Previews

FA Cup takes centre stage

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 31/12/2009
Football betting

Saturday sees one of the most eagerly-awaited days of the domestic football season when the minnows face the big boys in the FA Cup third round.

Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal all have to wait until Sunday to join the action, while Liverpool travel to Reading for a Saturday evening showdown.

The Royals have struggled in the Championship this season and have won just once in 12 league games on home soil, meaning that even an out-of-sorts Liverpool team will travel to the Madejski Stadium expecting to progress.

An unconvincing 2-0 win over ten-man Wolves and last-gasp victory at Aston Villa on Tuesday boosted morale in the Reds camp, while the Blue half of Merseyside also had reason to be cheerful after a 2-0 home victory over Burnley.

Everton lost to Chelsea in last season's FA Cup final and start their campaign this time around with a comfortable looking home tie against League One Carlisle United.

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Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers lock horns at Villa Park, just three days ahead of the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final tie and the opening part of a triple-header promises to be a cracker.

Roberto Mancini's Manchester City head north to the Riverside to take on Middlesbrough, with the Italian having enjoyed a perfect start of two wins out of two since taking over from the sacked Mark Hughes.

With the Citizens also in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup, Mancini will be hoping to mastermind a second good run in a major cup competition.

Wigan Athletic play host to fellow Premier League outfit Hull City at the DW Stadium, while Tottenham Hotspur face Championship strugglers Peterborough United at White Hart Lane.

Birmingham City's fine run of recent form will be tested fully at The City Ground, with Nottingham Forest themselves having impressed in recent times under the astute stewardship of Billy Davies.

Two non-league teams will be hoping to make the headlines, with both York City and Barrow having been drawn away to Premier League outfits.

The Minstermen, who are flying in the Blue Square Premier League at the moment, head to the Britannia Stadium to take on a Stoke City side that are without a win in their last six games.

Tony Pulis' men will also need to be on their mettle to deny one of the country's in-form strikers, with York's Richard Brodie having scored 11 times in his last nine games.

Barrow were handed a dream draw away to Sunderland and Dave Bayliss' men will relish the chance to shine at the Stadium of Light in a local derby.

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