Get stuck into this FA Cup 3rd Round 6/1 treble!
Reading v Blackpool - 15:01
FA Cup matches are always nightmarish to predict; wholesale personnel changes for pretty much every side turns things into something of a lottery, but I’ve identified three ties which hopefully contain great value.
First up, I have Reading beating Blackpool at home.
The Royals come into this with plenty of momentum, having won their last four Championship matches. Blackpool, on the other hand, are winless in five in League One.
It’s hard to say how much of an impact this’ll have, so it’s more pertinent to look at recent cup form. The Seasiders have progressed beyond the third-round in just one of their last seven seasons, while Reading have only crashed out twice at this stage in their last five seasons – reaching a quarter-final and semi-final along the way.
Reading at 7/8 look a solid bet.
Wolves v Man Utd - 17:31
Next, I’m backing Wolves against Manchester United at Molineux.
Since their promotion, Wolves are yet to lose against United in all competitions, and Nuno’s men have won in two of their last three home meetings against The Red Devils – including a 2-0 victory in this competition.
Wolves are always bang up for their home games against United, and they’re the sort of side who have little to lose by really going for this trophy.
If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men perform against Wolves like they did against Arsenal, they’re going to be schooled.
In their current iterations, Wolves are better than United, and I like 24/17 for Nuno’s side to progress.
Man City v Port Vale - 17:31
Finally, I’m backing to Manchester City to beat Port Vale with a -3 handicap.
If Pep Guardiola has taught us one thing over the last few seasons, it’s that he shows no mercy to lower-league opposition.
Last season, City registered victories of 7-0, 5-0, 6-0 and 9-0 against various levels of opposition in the two domestic cup competitions, and I see no reason why City can’t beat Vale by a margin of at least four goals.
Pep has never taken the domestic trophies lightly, and considering the visitors have a poor away record even by League Two standards (11 points from 12 matches), it could turn into a very long and painful evening.
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