Jan 30: English Betting Preview

I WAS spot on with Man United last night – tipping them to beat Derby and with Wayne Rooney scoring.

It was too big a game for Louis van Gaal to take chances with but that's not the case with many of the favourites this weekend as squads are rotated.

So with the FA Cup try to check as much late team news as possible before making your selections.

Biggest shock of the last round came with League Two Oxford sinking Swansea and their reward is a home tie with Blackburn.

Rovers boss Paul Lambert is under pressure (again) with his honeymoon period well and truly over. It's all doom and gloom at Ewood with their only win in five at League 2 Newport in the last round of the FA Cup and now top scorer Jordan Rhodes appears on the verge of a move to Middlesbrough with Tony Watt being signed on loan from Charlton.

Oxford were superb as they beat Swansea 3-2 and they're favourites with the bookies at a biggest 7-5 with Paddy Power to reach the last 16.

The fact the minnows are fancied – Rovers are as big as 23-10 with McBookie tells you a lot – and there is also the possibility Lambert will rotate his squad as he did at Newport.

Oxford's two-goal hero against the Swans was Kemar Roofe and he's hit six in five games. Roofe, wanted by Steve McClaren to give Newcastle a lift, is 2-1 at McBookie and bet365 to score and 11-2 to bag the opener.

Most of the Premier League sides won through the previous round with weakened teams. One of those were Bournemouth who beat Birmingham away despite making 11 changes. They head along the south coast for a meeting at League Two Portsmouth and look overpriced at 7-5 with McBookie.

Hull are another side worth a look if they field a decent side at Bury. The League One men have won just one in six and lack a goal threat so the Tigers are big at 19-20 with Betfred.

And so what of the big guns. Holders Arsenal should take care of Burnley but best you'll get is 2-5 at McBookie.

Spurs will rest their main men but should win at League One strugglers Colchester. Again Spurs are short at 2-5 with McBookie but if starts consider Son Heung-Min to score first at 11-2 with Paddy Power.

There isn't really a tie of the round but there are two all-Premier League match-ups. Liverpool were lucky to reach the Capital Cup One Final in midweek and face another test at home to West Ham.

The Hammers have done the double over Liverpool in the league this season and if Slaven Bilic puts out a strong side I don't think he'll lose. West Ham will have backers at 3-1 with Betway and I'm backing them draw no bet at 7-4 with McBookie.

In the Championship best bets could be Birmingham at Bristol City after back-to-back 3-0 wins against Ipswich and Derby. The Blues are 21-10 at Betway.

In League Two Wimbledon – going for five wins in a row – feature on at least one of my lines at home to Yeovil.

Bets to Consider

Oxford

Roofe to score

Bournemouth

Son to score first

West Ham dnb

Birmingham

Wimbledon

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