The FA Cup, the world's best cup competition, is back on our screens. Matthew O’Regan has a 14/1 Five-Fold Acca for Saturday’s action.
Wolves vs Shrewsbury
Leg 1: Wolves Win and Over 2.5 Goals
Wolves appear to be turning a corner at a crucial point in the season. After months of frustration, they are now three games unbeaten in the Premier League, a run that has finally shown the fight and resilience that has been sorely lacking. While league survival looks increasingly unlikely, there is a growing sense that belief is returning to the squad.
With relegation all but confirmed, Wolves are expected to rotate for this fixture, though not drastically. A strong cup run now represents the clearest opportunity to salvage something from an otherwise dire campaign.
The contrast with Shrewsbury could hardly be sharper. They arrive on the back of a torrid spell, eight league games without a win and four consecutive defeats highlighting their current struggles. Their problems are particularly evident on the road, where they have collected just six points from 12 matches, with away games averaging three goals.
With the three-league gap, Salop will be up against it from the off.
Boreham Wood vs Burton
Leg 2: Total Goals - Over 2.5 Goals
After sneaking into the play-offs and securing promotion against the odds, few would have imagined such a remarkable start to life in the National League. Sitting second in the table, just two points off the leaders with two games in hand, Boreham Wood have carried their momentum seamlessly into the new season and quickly established themselves as genuine contenders.
Their confidence has been further underlined in the FA Cup, where they have already seen off two Football League sides in Newport and Crawley, both of whom are struggling in League Two. Those victories have only reinforced the belief within the camp, particularly at home, where Boreham Wood are a formidable force. They have won six matches in a row in the league, boast the highest points-per-game record at home in the league, and have scored an impressive 22 goals in 13 outings at Meadow Park .
Goals have become a recurring theme in their campaign. Sixty-three per cent of their league fixtures have produced over 2.5 goals, while all three of their FA Cup ties have ended in convincing 3–0 wins.
Burton arrive two divisions higher, yet find themselves cast as underdogs. Their away form suggests goals are likely, with half of their league trips seeing over 2.5 goals, and both their first- and second-round cup matches also clearing that mark. With both sides believing they can come out on top, this contest has all the ingredients of an open, end-to-end affair.
Doncaster vs Southampton
Leg 3: Southampton To Win
Doncaster head into this tie in worrying form, having gone six league games without a win and losing five of those in the process. Their struggles are reflected in the wider picture too, as they sit bottom of the League One form table across the last 20 matches. Even in the cup, progress has been far from convincing, scraping through the first and second rounds only thanks to late goals against League Two opposition.
Southampton’s momentum has also stalled of late. After an initial upturn under Tonda Eckert, the new-manager bounce appears to have faded, with the Saints failing to win any of their last six matches. That said, the underlying quality within the squad remains clear.
With significantly greater depth and individual talent than their League One counterparts, Southampton should still have more than enough to take control of this fixture. Against a Doncaster side low on confidence and short of form, The Saints should coast to victory.
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Newcastle vs Bournemouth
Leg 4: Total Goals - Over 2.5
Bournemouth arrive with renewed belief after finally halting an 11-game winless run thanks to a dramatic 3–2 victory over Tottenham. While results had been hard to come by during that spell, entertainment was not, with nine of those 12 matches producing at least three goals. Their travels, in particular, have been wide open affairs, with nine of their 10 away games seeing over 2.5 goals — the sole exception a narrow 1–0 win at Tottenham earlier in the season.
History also points towards goals when these two meet on Tyneside. The last two encounters at St James’ Park have both cleared the 2.5-goal mark, and current form suggests a similar pattern could unfold again.
Newcastle come into this fixture in a buoyant mood after their own midweek thriller, edging a 4–3 win over Leeds. That result made it three consecutive victories, during which they have scored nine goals, underlining their attacking momentum. St James’ Park has become a reliable source of goals too, with Newcastle finding the net at least twice in each of their last 11 home matches.
Over 2.5 goals has landed in a league-high eight of their 11 home league fixtures, while the trend continues across competitions, with seven of their nine cup and Champions League games seeing over 2.5 click.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Brentford
Leg 5: Brentford Win To Nil
Sheffield Wednesday’s fate looks all but sealed. A hefty points deduction has left the Owls 32 points adrift of safety, and any early-season fight has long since drained away. They are now without a win in 19 matches, a run that underlines just how difficult this campaign has become.
The problems are particularly stark in an attack. Wednesday has failed to score in their last three outings, managing just 15 shots across those games, and Hillsborough has offered little respite. They remain winless at home this season and have found the net only seven times in 13 league matches in front of their own supporters.
Brentford, by contrast, arrive in buoyant mood. Sitting fifth in the table, they are unbeaten in six league games, four of which have ended in victory, and the prospect of European qualification is now a genuine one. With relegation concerns long behind them, Keith Andrews is expected to name a full-strength side.
The best odds for the above Five-fold Acca is 14/1 at Skybet and PaddyPower.
