IT'S FA Cup weekend and what a tough set of fixtures we are faced with.
Team news is vital but even looking at games just on stats and form as I do with the shortlist it's difficult finding winners.
Look at some of the ties – West Brom v West Ham, Aston Villa v Leicester, Crystal Palace v Liverpool and Blackburn v Stoke – and you'll see what I mean.
Arsenal should beat Middlesbrough but the men for the Riverside won at Man City in the last round and I fancy Derby at home to Reading unless Steve McClaren decides promotion is all or nothing and fields fringe men.
Even Monday's match between Preston and Man United is tough to call going by the Old Trafford men's recent form – and remember they drew 0-0 at Cambridge in the previous round.
Luckily there are also league games to focus and that's where most of may games on the shortlist come from. Remember these are my initial thoughts having looked at form, stats and head to heads but not team news.
So let me know as usual if there is any team news or anything else that would put you off any of these teams.
Super Single shortlist
Blackburn v STOKE
C Palace v LIVERPOOL
Charlton v BRENTFORD
CREWE v Fleetwood
HARTLEPOOL v Stevenage
YORK v Tranmere
Kilmarnock v DUNDEE UTD
DUMBARTON v Cowdenbeath
QoS -1 v Alloa
Berwick v ARBROATH
In December 2020 we sadly 
i have been trying to leave comments on this site for months and have not been able to do so
Rapheal, your posts should appear now
Stoke, really fancy them.
Absolute minefield this weekend. Going to have to delve into the BTTS market for my SS or take a punt in League One or Two.
I think palace will beat liverpool but over 2.5 goals a good bet
MAn utd arsenal n stoke shud win
Wary of Stoke, well beaten by City and have injury worries, add to that Blackburn beat Swansea in the last round,have goals in their side and won their last few at home (going by memory)
Steve McClaren won’t do too many changes but if he does, we have a great choice of players to bring in who could/should do the business. Not sure yet on the status of Martin who got injured @ Bournmouth but Darren Bent has been playing out of his skin and did a great job on Tuesday for 75 mins. Ince has been in sensational form – would love his signature at the end of the season.
Theres talk of George Thorne either starting or being on the bench.
Obviously Derby will be more concerned about the championship race but they’ll also want to build on our vein of form, maybe even up it a notch. Bryson has barely figured for us this season so he could well feature as have a few other signings such as Warnock. If I’m honest, McClaren could make 4 or 5 changes to give a few players a run out, but its a game we should really be chalking off as a win.
Nathan, my thoughts exactly – I assume Bent will start.
I can’t see Bent not starting, and I also think he’ll be subbed in the 2nd half to have a look at a new forward we signed.
Shaun Barker who was injured at Florist 3 years ago played in his first game midweek in the U21’s, so he is probably a month off coming back into the fold.
We also have not seen much of Raul Albentosa who could be thrown into the mix to make our central defenders start realising their place in the starting 11 isn’t guaranteed.
I have been all over Burton this past few weeks and their form has been lifted to a new level after Gary Rowett left them in a great position to help out Birmingham. Jimmy Floyd hassellbaink may be a rookie manager, but his on the pitch success is being projected onto his players and they’re responding. Theyre top of the league and deserve to be.
Although I am confident that Derby will progress to the next round of the cup, I’m even more confident of Burton doing the business. They’re destined for league 1.
Meanwhile at the other end of the A52, after seemingly realising that relegation is a distinct possibility, florist have started playing, and although I wouldn’t read too much into beating a team that’s squad has been pulled apart in the last transfer window, getting 3 points against a team that’s in the same boat is a positive and its 3 points that they earned. The problems for florist however seem to be none-stop. Their star striker ( who they still owe £1.5 million to Peterborough ) had their 3 window partial transfer embargo upgraded to a full embargo affecting ALL signings. Well he’s now injured for 12 months. So they now have a dedicated goalscorer crisis. I would not be surprised if they have to start looking at their academy for answers or start playing players out of position. They are also banned from loaning players.
Stirling Albion Draw No Bet @ 23/20
This is a fantastic price, I am a frequently at Stirling’s Home games and they are playing much better now. My best friend is also a very promising youngster and is playing well at the moment (Cunningham). Ayr are playing very poor at the moment. One to consider Mr F?
nclsn, possibly – big game between bottom and second bottom. Off to the Record for 4 nights in a row.
Mr F, Ill buy you several pints if Stirling Albion Draw No Bet doesn’t come in. feeling very confident!
Yip local boy Craig Comrie plays for Albion and they are defo due a win.Win btts Stirling.
Werder Bremen at home to Augsburg must be worth a shout over some of these
Mr F- do u not fancy Bristol City against Sheffield U? Looks good value @23/20 skybet. Bristol C won there last 5 home games,Sheff U lost last 3 away.
Got to be Dundee Utd, they’ve lost good players but Killie can’t score these days and only have 1 fit striker
Agreed Hammy I reckon Dundee Utd are a good thing.Yes they lost two good player but still have the big striker unless he’s injured.Dundee Utd win to nil would be my SS.
Liverpool and Donny for me..both evens..Maybe leeds as i dont rate millwall..But after doing birmingham the other nt to bt millwall and them losing at home to them has put me off a bit.
west ham 2-1 to win at the baggies
I saw west brom at Birmingham last round and they were bang average at best,luckt to win against an average championship side.
if the hammers are at full strength which I would expect them to be then 2-1 is a very generous price imo
Know it`s not a single,how about BTTS & over as a SS ???
What do you reckon to this Mr F? Barcelona vs Levante on Sunday on the handicaps with Levante +3 at 17/10 at Bet Victor.
Tips for Saturday
Derby WIN
Roma WIN
2.26 AT BetVictor
Kyle B, the Barca bet is not for me when looking at recent h2h.
Kyle, I wouldn’t touch Levante to be honest. They’ve been poor this season and their last two games against Barca have been 5-0 and 5-1 defeats. The Roma and Derby double looks solid though.
Pick of the weekend for me is Burton at home to Oxford
Burton are a much better side than Oxford and won 6 in a row at home before drawing 0-0 with AFC Wimbledon in midweek. They have a couple of injuries, but should still have too much for Oxford.
Burton have also kept a clean sheet in 6 of their last 7 at home.
Burton win 11/10 BetVictor
Burton clean sheet 6/5 888sport
Burton and BTTS NO at 21/10 Bet365
Mr F,
I’m a Tranmere fan and whilst our home form is pretty poor at the moment, we have been picking up results away from home and haven’t lost an away game this calendar year.
We have been much more solid of late, and could easily have beaten Newport in midweek (drew 1-1). It’s a big game for both sides, and i think we are more than capable of getting something if not a win. I’d leave York alone myself.
For your super single Mr F, I would suggest one of:
1. Leicester WIN 21/10 William Hill
2. Arsenal -1 (Sure a lot would disagree after what boro did to city) 6/5 William Hill
3. Wolves DC 11/10 Bet365
Just thought id throw a few ideas in the mix :)
Forest away Blackpool looks good also @ evens although not looked in any detail. Thoughts anyone?
Adam Pendo, I feel sorry for any team that has to play on that blackpool pitch haha, Forest look rejuvenated under new management and that looks a good price tho against lifeless blackpool. You might wanna look at Assombalonga anytime goalscorer at 11/8 at William Hill
Kyle B,
Assombalonga did his knee last night, stretchered off with the oxygen mask on. He’s done for the season.
Really like the look of elgin away to east stirling at 5/4. Elgin on a great run and east stirling very poor. Cant understand the odds especially considering how good elgin have been away recently
Steve B, it’s because it’s Scottish League 2 – anything goes.
I missed this last nite, I was too busy shouting at the television screen watching Man United vs Burnley (Burnley Fan). Had Burnley +2 on the handicaps. Had score centre on my phone as results were coming in and noticed he was back in the goals. Sorry for the false tip
MR F
You got damn lucky on your super single last night, shame on you for tipping against Burnley ;)
Hibs against rangers should be everyones ss of the wkend at 9-4. I have never been so confident in my life that they will beat rangers at ibrox. Full squad to pick from and they are on free fall. Rangers players only there for the money and nothin else. Even protests by ex players before the game. Its a banker and av never said that in my life. Get on it. NOW.
Haha I know what you mean Mr F! Can be a lottery at times! Fancy Dundee Utd on your shortlist, might need to get them on before the odds drop
Out off all them fancy crewe, Ajose anytime to! Anyone fancy gillingham +1 at home to mk dons? Backed them midweek bts win at 7/1 what a price! A treble with arsenal and bristol city 59.5/1! Forever be on my good list now
Gillingham +1 11/10 on skybet^
Not eligible as its under evens, but
West Bromwich v west ham
WEST HAM TO QUALIFY 5-6, is my main pick for Saturday, or after a replay, if it’s a draw.
Notts forest look good at 11/10 away to Blackpool
Hibs tonight!! Can see them winning well!! Fingers crossed!
Southport v Macclesfield
Southport lost their last 4 (3F 11A)
Macclesfield won their last 5 (12F 5A)
Macclesfield to win @ 13/10
Macclesfield to score 2+ @ 5/4
My Super Single would be Jordan Rhodes any time scorer, tomorrow, Blackburn V Stoke. One of the best finishers I have seen, always in the right place at the right time.
Good info nathan.
stranraer home win peterhead without mccallister.
Mr fixit….i know DUMBARTON Will be your Super Single for tomorrow
Outsiderola, right country, wrong team.
Wots ur thoughts on hearts over 2.5 team goals raal
Okay then Mr F