CHRIS Graham (@chrisgraham79) shares his best FA Cup bets involving Premier League sides on Saturday.
Manchester United v Sheffield United | Saturday 17:30 | BT Sport 2
How lazy and boring from the TV guys putting this match on the box this weekend. Well actually, scratch the surface and there is a wee level of intrigue.
Despite scraping past Swansea last week this Manchester United side are still ill. They're still disjointed, they're still uninspiring, they're still led by a man on the brink.
I reckon this match has come at just the right time for them though as I can't see them messing it up as League One side Sheffield United turn up at Old Trafford.
Despite their clear woes they still have the second best defence in the Premier League and have conceded just four goals at Old Trafford in 10 Premier League games.
Sheffield United lie eighth in League One and were outclassed 3-0 by Championship side Fulham in the Capital One Cup earlier in the season.
I'll back Manchester United to win 2-0 and 3-0 in this match at 6/1 and 8/1 respectively. FA Cup defeat this year for the club would bring the house down.
Wycombe v Aston Villa | Saturday 12:45 | BT Sport 2
I've been thinking about this weekend for quite some time and my plan was to take on as many Premier League sides as possible due to there being a full fixture list from the division the midweek after. But now…
Yeah now I'm going back on that as I adpot a strategy of supporting top-flight sides who have something to play for due to poor form or when up against sides who really don't give a shit.
First up is Wycombe v Aston Villa. Are Villa the most inept Premier League side ever this season? Christ, it's heading that way eh? They're already a garguantun 11 points adrift from safety. Kelly Cates will be a part of their fans lives next season that's for sure.
Having said all that I'm backing them here at 21/20 with Bet365. Put succinctly, they've been reasonably unlucky in recent weeks and are worth more than their meagre eight points. You get the impression that their luck will change at some point and this might be the game.
This competition is Villa's only hope for positivity this season and I think they'll really push for victory on Saturday. Wycombe are in good form with four wins from their last six games but I'm banking on Villa.
The Midland club were too strong for Championship side Birmingham in the Capital One Cup in the autumn although that was under the unfairly-maligned Tim Sherwood.
Arsenal v Sunderland | Saturday 15:00
After beating Aston Villa last week manager Sam Allardyce faced the media and what he said really pricked my conscience. He labelled this week as a “rest week” for his squad. It was telling.
It's just such a shame his North East side face Arsenal and not Aldershot (or someone of that ilk) and because of that it's hard to aggressively take them on and reap handsome profit.
However I'll be having a go at that and backing Arsenal -1.5 for this match at The Emirates at a tasty looking 8/11. Sunderland will simply not give a fig about this match.
It's nearly three years since Arsenal lost an FA Cup tie and they should win this on the bridle on Saturday. The Gunners have beaten the Black Cats in five of their last six encounters with four of those by two or more goals. It looks a solid bet to me.
Best Bets
Wycombe v Aston Villa – Aston Villa to win (21/20 Bet365)
Arsenal v Sunderland – Arsenal -1.5 (8/11 Paddy Power)
Manchester United v Sheffield United – Manchester United to win 2-0 (6/1 888 Sport)
Manchester United v Sheffield United – Manchester United to win 3-0 (8/1 BetVictor)
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