JACK Wright's (@JackWright_BSB) new Bet of the Day continues on Sunday as we head to the FA Cup.
Leicester vs Southampton | Sunday 18th April 2021, 18:30 | BT Sport
Leicester contest their first FA Cup semi-final since 1982 and aim to reach their first final since their losing appearance in 1969 – although Southampton have the better recent history in the competition, losing semi-finalists in 2018 and defeated finalists in 2003, I can’t see them winning here.
The Saints are on a terrible run of league form winning just two of their last 14 EPL games, losing 11 and although the 9-0 walloping at Old Trafford skews this figure a little, they have conceded 37 goals in that run, scoring just 13.
Having played four of the bottom five in that period they have lost to three of them, defeating only rock bottom Sheffield United.
Their recent come from behind victory over Burnley showed great character, but appeared to be a false dawn going by their woeful 3-0 loss to West Brom last time out with captain James Ward-Prowse missing a late penalty to earn some consolation going in to this Wembley date.
The Saints run to the final has been kind, with a round three victory over Shrewsbury earning them arguably their strongest test with a home tie against Arsenal, a heavily rotated Wolves were defeated in round five as Nuno opted to prioritise the league fixture three days later before a quarter final trip to Championship play off chasing Bournemouth.
The Foxes comfortably won the latest league dual between these clubs in January and should be stronger for the reintegration of their disciplined trio of James Maddison, Ayoze Perez and Hamza Choudhury following back-to-back defeats which have taken the shine off three successive victories where they scored 10 goals conceding just two – however with those two defeats being against fellow top four opposition, today’s opponents aren’t of the same caliber.
This is a massive opportunity for Brendan Rodgers and his team to claim some silverware and I really can’t see them passing it up – and with odds close to even money that is an opportunity I don’t want to overlook myself as I make them pretty strong favourites and expected odds closer to 4/5.
Therefore at 19/20, Leicester to win is my Bet of the Day.
Best Bet
Leicester vs Southampton – Leicester to win (19/20 Novibet)
