My weekend football acca will get you £101 from a £10 bet
There is no Premier League football taking place this weekend, but we have the fourth round of the FA Cup to look forward to. We have previewed five of the games taking place between Friday and Sunday, including those involving Chelsea and Manchester United. A £10 wager on our three-leg acca would pay out £38.31, while the same stake on our five-leg version offers a potential return of £101.15. Manchester United vs Leicester City: Under 3.5 goals (4/6) Old Trafford is no longer a tough place to go. Crystal Palace were just the latest visitors to triumph at Manchester United’s home last weekend, running out 2-0 winners in the Premier League. Ruben Amorim’s side have lost five of their last seven matches in front of their own supporters, so Friday’s clash with Leicester City is not a foregone conclusion. The Foxes are in an even worse place than United, though. Ruud van Nistelrooy, a legendary figure at Old Trafford who briefly served as the club’s interim manager earlier this season, has been unable to turn Leicester’s form around. The relegation candidates have lost eight of their last nine league games, leaving them in a vulnerable position. The FA Cup is not really a priority for Leicester given their Premier League predicament, but a win here would give Van Nistelrooy’s team a much-needed boost. With both sides low on confidence, this looks set to be a low-scoring encounter. Go for under 3.5 goals at 4/6 with bet365 Wigan Athletic vs Fulham: Fulham to win (27/100) Safe from relegation but unlikely to qualify for the Champions League, Fulham are the sort of team that should be targeting a deep run in the FA Cup. The Cottagers have never won a major trophy before and you have to go all the way back to 1975 to find the last (and only) time they reached an FA Cup final. Wigan Athletic, of course, were surprise winners of this tournament in 2013, but the club has dropped two divisions since then. Currently 16th in League One, Shaun Maloney’s charges beat Carlisle United, Cambridge United and Mansfield Town in previous rounds. This represents a much stiffer test, though, especially if Marco Silva names a strong side at the Brick Community Stadium. Fulham are tough to play against and Wigan will struggle to avoid defeat here. Choose a Fulham win at 27/100 with bet365 Leyton Orient vs Manchester City: Man City to win both halves (5/6) Manchester City were thrashed 5-1 by Arsenal last time out, so Pep Guardiola will be looking for a response when his side takes on Leyton Orient. City are out of the Premier League title race and they have a tough tie against Real Madrid in the Champions League play-offs, so the FA Cup now represents their best chance of a trophy this term. Leyton Orient are having a good season in League One while City are struggling like never before under Guardiola, but it would be one of the biggest shocks in FA Cup history if the hosts were to win on Saturday. Even if City opt to shuffle their pack here with an eye on the first leg against Madrid next week, they will have too much quality for their lower-league opponents. Orient will aim to hold them at bay for as long as possible, but City should make the breakthrough in the first half. From there, they will be hard to catch. Select Manchester City to win both halves at 5/6 with bet365 Back the 3-fold acca Back the 3-fold acca at bet365 to win £38.31 from a £10 bet Birmingham City vs Newcastle United: Both teams to score (7/10) Birmingham City are well positioned to win promotion to the Championship this season. That is their principal focus, but they would also relish the chance to give one of the Premier League’s big boys a bloody nose in the FA Cup. Birmingham have an opportunity to do that this weekend, with Newcastle United their fourth-round opponents after previous victories over Sutton United, Blackpool and Lincoln City. Birmingham will back themselves to cause Newcastle one or two difficulties. Chris Davies’ charges will be full of confidence, while home advantage could be a factor – the Blues have only lost one game at St Andrew’s in all competitions in 2024/25. Newcastle were in action on Wednesday night, beating Arsenal 2-0 in the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final. They are obviously favourites to win this game, but a clean sheet could be beyond Eddie Howe’s men. Back both teams to score at 7/10 with bet365 Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea: Over 2.5 goals (8/15) Brighton & Hove Albion are another mid-ranking Premier League club that will be targeting FA Cup glory this season. However, Fabian Hurzeler’s side have gone off the boil over the last couple of months after making a strong start to the season. Brighton have won only two of their last 12 top-flight matches, and both of those victories came away from home. You have to go all the way back to November 9 for the la
There is no Premier League football taking place this weekend, but we have the fourth round of the FA Cup to look forward to.
We have previewed five of the games taking place between Friday and Sunday, including those involving Chelsea and Manchester United.
A £10 wager on our three-leg acca would pay out £38.31, while the same stake on our five-leg version offers a potential return of £101.15.
Manchester United vs Leicester City: Under 3.5 goals (4/6)
Old Trafford is no longer a tough place to go. Crystal Palace were just the latest visitors to triumph at Manchester United’s home last weekend, running out 2-0 winners in the Premier League.
Ruben Amorim’s side have lost five of their last seven matches in front of their own supporters, so Friday’s clash with Leicester City is not a foregone conclusion.
The Foxes are in an even worse place than United, though. Ruud van Nistelrooy, a legendary figure at Old Trafford who briefly served as the club’s interim manager earlier this season, has been unable to turn Leicester’s form around.
The relegation candidates have lost eight of their last nine league games, leaving them in a vulnerable position.
The FA Cup is not really a priority for Leicester given their Premier League predicament, but a win here would give Van Nistelrooy’s team a much-needed boost. With both sides low on confidence, this looks set to be a low-scoring encounter.
Go for under 3.5 goals at 4/6 with bet365
Wigan Athletic vs Fulham: Fulham to win (27/100)
Safe from relegation but unlikely to qualify for the Champions League, Fulham are the sort of team that should be targeting a deep run in the FA Cup.
The Cottagers have never won a major trophy before and you have to go all the way back to 1975 to find the last (and only) time they reached an FA Cup final.
Wigan Athletic, of course, were surprise winners of this tournament in 2013, but the club has dropped two divisions since then.
Currently 16th in League One, Shaun Maloney’s charges beat Carlisle United, Cambridge United and Mansfield Town in previous rounds.
This represents a much stiffer test, though, especially if Marco Silva names a strong side at the Brick Community Stadium.
Fulham are tough to play against and Wigan will struggle to avoid defeat here.
Choose a Fulham win at 27/100 with bet365
Leyton Orient vs Manchester City: Man City to win both halves (5/6)
Manchester City were thrashed 5-1 by Arsenal last time out, so Pep Guardiola will be looking for a response when his side takes on Leyton Orient.
City are out of the Premier League title race and they have a tough tie against Real Madrid in the Champions League play-offs, so the FA Cup now represents their best chance of a trophy this term.
Leyton Orient are having a good season in League One while City are struggling like never before under Guardiola, but it would be one of the biggest shocks in FA Cup history if the hosts were to win on Saturday.
Even if City opt to shuffle their pack here with an eye on the first leg against Madrid next week, they will have too much quality for their lower-league opponents.
Orient will aim to hold them at bay for as long as possible, but City should make the breakthrough in the first half. From there, they will be hard to catch.
Select Manchester City to win both halves at 5/6 with bet365
Back the 3-fold acca
Birmingham City vs Newcastle United: Both teams to score (7/10)
Birmingham City are well positioned to win promotion to the Championship this season. That is their principal focus, but they would also relish the chance to give one of the Premier League’s big boys a bloody nose in the FA Cup.
Birmingham have an opportunity to do that this weekend, with Newcastle United their fourth-round opponents after previous victories over Sutton United, Blackpool and Lincoln City.
Birmingham will back themselves to cause Newcastle one or two difficulties. Chris Davies’ charges will be full of confidence, while home advantage could be a factor – the Blues have only lost one game at St Andrew’s in all competitions in 2024/25.
Newcastle were in action on Wednesday night, beating Arsenal 2-0 in the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final.
They are obviously favourites to win this game, but a clean sheet could be beyond Eddie Howe’s men.
Back both teams to score at 7/10 with bet365
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea: Over 2.5 goals (8/15)
Brighton & Hove Albion are another mid-ranking Premier League club that will be targeting FA Cup glory this season.
However, Fabian Hurzeler’s side have gone off the boil over the last couple of months after making a strong start to the season.
Brighton have won only two of their last 12 top-flight matches, and both of those victories came away from home. You have to go all the way back to November 9 for the last time Albion beat a Premier League side at the Amex Stadium.
That should give Chelsea belief ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup clash, but Enzo Maresca would doubtless have wanted a kinder draw.
Goals could be on the cards in this one. Brighton are an attack-minded team who will not simply sit back and hope for the best. As for Chelsea, their defence is not strong enough for them to make that the centrepiece of their game.
Tip over 2.5 goals at 8/15 with bet365
Back the 5-fold acca
About the author
Greg Lea
Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.
Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball
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