EPL & FA Cup Picks - 6 Mar 2010

Ed Gallois dishes up two mouth-watering picks for the EPL and FA Cup this weekend.

With winter nearly over in the British Isles, this is the time of the season when things hot up…especially on the pitch. This weekend sees somewhat of a mish-mash of English top-flight football matches: a smattering of Premier League games with the quarter-finals of the FA Cup thrown in for good luck.

The title race is as open as it has been for many years with Chelsea, United and Arsenal all in with a realistic shout as we enter the finishing straight. The final Champions League place, which Premier League clubs decided this week won’t be decided by play-offs, is also up for grabs with Liverpool, Man City, Villa and Spurs all jockeying for prime position.

At the bottom of the table there’s seems to be no hope for Portsmouth, but Pompey aside only four points separate the next seven clubs. In the FA Cup, only Chelsea remain of the so-called big four clubs, giving less-fancied teams a shot at glory.

Wolves vs Man Utd (EPL)

After hitting the post twice in an end-to-end game last weekend, Wolves were very unlucky not to come away with a draw at Bolton. As always under Mick McCarthy they worked their socks off, but – and this has been the millstone around their neck all season – they were undone by their lack of finishing prowess.

If you spurn chances against teams like Bolton you at least know you’ll get another crack at goal, but against top sides like United that same generosity doesn’t apply. Especially as Ferdinand is set to make his comeback for the Red Devils on Saturday, shoring up a weakness of theirs – ie Jonny Evans - in central defence. News coming out of Molineux suggests Wolves will stick with the same side that has started their last three games.

United go into the tie in buoyant mood after winning the Carling Cup last weekend, although the suspicion lingers that they’re still not firing on all cylinders. One man who is at the top of his game, however, is Wayne Rooney. The England superstar is virtually unplayable at present and will be looking to add to his chart-topping 23 goals in the Premiership against Wolves.

In other squads it might be a problem that Michael Owen is out for the season, but United easily have enough cover to replace him. For a start I expect to see Berbatov raise his game for the rest of the season after he was left out of the first-leg of the Champions League game against Milan. Nani is also back after a three-match ban.

With places to play for, the title race back on after Chelsea’s slip-up against Man City, and Rooney in such fine form, Ferguson’s men look good to beat a dogged but mediocre Wolves side. One and a quarter goal start on the handicap is quite a penalty to pay away from home, but it’s definitely within United’s grasp to win 2-0.

Bet 2pts on Manchester United at -1 1/4 goals (1.86) with Pinnacle Sports.

Manchester United won 1-0

Fulham vs Tottenham (FA Cup)

It’s hard not to like Roy Hodgson if you’re a football fan. He’s been successful all over Europe, is incredibly knowledgeable about the game, but is also genuinely humble about his achievements. Fulham looked nailed on for the drop when he first took over at the west London club, yet he’s quietly transformed them into a tidy little outfit, and with 38 points under their belt they can already forget about relegation for another year.

Fulham’s home form has been the secret to their success under Hodgson’s stewardship: 64% of games won at Craven Cottage this season, including the scalps of Manchester United and Liverpool. More pertinent for this game, their home record against Spurs is very healthy: five wins, three draws and two defeats from their previous 10 encounters in all competitions.

Which is why it might seem a bit odd that the bookies are giving Fulham a ¼ goal start on the handicap. Part of the reason is Tottenham’s high position in the Premier League table, but also because the last time the two teams met in the FA Cup – three years ago at Craven Cottage – Spurs smashed their London rivals 4-0.

Fulham are a very different team these days, however – as are Tottenham (both teams are a lot better) – and I expect it to be an evenly-balanced match given Fulham’s home advantage. As such, I recommend a small/medium bet on the hosts with a ¼ goal head start.

Bet 2pts on Fulham at +1/4 goal (1.88) with Pinnacle Sports.

Fulham drew with Tottenham 0-0