FA Cup Predictions > Mar 20th & 21st

[StevieDay1983]

The 2020/21 FA Cup Quarter-Final matches are coming up this weekend. Four matches to be played. Keen to hear whatever tips and predictions you have lined up for these games down below! 

[StevieDay1983]

Bournemouth vs Southampton

The FA Cup Quarter-Finals start at 12:15pm GMT on Saturday afternoon with a south coast derby as Championship side Bournemouth take on Premier League club Southampton at the Vitality Stadium. It was less than 12 months ago that these two teams were fighting each other at the same level so will we see a one-sided affair here or a more evenly matched encounter?

Bournemouth appear to be enjoying a revitalisation under new manager Jonathan Woodgate. His appointment was met with scepticism from a lot of the Cherries faithful and even myself after Woodgate's doomed stint at Middlesbrough. The club have lost just 1 of their last 5 league games with the team moving to 7th in the table. Victories over Oldham, Crawley Town, and Burnley have seen them reach this stage. The absence of trio Junior Stanislas, Jefferson Lerma, and Shane Long is a blow. History does give Bournemouth fans some optimism because their team won the only previous FA Cup meeting between these two sides with a 3-1 win back in 1953/54.

Southampton come into this game hoping to turn their recent awful form around. Head coach Ralph Hasenhuttl has said it's a great opportunity to turn things around with the club having lost 10 of their last 12 league games leaving them in 14th in the table and just 7 points above the drop zone. The Saints still have a number of injury issues with the likes of Oriol Romeu, Danny Ings, and Theo Walcott all ruled out. Southampton are undefeated in their last 4 away games against Bournemouth. Their fans will be pleased to hear that 12 of the last 13 FA Cup Quarter-Finals between sides in different tiers have seen higher-ranked side progress.

This is a tricky tie to call for a number of reasons. Both teams are missing a number of key players. The two teams are currently enjoying contrasting runs of form. It's also a relatively local derby game. Maybe more so for Bournemouth but it'll still be a game of pride for Southampton. I actually think it's worth backing Bournemouth for this one. Southampton are understandably the favourites but you know what I'm like in these cup games. Got to back the underdog at this price when things are so balanced.

Bournemouth Draw No Bet @ 2.63 with Betfred

BTTS @ 1.87 with SBK

[StevieDay1983]

Everton vs Manchester City

Well, we were all expecting a little bit more from Bournemouth than that horror show earlier against Southampton but let's see if we make amends in this 5:30pm GMT clash between Premier League rivals Everton and Manchester City at Goodison Park in the second FA Cup Quarter-Final of the weekend. The away side are heavy favourites but is this game already destined to end in disappointment for the home team?

Everton are undoubtedly enjoying a positive season and there is the potential for it to take things to the next level with a win in this game. Carlo Ancelotti's men are still very much in the fight to qualify for the Champions League with the team in 7th place and just 5 points off the pace of the top four in the Premier League. The bad news for the Toffees is that both Jordan Pickford and Robin Olsen are out injured so third-choice keeper Joao Virginia will start in goal. One disappointing statistic for Everton is that they have lost 4 of their last 5 FA Cup matches against fellow Premier League opposition.

Manchester City find themselves still on for the quadruple this season. Pep Guardiola's men eased into the Champions League Quarter-Finals this week, have an EFL Cup Final against Tottenham next month, and with the team flying 14 points clear in the Premier League it seems as if one of those four trophies is destined to end in their trophy cabinet. This is a chance to take a big step towards making another one of those trophies closer to being a reality. The Citizens have won all of their previous six meetings with Everton scoring 16 goals during those matches. If City managed to win this game then it'll see them reach the FA Cup Semi-Finals three years in a row for the first time since 1933/34.

This will be the first time these two clubs have met in the FA Cup since the 1980/81 Quarter-Final when Manchester City beat Everton 3-1 in a replay. I have a big fears for Everton here. The keeper issue is the last thing they needed against a City side that are looking superb at the moment. Can they upset the odds? Even at full strength I wouldn't have fancied them but with the added injury worries I am worried this could be brutal. Gabriel Jesus could also be worth a cheeky anytime scorer punt having scored 9 goals in 14 FA Cup games for City and bagging 7 goals in his last 6 appearances against Everton.

Manchester City to Win & BTTS @ 3.30 with Sporting Index

Draw HT/ Manchester City FT @ 4.40 with SBK

[StevieDay1983]

Chelsea vs Sheffield United

The FA Cup Quarter-Final action continues on Sunday afternoon at 1:30pm GMT when Champions League chasing Chelsea take on a Championship-bound Sheffield United at Stamford Bridge. The home team are looking to make a late push to take some success from this season and they face a visiting team who have, quite frankly, had a campaign to forget.

Chelsea are putting themselves in a very encouraging situation heading into the business end of the season. The midweek win over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League ensured their involvement in the last 8 in that competition. Thomas Tuchel's men are also in 4th place in the league so in prime position to crack on and qualify for next season's elite European competition. Then they're still in the mix for the FA Cup. It's an exciting time to be a Blues fan. Chelsea's form at this stage of the FA Cup is incredible having only lost 3 of their last 14 matches in the Quarter-Finals. If they win here then it'll be the fourth time in 5 seasons that they've reached the Semi-Final stage. Their home record in this competition is also decent having won 19 of their last 23 FA Cup matches played at Stamford Bridge including each one of the last four.

Sheffield United took the controversial decision to part ways with manager Chris Wilder. He's been replaced by former Barnsley and Leeds manager Paul Heckingbottom for the time being and the Blades were trounced 5-0 away to Leicester in his first game in charge. It's not a great time to be a United supporter. The club are rooted to the foot of the Premier League and 14 points adrift of safety with just 9 league games remaining. Is there any hope for them here? Well, they have won each of their last 3 away ties in the FA Cup. Their previous two victories in this competition against top flight opponents both came in West London. I mean, we're clutching at straws here.

What can I say? There isn't any way I can see Chelsea not cruising to a solid win here. Sheffield United getting rid of Wilder is one of the most inexplicable decisions of recent memory in the Premier League. They are a team that might be in for a few hard seasons before they start turning things around again and this could be the latest in a painful part of that journey. Chelsea to win with a clean sheet seems decent value here.

Chelsea -1 @ 1.67 with Betfair

Chelsea to Win to Nil @ 1.80 with SpreadEx

[StevieDay1983]

Leicester vs Manchester United

The final FA Cup Quarter-Final game of the weekend is the 5pm GMT kick-off between Leicester and Manchester United on Sunday afternoon at the King Power Stadium. This all-Premier League affair will put two of the best attacking sides in the league against each other for a place in the Semi-Finals. Who will prevail victorious and will we need extra-time or even penalties?

Leicester continue to enjoy a very positive season. Brendan Rodgers has led his team to 3rd in the table and with the club 8 points inside the Champions League qualification spots with just 9 to 10 games remaining it feels like they'll go one better than last season and actually qualify for the top table in Europe. The Foxes have only lost 1 of their last 8 league games and after their untimely exit from the Europa League against Slavia Prague last month they can now focus all their attention on domestic matters. The club hasn't reached the FA Cup Semi-Finals since 1982. Home form has been letting the team down all season with them losing 7 of their 16 home games in all domestic competitions. However, in 2021, they have won 5 of their last 7. Rodgers doesn't have the best of records against United though. The Northern Irishman has lost 11 of his last 14 matches against United including failing to win any of the last 7 encounters.

Manchester United appear to be finding some consistency under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The Red Devils are 2nd in the Premier League and look set to qualify for the Champions League again and this is a chance for the club to take a big step towards winning their first major trophy under the Norwegian. It's now 29 away games in all domestic competitions without defeat for United. If they win here then they would set a new competition record of reaching 31 FA Cup Semi-Finals. It is also a club record 7th time that the team has reached the FA Cup Quarter-Finals. The fact United have also beaten Leicester in both of their previous FA Cup meetings shows they have every reason to feel confident that they can extend that run here.

Let's be honest, Leicester don't exactly have a great record against Manchester United over recent years. In fact, Leicester have only managed 1 win in the last 25 meetings over the past 23 years. That was a 5-3 win at home back in September 2014. I think if Leicester had a fully fit squad we could see a pulsating clash but the absence of Harvey Barnes and James Maddison will prove very influential. I expect Leicester to put up a decent fight but this is Manchester United's to lose.

Manchester United to Win @ 2.42 with SBK

BTTS @ 1.81 with SBK