Weekend FA Cup

100% from Tom here as Cardiff beat Wolves 2-0 and Cov crashed out 4-0 to West Brom. Excellent work.

Three non-Premier League clubs are guaranteed a place in the FA Cup quarter finals but one of the ‘big two’ won’t survive as Manchester United host Arsenal at Old Trafford.

United, having lost to arch rivals City on Sunday, have slipped five points behind the Gunners in the title race and will be desperate to get back on track. Games between these two have been too close to call in recent years however, with no particular pattern emerging either, and, as expected, the bookies seem to have got it just about right. The hosts are a shade of odds against but it would be no surprise to see this one go back to the Emirates.

The two wagers I’ll be having are both actually in all-Championship ties and I take West Brom to get the better of Coventry and Cardiff to see off Wolves.

The bet of the weekend is, without doubt, the South Wales club to advance to the last eight. They host a Wolves team that is very inconsistent and, prior to a 2-1 defeat against Norwich, Cardiff were in sensational form at Ninian Park. Five wins in a row at home, plus draws on their travels at the likes of West Brom and Watford, illustrate what decent shape they are in and Dave Jones has seen his side climb to within four points of a playoff place. They have plenty of goals throughout the side, eight different players have netted at least three times in the league this term, and their loyal home support always makes for an intimidating atmosphere.

Wolves, in contrast, have been very hit and miss of late and really lack a steady supply of goals. It’s just eleven away from home all season for Mick McCarthy’s side and they are also prone to throw in the odd shocker. I like to think that their 4-1 win at Watford in round four was more by luck than judgement and I take them to come unstuck. The 2.40 or thereabouts for a home win looks very decent indeed.

While Cardiff and Wolves are currently looking upwards at the playoffs, West Brom look set for automatic promotion back to the Premier League. The same cannot be said of the Baggies cup opponents on Saturday, Coventry however.

The Sky Blues are manageress heading into their last 16 clash, following the departure of Iain Dowie, and there must be real concern that they are heading to League One. They have performed well in he cup competition this season, they beat Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Carling Cup, but confidence is sure to be low given what has happened this week and their home record isn’t great either. They concede nearly 1.5 goals a game at the Ricoh Arena and I’d be surprised if West Brom did’nt find the net at least once on Saturday.

At the prices, the bet has to be a lay of the hosts at just 3.15. With West Brom so strong at The Hawthorns, they’d probably be content with a replay.