FA Cup: Saturday Acca

FA Cup 3rd Round Saturday doesn’t hold the promise of many upsets but we’re getting some good prices on some of the favourites. We have five teams to win at combined odds of 33/1 with Ladbrokes who will refund our losing stake as a free bet if just one of our selections lets us down.

Swansea (1/2) to win at Tranmere:

Rovers have actually improved over the last month or so but the gulf in class between the side 9th in the Premier League and the side 3rd bottom of League 2 will be too wide to bridge. The Swans can simply pass their opponents into submission.

Forest (23/20) to win at Rochdale:

On paper some will see this as a potential giant-killing but Dale having only won 3 of their 12 home matches in League 1 in 2014-15. They have also lost two in a row so it’s not only Forest arriving on questionable form. The visitors are winless in 6 but that will ensure nobody takes this trip lightly and crucially Stuart Pearce retains the support of the fans. Should be a turning point for the Championship side.

Leicester (11/8) to win at home to Newcastle:

I’m convinced that the current feel-good factor at the King Power Stadium can extend to the cup. Nigel Pearson will be thrilled with the comeback from 2-0 at Anfield on New Year’s Day which followed victory at Hull. Maintaining that momentum is key and managerless Newcastle were fortunate to even draw with Burnley last time out.

Norwich (5/4) to win at Preston:

Again, this is perceived as another potential banana skin for the higher-ranked team. However, Preston actually regard the JPT Northern Final on Wednesday as a bigger match, presumably because a trip to Wembley is on the horizon in that competition. Consequently, expect the Canaries to be the more focused side with boss Neil Adams promising to field his strongest line-up.

Bournemouth (Evens) to win at Rotherham:

It’s 1st against 19th in the Championship here and while both teams have other priorities expect the Cherries to keep on producing. Eddie Howe’s boys have won five on the bounce in the league and are unbeaten in 14 matches in that competition dating back to September. In contrast, United have tasted victory once in 12 outings.

*Ladbrokes will give you your money back as a free bet if one selection of your 5-fold or bigger acca loses.