Tag Archives: Bet on the FA Cup

Man City on target for silver lining

  April 15, 2013 - 07:23 |
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Roberto Mancini is looking for Man City to end the season with FA Cup glory.

Man City on target for silver lining

Manchester City remain on course to win the FA Cup for the second time in three seasons after defeating Chelsea 2-1 in Sunday’s semi-final.

Roberto Mancini’s reigning Premier League champions slipped 15 points behind rivals Manchester United with just seven games remaining in the race for this season’s title after the Red Devils’ 2-0 win at Stoke earlier on Sunday afternoon.

However, Man City can now round off this season with the FA Cup and second spot in the table if they overcome Wigan when they return to Wembley for the final on 11th May.

When we won the FA Cup against Stoke, it was a difficult game, and I expect the same against Wigan.

Roberto Mancini

Samir Nasri and Sergio Aguero scored in each half to put City in command, but Demba Ba set up a frantic final 25 minutes when he pulled one back.

City survived a late penalty shout when Vincent Kompany appeared to pull Fernando Torres’ shirt in the area, while Aguero was fortunate when Chris Foy missed what looked like a stamp on David Luiz.

However, Mancini played down those incidents as he is now targeting another FA Cup win, although he expects a tough game against Wigan next month.

He said: “It was a difficult game. The players did well to win this game, fighting for every ball until the last second.

“In the first half we had everything under control. When Demba Ba scored, it caused us a problem for 10 minutes.

“When we won the FA Cup against Stoke, it was a difficult game, and I expect the same against Wigan.”

City are 1/5 to win the FA Cup, while Wigan can be backed at 10/3, while the two sides meet for a dress rehearsal in the league on Wednesday at the Etihad Stadium.

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FA Cup – United handed semi-final derby incentive

  March 10, 2013 - 20:20 |
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Manchester United will face rivals Manchester City in the semi-finals of the FA Cup if they can beat Chelsea in a sixth-round replay.

FA Cup - United handed semi-final derby incentive

Sir Alex Ferguson’s team, 3/1 to win the FA Cup, face a tricky trip to Stamford Bridge after throwing away a two-goal lead against Chelsea.

Indeed Chelsea, 2-0 down after only 11 minutes, almost won the match in the closing stages after goals by Eden Hazard and Ramires had brought them level.

Manchester City, 11/8 to win the FA Cup, had a far easier quarter-final encounter, thrashing Barnsley 5-0 on Saturday.

The draw means that a ‘smaller’ team will be definitely be in the FA Cup final in May after Wigan Athletic were paired with Millwall or Blackburn Rovers.

The Latics, 8/11 to be relegated this season, secured a shock 3-0 win at Everton on Saturday, while Championship duo Millwall and Blackburn played out a goalless draw on Sunday and face a replay at Ewood Park later this month.

FA Cup semi-final draw:
Millwall or Blackburn Rovers v Wigan Athletic
Manchester United or Chelsea v Manchester City

Ties to be played weekend of 13/14 April.

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Di Matteo plays down job talk

  May 6, 2012 - 12:00 |
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Roberto di Matteo said it is ‘irrelevant’ to talk about him becoming permanent Chelsea manager as he is focused on following their FA Cup triumph with the Champions League trophy.

Di Matteo plays down job talkRoberto di Matteo is only looking ahead to the Champions League final.

The interim Blues’ boss was delighted after goals from Ramires and Didier Drogba, who became the first player to score in four finals, were enough to secure a 2-1 win at Wembley, despite a late barrage from Kenny Dalglish’s men after Andy Carroll pulled one back during the second half.

The triumph was enough to lead to more talk of Di Matteo becoming Andre Villas-Boas’ permanent successor at Stamford Bridge after his impressive run since taking over the post on March 4.

However the Italian tactician is not worried about owner Roman Abramovich’s plans as he is just looking to the Champions League final against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on May 19. Chelsea are 7/2 to win in 90 minutes, while Bayern are 4/5 and the draw is 13/5.

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“It’s irrelevant,” Di Matteo said. “The boss will make the decision and we’ll respect it. The players will be fine. I am very fortunate person, so it’s not an issue for me.”

Di Matteo also heaped praise on the players for securing a fourth FA Cup win in six years and feels they have gone a long way to proving their critics wrong.

He said: “We’ve had a difficult season and a lot of criticism… The answer was today on the pitch. The football is always the best way to deliver the answer.”

Chelsea will now look to get their slim hopes of a top-four finish back on track in the Premier League on Tuesday when, ironically, they face a trip to face Liverpool at Anfield.

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Gerrard expects tight cup final

  May 3, 2012 - 19:57 |
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Steven Gerrard believes there is not much to choose between Liverpool and Saturday’s FA Cup final opponents Chelsea.

Gerrard expects tight cup finalSteven Gerrard wants another trophy.

The Liverpool captain is expecting a tight game between the two sides, and thinks Roberto Di Matteo’s side will not be distracted by their forthcoming Champions League final against Bayern Munich.

Chelsea look likely to miss out on qualification for next year’s Champions League through the league and will be under pressure to defeat Bayern on their home ground. However, Gerrard believes they will be fully focussed on lifting the FA Cup at Wembley.

A 1-0 win for Liverpool can be backed at 7/1, with Gerrard at 10/1 to score first. A clean sheet for the Anfield side can be backed at 9/4.

“Chelsea are an experienced team full of quality players and it will boil down to the small details on the day, who gets the big decisions and who gets that stroke of luck,” said the England international.

It will boil down to the small details on the day, who gets the big decisions and who gets that stroke of luck.

Steven Gerrard

“I don’t think there is much between the teams and I think it is a 50-50 game at the weekend.”

Winning the FA Cup, following their success in the Carling Cup, could provide a springboard for Liverpool to achieve more in the league next season. Kenny Dalglish’s side have endured a forgettable 2011/12 Premier League campaign, currently sitting eighth in the table, but Gerrard hopes two trophies could go some way to easing that disappointment.

He added: “I think people will judge us after Saturday. People will say ‘You didn’t do well in the league’ but we will say ‘We won two cups’ and I think that is a fair argument.”

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Enrique wants Cup final boost

  May 1, 2012 - 18:26 |
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Enrique wants Cup final boostJose Enrique is hopeful that Liverpool can secure another confidence-boosting Premier League win against Fulham on Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final.

The Spanish left-back, who made the move to Anfield from top-four chasing Newcastle last summer, was delighted with Saturday’s 3-0 win at Norwich City.

I know we aren’t playing for anything in the league but it’s important for us to get three points to get some confidence ahead of the final.

Jose Enrique

And, while Liverpool have nothing to play for in the Premier League, Enrique feels a win against Fulham at Anfield will see them go into the FA Cup final against Chelsea with some vital momentum built up. Liverpool are 8/13 to defeat the Cottagers, who are 9/2 to bounce back from Saturday’s 4-0 defeat at Everton, while the draw is 3/1.

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Enrique said: “It was a good start to a big week for us. We have to beat Fulham first before we think about the cup final.

“I know we aren’t playing for anything in the league but it’s important for us to get three points to get some confidence ahead of the final.

“It’s a home game and we want to do well. Then we have an amazing final to prepare for.”

Reds boss Kenny Dalglish is boosted by striker Andy Carroll’s return to fitness while he is expected to make changes to his side with one eye on their Wembley outing this weekend.

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Dalglish hopes for semi-final lift

  April 13, 2012 - 17:00 |
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Dalglish hopes for semi-final liftStriker Andy Carroll netted a last-gasp winner at Blackburn Rovers.

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish hopes that a 3-2 win at Blackburn Rovers will give his side a much-needed lift ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final derby with Everton.

The Reds had previously failed to win any of their last four Premier League games and needed a last-minute Andy Carroll goal to secure the spoils at Ewood Park, although the win came at the expense of a red card for goalkeeper Alexander Doni.

It doesn’t mean to say we have turned any corners, but it gives everyone a lift.

Kenny Dalglish

Both Doni and regular first-choice keeper Jose Reina will now miss the Wembley clash with the Toffees due to suspension, with Brad Jones set to start after coming on and saving a penalty at Blackburn.

However, despite that setback, Dalglish is hopeful that morale will have been raised by the victory, saying: “We can’t speak highly enough of the effort and commitment of the players. We went 2-0 up and then went down to 10 men.

“At the end of the day we just about deserved to win. We are delighted for the players – it has not been the best of times for them.

“It doesn’t mean to say we have turned any corners, but it gives everyone a lift. The victory will do everyone the world of good.”

Dalglish was also pleased to see Glen Johnson return to action, with the England right-back having not featured since the Carling Cup final triumph in late February.

Liverpool are 4/5 to reach the FA Cup final, with Everton 1/1 to progress, while the Reds are 16/5 to win the trophy for the eighth time in their history.

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Redknapp: All still to play for

  April 10, 2012 - 19:39 |
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Redknapp: All still to play for

Harry Redknapp remains confident that his Spurs side can qualify for next season’s Champions League, despite their hopes being knocked by a home loss to Norwich City.

Redknapp’s men were beaten 2-1 by the Canaries at White Hart Lane, taking their poor recent run of form to just one win in their last eight Premier League outings.

We would settle for finishing fourth, Champions League football is the key.

Harry Redknapp

Spurs are now level on points with fifth-placed Newcastle, with Chelsea two points further back as the race for fourth spot hots up. Tottenham are 1/2to finish in the top four, with the Magpies 7/2 and the Blues 11/5.

However, Redknapp believes that there are still plenty of reasons to be optimistic, even if Arsenal seem to be set to ensure a third-placed finish.

“It is all still to play for though,” said Redknapp. “It is going to be close, but there are still five games to go. It is the team who wants it most.

“We would settle for finishing fourth, Champions League football is the key. It would be lovely to finish above Arsenal, but that is going to be tough now.

“It is still all to play for – Chelsea have to play Arsenal, Newcastle have to play Chelsea, Chelsea have to play Liverpool away, so who knows?”

Spurs can now turn their attentions to the FA Cup, with a Wembley semi-final date with Chelsea set for 6pm next Sunday. Redknapp’s side are 4/5 to reach the final, with the Blues 1/1.

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Liverpool 20/1 not to win any of next four

  April 8, 2012 - 10:41 |
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Liverpool 20/1 not to win any of next four

It’s 20/1 with bet365 that Liverpool fail to win any of their next four games.

bet365 spokesman Steve Freeth said: “Dalglish and his side have taken a bit of stick since the defeat at Newcastle and his team will be expected to get a much-needed boost against a struggling Villa on Saturday.”

Liverpool’s Next Victory

Aston Villa (7th April)              4/9
Blackburn (10th April)             9/2
Everton (14th April)                10/1
West Brom (22nd April)          11/1

Not to win any above four games - 20/1

(Unsettled bets returned if games not played in sequence)

2011/12 Premier League Matchbet - Who Finishes Higher?

Liverpool                    8/15               Everton                      11/8

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Man Utd to reach a final next season?

  March 19, 2012 - 20:00 |
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Man Utd to reach a final next season?

Man Utd won’t be in a major final for the first time in ten years and bet365 are 4/6 it’s normal service resumed next season with the firm also betting on how many trophies the two Manchester clubs win between them in 2012/13.

2012/13 Manchester Specials

Man Utd to be in a 2012/13 major final

Yes          4/6                    No             11/10

(FA Cup, Carling Cup & Champions League/Europa League)

How many major trophies will Man Utd/City win during 2012/13?

Trophies Price
None 5/2
One 7/4
Two 11/4
Three+ 4/1

(PL, FAC, CC, CL/EL)

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Spurs up for the Cup?

  March 17, 2012 - 15:00 |
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Spurs up for the Cup?

Spurs comfortably beat Bolton at White Hart Lane earlier in the season and Harry Redknapp’s side are 15/8 to be the top scorers in the FA Cup over the weekend.

FA Cup - (17/03 – 18/03)

Highest Scoring Team E/W 1/3 – 1,2

Side Price Side Price
Spurs 15/8 Chelsea 2/1
Liverpool 7/2 Everton 7/1
Sunderland 22/1 Bolton 33/1
Leicester 40/1 Stoke 40/1

Total Goals

Over 9.5            1/3            Under 9.5                  9/4
Over 11.5          5/6            Under 11.5                5/6
Over 13.5          9/4            Under 13.5                1/3

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