FA Cup on Betfair: Fifth Round draw throws up just one all-Premier League tie

"The two biggest shocks of the weekend were undoubtedly to be found at Carrow Road and Boundary Park."

The draw for the FA Cup Fifth Round has been made and features just one all-Premier League tie. But how has the draw affected the betting?

After a rip-roaring weekend of FA Cup action across the country, no fewer than six Premier League teams were knocked out, and four of those to lower league opposition.

The two biggest shocks of the weekend were undoubtedly to be found at Carrow Road and Boundary Park as non-league Luton Town overcame Chris Hughton's Norwich 0-1 and Oldham Athletic welcomed Liverpool to their home ground and promptly dished out a hugely physical 3-2 beating. Luton, who are now a longshot at 600599/1 to win the Cup have been rewarded with a home tie against Millwall 110109/1.

Oldham, who are still available at 500499/1, welcome the other big team from Merseyside in the next round in the shape of David Moyes' Everton themselves an 8.615/2 shot. Everton could provide real value here, it's easy to see them going reasonably far in the competition if they can avoid a tough away draw.

Elsewhere, Arsenal have come right in to 76/1 after their hard-fought win at Brighton. They have an easy-looking home tie against a struggling Blackburn in the next round, whereas Wigan 6059/1 face a potential banana skin travelling to either Huddersfield or Leicester.

The market clearly feels that the cup will go to one of the Manchester clubs though. There's not much between them in terms of price, with United available at 3.9n/a and City only slightly shorter at 3.8514/5. They face Reading at home and Leeds at home respectively.

FA Cup Fifth Round draw:

Huddersfield/Leicester v Wigan
MK Dons v Barnsley
Oldham v Everton
Luton v Millwall
Arsenal v Blackburn
Manchester City v Leeds
Manchester United v Reading
Middlesbrough v Brentford/Chelsea

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FA Cup Betting: All the latest odds after the fifth round draw

FA Cup / Joe Dyer / 20 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

Wazza faces Arsenal earlier this season

"United are favourites for Wembley glory at the moment and can be backed at [3.85] to lift the trophy, Arsenal are [5.5]."

An FA Cup classic is on the cards after Arsenal/Leyton Orient were pulled out of the hat to face Manchester United in the fifth round

The FA Cup is likely to see a clash between the two teams at the top of the betting after Manchester United were given a home tie against the winner of the Leyton Orient-Arsenal tie. The two London teams are set to replay following a 1-1 draw at Brisbane Road this afternoon.

Should Arsenal get through, the mega-clash will pit together the two most successful clubs in the history of the competition with 21 wins between them.

United are favourites for Wembley glory and can be backed at [3.85] to lift the trophy, Arsenal are [5.5]. Next up is Manchester City - 5-0 conquerors of Notts County today - at [6.0].

Just one other team, Everton, trade in single figures ([9.2]). Reading ([160.0]) are next up for the Toffees, who would then play the winners of City's tussle with Aston Villa ([22.0]).

Stoke's reward for a 3-0 defeat of Brighton is a home tie against West Ham ([30.0]) or Burnley ([90.0]), who play on Monday night. The Potters are fifth favourites at [13.5].

Carling Cup finalists Birmingham ([18.0]) meet Bolton ([18.0]), 1-0 conquerors of Fulham, in the other quarter-final fixture.

To view the full list of odds click here

An FA Cup classic is on the cards after Arsenal/Leyton Orient were pulled out of the hat to face Manchester United in the fifth round...

Leyton Orient pull off a classic cup performance as [1.04] Arsenal are denied while five-star Manchester City sink Paul Ince's Notts County...

County's cup run should finish here, says Feizal Rahman, who has dug up a few bets to accompany that eventuality...

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Fifth ODI Betting: Australia v England

ODI preview / Andrew Hughes / 29 January 2011 / Leave a Comment

Watson is coming home

"The home side are still a work in progress, but they have the firepower to triumph in these conditions"

England's spirited showing in Adelaide came at just the right time with the World Cup round the corner and it means this series is still alive with three to play. Andrew Hughes previews Sunday's action in Brisbane

Venue and Conditions
The ground has not been affected directly by the devastating floods that swept through Brisbane earlier this month and we can expect a typical Gabba wicket, offering plenty of pace and true bounce. Strokeplayers like Shane Watson will be in their element and there will be something for the fast bowlers too, particularly given that the groundsman has left a healthy covering of grass on the wicket.

Team News
It seems unlikely that England will make any changes, unless one of the team that won in Adelaide has picked up a knock subsequently. Michael Yardy and Matt Prior appear to have cemented their places and if there is to be a change, it could be that Chris Tremlett is rested and Chris Woakes gets a game.

Given the extra bounce in the surface, Australia will be desperate to get one or ideally both of Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait back into the side after their respective injury problems. They may not want to play two spinners, in which case, Xavier Doherty or Steve Smith will miss out.

Match Odds
England have given themselves a glimmer of a chance of winning the series by putting together a much better all-round performance in Adelaide. At just the right time, out of form players like Prior and Yardy turned up and Johnathan Trott's century was well-timed, although in the long term, his useful bowling spell might prove to be of more significance. The return of James Anderson lends their bowling a degree of menace it had lacked in the first three games.

But Australia have three more chances to put the series to bed and I think they will do it in Brisbane, particularly if both Johnson and Tait are fit. The pitch is more conducive to their fast bowling-dominated attack and they should cause England plenty of problems, whilst the likes of Watson, Cameron White, David Hussey and Brad Haddin should relish the true bounce of a typical Australian pitch. The home side are still a work in progress, but they have the firepower to triumph in these conditions and I will be backing Michael Clarke's men at [1.92]

Top Batsman
It will be an emotional return to Brisbane for local boy Shane Watson. Australia's man of the series so far, he has been in devastating form at the top of the order and will be determined to put on a show for his home crowd. He is the form horse and the one to be on at [4.5] or so in an Australian batting line up that hasn't always fired.

One or two England batsmen are looking good at the moment and many will want to back Trott to continue his excellent form. But this kind of pitch is tailor made for Kevin Pietersen's free-flowing game and batting at four is not a problem for such a quick scorer. He should be backed at [5.0] or better

Featured Market
The average top score on this ground is 91 and I think there is some mileage in backing 'Over 82.5' in the Highest Individual Score market at [1.86] or better.

Andrew Hughes says: Back Kevin Pietersen to top score for England @ [5.0]

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