FA Cup Tips | 18th November 2014

WITH plenty of places up for grabs in the second round of the FA Cup, Mark O'Haire (@MarkOHaire) explores the best bets from tonight's card.

Weston Super Mare v Doncaster | Tuesday 19.45

With the original fixture postponed due to a waterlogged fixture, my stance hasn't changed so it's worth revisiting the same market and bet ahead of tonight's game despite a contracting price. I've updated the stats.

I backed Doncaster for relegation at the start of the season and they’re still yet to convince me. Sitting just two points above the drop zone and with Paul Dickov at the helm, it’s still a bet I believe could bank – that slip is one of the few ante-post punts I’m keeping safe.

But Rovers warrant respect for their trip to Weston Super Mare and the Woodspring Stadium. Dickov’s team have recorded a very impressive seven wins from their last 11 games on their travels and the third-tier team should have no problems brushing aside the Conference South outfit.

The Seagulls can boast just one home win to their name all season and sit second from bottom in the sixth-tier of the English football pyramid. Weston have lost six league games on the bounce and failed to score in their last three Conference South matches.

I’ll rely on Dickov’s men to put in a professional display and have Doncaster in the Half-Time-Full-Time market at 10/11 with BetVictor.

Shrewsbury Town v Walsall | Tuesday 19.45

I’m not normally one for ‘cupsets’ but seeing Shrewsbury available at 5/4 (Bet365) to back at home just can’t be missed. At the New Meadow the Shrews boast a formidable W10-D1-L1 record this season.

Just as impressive is the fact that only four teams have netted in those 12 fixtures at Salop’s home ground in 2014/15 whilst Micky Mellon’s men have now won six of their last eight games in all competitions.

Only a last-minute equaliser kept Walsall in this tie at the Bescot Stadium 10 days ago and although the Saddlers are unbeaten in five, I’m willing to take a punt on Shrewsbury’s superb home record seeing them through.