FA Cup double whammy !!

What a great night it was for the underdogs as both the favourites for the FA Cup this season, Man Utd and Chelsea were beaten by Portsmouth and Barnsley respectively. Though Utd played well, they could not convert their chances and were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty. Chelsea, however, were aweful against Barnsley and were missing Drogba badly.

A couple more games are being played tonite …

FA Cup 

• Middlesbrough vs Cardiff – Draw
  • Boro strikeforce is weak with Aliadiere suspended and Afonso Alves still not match-fit yet. They have come to this stage after an own goal by Sheff Utd’s Paddy Kenny in extra-time in the last round.
  • Cardiff are in equally bad state and have not won their last three matches. However they are relatively safe from relegation and are not in position for the playoffs either. Cup run is the only saving grace and if they managed to hold Boro for a draw at Riverside, they will be able to beat them at their home ground on the return leg.
•  Bristol Rovers vs West Bromwich – Home Win
  • Going for a home win here as ‘The Pirates’ are formidable in their home ground which they share with the local rugby team. The rough pitch will play a major part in this game and also the timing of the game.
  • This is the FA Cup after all and so far, two favourites have been disposed. Why not another two ?

 BPL

• Wigan Athletic vs Arsenal – Draw
  • Bruce has done a decent job at the JJB stadium since he took over but they are not safe yet. Arsenal will be the favourites to win but they have stuttered on their away trips and Steve Bruce has always troubled Arsenal during his Birmingham days.
  • Tottenham vs West Ham – Spurs, -1.5
    • Spurs will like to bounce back from their midweek disaster against PSV and there is no better team to show their anger against than their local London rivals West Ham.
    • West Ham have lost their last two games by 4-0 margins to Chelsea and Liverpool and are not in great form either with a massive list of injuries.
    • Spurs’ return leg against PSV could be postponed as the local police in Eindhoven are planning to have a strike. So Juande Ramos will not have to rest any players for the midweek game, but I still believe Woodgate and King will be rested. 
• Sunderland vs Everton – Sunderland, +1.5
  • Sunderland are not in the bottom three today because of their excellent home form. They have bought reasonably well during January and have been playing well in recent games.
  • Everton were convincingly beated by Fiorentina in midweek and David Moyes will have a hard time to decide on his priorities, 4th place or UEFA Cup.