FA Cup Fourth Round Tipsheet: Who will defy the odds and cause a upset

The FA Cup takes centre stages this weekend with a smattering of fourth round ties from Thursday to Monday. SBK has you covered for punts with five bets in this weekends tipsheet. 

Tottenham vs Man City

Kick-off: Friday 20:00, ITV 

Tottenham vs Manchester City, an all Premier League affair takes centre stage on Friday evening. 

The hosts are a fair way off a full complement,  Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma skipper Son Heung-min are away at the African Cup of Nations and Asian Cup respectively. This game also comes too soon for James Maddison who is recovering from an ankle injury.

Maddison and Son have combined to score 15 goals domestically this term but in their absence Totteham’s other attackers have stepped up. Spurs have found the net in both of their games this month meaning they have scored in each of their 23 games this season.  

Having only kept six clean sheets, siding with goals has to be the bet here, not least because Kevin De Bruyne is back fit and firing for the visitors. 

Prediction: Over 2.5 Goals & Both Teams to Score @ 1.82

Leeds vs Plymouth

Kick-off: Saturday 15:00

Despite reported interest from the Premier League, Plymouth Argyle manager Ian Foster recently claimed that Morgan Whittaker is ‘desperate to stay’ with the Championship club. I am sceptical. 

The form of the frontman is not up for debate. 

Whittaker has scored 16 goals in all competitions, setting up a further six. Only Sammie Szmodics has scored more times in the second tier. 

Plymouth’s frontman is amidst a real purple patch with eight goals and three assists in his last seven appearances. Crucially, one of those came in the last round of the FA Cup where Whittaker was one of only a few Plymouth players not to be rested. 

He should play at Elland Road on Saturday where his price to find the net is simply too big. 

Prediction: Morgan Whittaker Anytime Goalscorer @ 4.50

West Brom vs Wolves

Kick-off: Sunday 11:45, ITV

The first Black Country derby in three years kicks off the FA Cup action on Sunday and the best indication of the fixtures ferocity is perhaps best indicated by the kick-off time.  

Wolves almost didn’t make it. The Baggies beat Aldershot in the third round and drew either Wolves or Brentford.  

Wolves, having trailed in the original tie with the Bee's, did so twice in the replay but ultimately showed great spirit to win the game in extra time. 

Carlos Corberan’s side are a tough nut to crack at the Hawthorns only losing twice there this term.  Wolves may currently be a division higher but have had their issues on the road, failing to win 10 of their 13 away games in all competitions. Expect a cagey clash in the Midlands on Sunday with goals of a premium. 

Prediction: Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.93

Newport County vs Manchester United

Kick-off: Sunday 16:30, BBC iPlayer

One of the triumphs of this competition is that lower league players get priced to be carded when their game is televised and this is exactly what I’ll be looking to take advantage of here. 

Bryn Morris tops Newports charts for ill-discipline, notching up seven cards this term. The central midfielder has been carded in each of his last two league appearances and looks a great price to have his name taken against Manchester United. 

Morris will be tasked with containing Premier League opposition and with a favourable referee, he will do well to keep it clean. 

Prediction: Bryn Morris To Be Shown a Card @ 4.7

Blackburn vs Wrexham 

Kick-off: Monday 19:30, BBC iPlayer

Blackburn are all too familiar with the perils of facing lower league opposition in the FA Cup.  

Rovers fell behind twice to League Two’s Newport in the first half of their first round clash. A Sammie Szmodics hattrick pulled them well clear before the interval in a clash that saw seven goals scored. 

I fancy a similar flurry in Monday’s clash as Jon Dahl Tomasson’s men welcome Wrexham. 

The Red Dragons, then in the National League, enjoyed a run to the fourth round last term. They beat Championship side Coventry on route before eventually falling short against Sheffield United, then in the second tier.  

It took two injury time goals for the Blades to edge past Phil Parkinson’s side so the visitors certainly have experience against sides of Blackburn’s pedigree. 

At least three goals were scored in each of Wrexham’s five games from the first round onwards last season, with over 3.5 clicking in four including all three of their games with Champ opponents. 

Prediction: Over 3.5 Goals @ 1.51

Recommended Bets

Back Over 2.5 Goals & BTTS in Spurs vs Man City @ 1.82
Back Morgan Whittaker Anytime Goalscorer @ 4.50
Back Under 2.5 Goals in West Brom vs Wolves @ 1.93
Back Bryn Morris To Be Shown a Card @ 4.7
Back Over 3.5 Goals in Blackburn vs Wrexham @ 1.51