FA Cup Fourth Round Tips: Burnley to Upset Saints?
The Premier League takes a break this weekend as the FA Cup fourth round takes place with 17 top-flight teams and 15 EFL clubs battling for places in the last 16.
Holders Manchester United kick off the weekend on Friday night when they host Leicester, with the action running all the way through to Tuesday's tie between League One Exeter and Premier League Nottingham Forest.
With only four all-Premier League ties in the round, there is potential for some classic cup upsets and we've picked out our favourite four bets, which can be combined in an accumulator that pays out at 45/1 if successful.
Tip 1 – Preston vs Wycombe – Preston to win @ 6/5
Saturday 15:00
Wycombe begin a new era on Saturday with manager Mike Dodds taking charge of the team for the first time, but the boss of the League One club has to face Championship opposition in his first match.
The Chairboys have been able to remain in the third-tier automatic promotion positions despite losing former manger Matt Bloomfield to Championship club Luton three weeks ago, but the level of their performances has dropped off and it may be asking too much for Dodds to conjure up a cup win on the road on his debut.
Wanderers have taken eight points from four games since Bloomfield's exit, but they were held to draws by relegation battlers Northampton and Cambridge while they needed late goals to beat out-of-form Mansfield and 10-man Barnsley.
Preston are coming off a derby defeat by Blackburn, but that game was played on Friday, so they have had an extra day to prepare and they had been on a five-match unbeaten run before that, with Championship wins over Watford and Middlesbrough and a 2-1 victory over League One Charlton in the third round of this competition.
North End are unbeaten in their last nine home games and should be capable of advancing in 90 minutes.
Tip 2 – Southampton vs Burnley – Burnley to win @ 19/5
Saturday 15:00
There are only two places between Southampton, who are adrift at the bottom of the Premier League and Burnley, who are second in the Championship, and the Clarets look an excellent value bet for their trip to St Mary's.
The Saints' win over fellow strugglers Ipswich last week was their first success for 14 league games and they have lost nine of their 11 home matches in the top flight.
Southampton managed a 3-0 win over Swansea in the third round, but the Clarets are 15 places above the Swans in the Championship table and represent a much more formidable test.
Burnley have an incredible defensive record this season with only nine goals conceded in 31 league games and Scott Parker's side have kept five straight clean sheets including tough tests against Sunderland and Leeds.
The Saints have conceded 10 goals in their last four matches and look vulnerable to a cup upset.
Tip 3 – Stoke vs Cardiff – Stoke to win @ 11/10
Saturday 15:00
Stoke can get the better of Cardiff in an all-Championship tie on Saturday. The Potters are just one spot ahead of the 19th-placed Bluebirds in the standings but they look capable of climbing the table under new manager Mark Robins and can add a cup success.
Stoke have lost only one of their last eight games and knocked out high-flying Sunderland in extra-time on the road in the third round.
Cardiff have won only one of their 15 away games in the league but they had been improving under Omer Riza until last week's 7-0 thrashing at Leeds.
With their confidence shaken, Cardiff could struggle to get back on track at Stoke.
Tip 4 – Brighton vs Chelsea – Chelsea to win @ 6/5
Saturday 20:00
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca should be targeting a strong challenge in this competition and the Blues could be worth backing at odds-against despite a tricky draw away to Brighton.
Chelsea have lost only to Manchester City in their last six games and won the teams' first meeting this season, 4-2 in September with all four goals scored by Cole Palmer.
The Seagulls have won just three of their last 13 matches and turned in a shocker in their last outing when losing 7-0 at Nottingham Forest.
Albion have not won any of their last five home games and could struggle to hold back the talented visitors.
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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation