder Danny Guthrie is finally fit having been hindered all season by a calf problem and is also in line to start. But Pavel Pogrebnyak, Anton Ferdinand (both calf) and Hope Akpan (shoulder) are set to miss out again.
Leicester v Newcastle
Leicester boss Nigel Pearson is set to make changes with Danny Drinkwater (groin) out. Paul Konchesky returns from suspension while midfielders Jeffrey Schlupp and Riyad Mahrez are available for their last match before the African Nations Cup.
Newcastle defender Steven Taylor will miss out as he awaits news on the ankle injury he picked up during the draw with Burnley. Papiss Cisse is suspended and has been released to join up with the Senegal squad ahead of the African Nations Cup, while midfielder Cheick Tiote and Mehdi Abeid are due to follow suit with the Ivory Coast and Algeria respectively. Goalkeepers Tim Krul (ankle) and Rob Elliot (thigh), Siem de Jong (thigh), Rolando Aarons (hamstring), Gabriel Obertan (thigh), Sammy Ameobi and Ryan Taylor (both knee) are all still out.
Millwall v Bradford
Millwall will be without suspended midfielder Shaun Williams and cup-tied new signing Paris Cowan-Hall. Right-back Carlos Edwards remains sidelined with a long-term knee injury but teenage defender Sid Nelson is set to keep his place after an impressive debut against the Cherries.
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is unavailable for Bradford while Andrew Davies and Filipe Morais are major injury doubts. Pickford, on a season-long loan, has not been given permission to play in the competition by parent club Sunderland. Morais' short-term deal is due to end at the weekend and on-loan striker Jon Stead is scheduled to return to parent club Huddersfield so both players could make their final appearances for the club.
Preston v Norwich
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake could make his debut for Preston after signing a deal until the end of the season on Thursday. His new club have no fresh injury concerns and hope to welcome back winger Kyel Reid from illness. Bailey Wright (groin) was back on the bench last Sunday while fellow defender David Buchanan (hamstring) is also fully fit again. That leaves just long-term absentees Joe Garner and Jordan Hugill (both knee) on the sidelines, but on-loan striker Jermaine Beckford does have permission to play in this competition.
Norwich will be without defenders Martin Olsson and Carlos Cuellar and midfield pair Alex Tettey and Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe (knee). Javier Garrido is fit again and is in the travelling party.
Rochdale v Nottm Forest
Matty Lund and Jack O'Connell are both out for Rochdale. Lund has a dislocated shoulder and O'Connell's loan spell at the club expires on January 3 and he did not have permission to play in the competition from parent club Blackburn anyway. Midfielder Stephen Dawson remains doubtful.
Henri Lansbury is serving the first of a two-match ban for Forest – Academy product Ben Osborn, who made a promising cameo off the bench against Birmingham, could replace Lansbury in the side. Kelvin Wilson is available again after suspension while fellow centre-half Jack Hobbs, out since mid-September with an ankle injury, has resumed training and it is hoped he will make his comeback at Spotland.
Rotherham v Bournemouth
Rotherham will be without Tom Lawrence and Emmanuel Ledesma after they were recalled by respective parent clubs Leicester and Middlesbrough. Boss Steve Evans is waiting to hear whether fellow loanees Scott Wootton and Reece James have been given permission to play.
Lee Camp is set to start for Bournemouth because, although number one goalkeeper Artur Boruc extended his loan deal with the Cherries on Wednesday, he is unavailable to feature as he can only be officially re-signed after the deadline for FA Cup registration. Tokelo Rantie has joined up with South Africa ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations and will miss out for Eddie Howe's Championship table-toppers.
Tranmere v Swansea
Tranmere are sweating on the fitness of striker Kayode Odejayi (groin) but Liam Ridehalgh returns from suspension. Loanees Josh Thompson and Shamir Fenelon have permission to play but Calaum Jahraldo-Martin has been sent back to Hull, while Danny Woodards (foot) and Matt Hill (Achilles) are still injured.
Swansea boss Garry Monk may give fringe players Gerhard Tremmel, Jazz Richards, Kyle Bartley, Tom Carroll and Marvin Emnes a chance, with top scorer Wilfried Bony and midfielder Ki Sung-yueng now away on international duty, Jonjo Shelvey suspended and Jefferson Montero sidelined with a hamstring injury. Swansea must wait to see if Wayne Routledge will be available having appealed against the winger's straight red card in the 1-1 draw at QPR on New Year's Day.
West Brom v Gateshead
West Brom could be without Victor Anichebe (groin) but Jonas Olsson, who is still recovering from an Achilles operation, is definitely out. Georgios Samaras, Gareth McAuley, Jason Davidson and Brown Ideye could all start with new head coach Tony Pulis ready to give his players a clean slate.
Gateshead boss Gary Mills has no new injury concerns but goalkeeper Adam Bartlett will again deputise for injured number one Alex Baird while midfielder JJ O'Donnell is still expected to be sidelined with a foot injury. Mills is likely to keep faith with the side that drew 2-2 with Halifax on Boxing Day, which would mean another start for Albanian Under-21 international Valentin Gjokaj in defence.
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
congrats on friday wins
Wish a read the team news for Mk Dons before putting on my double.This will come in handy for the morra Mr Fixit cheers :-)
BOLTON v Wigan
Back Bolton to win at 6/4 with William Hill.
Bolton have dramatically turned things around under Neil Lennon and their form is in complete contrast to Wigans, since Neil Lennons appointment Bolton have lost just 3 in 13, including 7 victories.
Since Malky Mackay took over at Wigan, they have managed just 1 win and 1 draw in his first 7 matches.
Bolton won the previous fixture 3-1 in October, and Wigan have showed nothing since to suggest they will offer anything in this game.
One stat to note is Wigans record in the FA Cup, winning it in 2013 and reaching the Semi-Final in 2014. But stats count for nothing sometimes and their form is so bad just now i dont know where they will pull a win from.
Nice little Fourfold to get stuck into…
Bolton 6/4
Dover BTS 1/1
Newport (Div 2) 19/20
Wycombe (Div 2) 4/7
Great info!
Got a wee fancy for Tranmere to win tomorrow.
Thanks for the tips mr fixit & others I went with your double with under 2.5 mk dons game & Bala after jaspers write up, this is a great site with sound advice, appreciate the research
Hearts and Wycombe double pays 2/1!
Davalarr, I fancied Wycombe until I read this:
Wycombe begin life without Paris Cowan-Hall when they host rock-bottom Hartlepool. The 24-year-old had scored five goals in his last six matches before agreeing a move to Millwall and his departure will leave Gareth Ainsworth’s squad extremely stretched.
The Chairboys boss, who recently penned a contract extension, was able to name just four substitutes when they drew 0-0 with Shrewsbury on Sunday and he is likely to be short of bodies once more.
What time are you putting your tips up for 2moro mr fixit???
Great Work Mr F
Will have a full read later – think I’ll focus mainly on Scotland tomorrow!
Greg, pretty much my thinking too.
Davalarr- watch out with Wycombe mate, quite a few injuries and their main goalscoring threat is off to millwall.
8 fold acca Porto, Benfica, Sevilla, Malaga, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Villareal & Atl Madrid. £55 stake £1,040 returns. Very confident with these teams delivering…
Think with the weather etc I’ll stick to goals market, btts and overs.
Fa cup usually has a few shocks, so treading carefully with teams, at least with goals then there’s always a chance even if the fav is being beaten!
Mr fixit when will you super single tip be up for tomorrow ???
Mr fixit thanks for your tips today did £5 won £11.74. I have decided just to do your super singles as you had a lot of success with these. I am gonna add winnings on all your super singles :-)
Wow to take the time to write this for free is fantastic thanks for all this info , let’s make some money after a poor unpredictable Christmas period
Leicester to win at 6/4 at home Newcastle no pardew no good best bet tomoz
Cracking right up Mr F, good bet today as well. Good luck for tmoz!
Plenty of League 1and 2 as well as Scotland
Good summary Mr F. As expected we should see McClaren change 3 or 4 players out, but I think the depth of the squad will show tomorrow.
I know we’re only talking pre-season matches but Derby used to struggle and scrape draws or 1 nils against sides of Southends pedigree in the run-in to the new season. That seemed to stop when McClaren arrived.
-2 handicap seems to be the marker laid down by most bookies and I expect derby to cover that @ evens.
With Ipswich on the horizon, and the juicey game at home to Forest a week later, Derby will want to get more wins under their belts.
If you wish to play it safe, then take the Asian h/c of -1.5 @ 2/5. I’d say this would be an ideal match to drop onto a little treble.
nathan, I’d expect Derby to win whoever they start and it’s not even Southend – it’s Southport.
See that “The Sons of the Rock” Mr F have been hammered from 12/1 into 17/2 over the last 2 days!?
Why not? ;)
“if something worth doing its worth doing well!”
18/ S&W ;) couple of Queen quids for fun
GL all
recoba, Kane’s gone back to St Johnstone and Kieran MacDonald returned to Hamilton. Hugh Murray and Steven McDougall have joined Clyde and Mark McLaughlin and Jordan Kirpatrick are out. Otherwise I’d have considered Sons not to lose. Rangers may get a boost from the off-field happenings too with King back involved.
Wigan draw no bet. They are much better than recent results have posed and have a good record at Bolton forgetting the last league encounter. I personally can’t see wigan losing this one.
FA cup is usually a bit of a minefield so may stay clear unless you can spot some value Mr F.
I like Hearts and Aberdeen to both win tomorrow. Have taken both as singles and a double.
InterYerNan, Aberdeen’s Sunday but can’t believe the price drop – were 4-5. Now 4-7 in some places.
Leicester at over 6/4 are a steal with Newcastle’s weakened squad
Mr F I spotted the Wycombe teams news earlier myself and was coming on here to say beware but you beat me to it great post here by the way will help a lot of guys hopefully
Thanks Mr F for the team news if I had bothered to read yesterday would not have backed mk dons but bunting cost me anyway on the darts . I really fancy Bolton at 11/8 and definitely after reading your team news but hate the fa cup so possibly looking elsewhere Exeter are my super backed them the last couple of times at home and got the job done should again today good stats.
Just reading the team news on Wycombe, hopefully they pull threw giving Hartlepool are missing a few men aswell!
Waiting on Wycombe, Boro, Swindon, Stranraer & Villareal for my 102/1 accy
So this is a slightly biased tip but I’m going for it.
York City v Plymouth – York win at 3/2 with Bet365.
Plymouth has recently dropped of with form in last 2 games and this won’t be easy for them!
As a die hard York fan, I am going for York win. About this time last year we were in a similar position in the league and went on a great run to reach the playoffs. Staying unbeaten till we lost to the eventual winners!
York have won the last two games home and away and we are beginning to gain some momentum. We managed to avoid an unwanted record of home losses in a season against a good Accrington side with 10 men winning 1-0 and then went to Carlisle and put 3 past them.
We have Josh Carson back and he scored and played well against Carlisle and would recommend him as anytime goal scorer around. 17/5 – William Hill
£20 budget. £15 on York win and £5 on Carson anytime.
THANK ME LATER!
Jimmy you failed to say we ( Plymouth ) went down to 10 men last weekend in 1st half absolutely in control of the game , wouldn’t touch a York win IMO
Great work there Mr f
If bham play a strong side today at blyth today I fancy us to win comfortably and beat the handicap
Blyth will be up for it obviously and run through brick walls etc but we are a totally different animal now with Gary rowett in charge
I always said that Lee Clark was clueless
anyway will post up team news about 2pm
I had a 17 fold acca over boxing day and the 28th, I had 15 in by 5pm boxing day, had 2 teams rolling for the 28th. Got early payout offer of £4200, the 17 fold paid £17, 361 for a £2 stake. I had Bournemouth to beat Millwall, there 2 up at half time, thats 16 up im thinking, iv got 1 game left, I check the scores. Mk dons are 1 down to Walsall, im from mk so I fone the lads that are at the game, dont worry jason they said, we will get 2 or 3 in the 2nd half!!! They lost 0-3 at home, im done in lol.