UK Open Darts Day 2 Picks 2026 (Saturday 7th March)

It was a disappointing Friday at the Evening Session for the UK Open Darts Picks, but the tournament rolls onto the Fifth and Sixth Rounds on Saturday.

Picks from the Day Session will begin proceedings and those from the Sixth Round will be added to this thread later this afternoon when the draw has been made.

Ross Smith win & most 180s v Daryl Gurney: This should be a fun contest for those tuning in, but the edge has to be with Ross Smith who has really picked up his form over the last couple of weeks.

Winning a Players Championship event will always give a player confidence, but Smith was able to back that up with another positive run the following day.

He crushed Andrew Gilding, a former UK Open Champion, in the Fourth Round and the power scoring was evident once he got through a sticky opening.

In the best of nineteen Leg format, Ross Smith should have enough time to find his rhythm and scoring power in this one against the tenacious Daryl Gurney.

Superchin has been winning plenty of matches without having a seriously deep run in a tournament in 2026, but he is more than capable on his day. He produced a strong level on Friday evening which makes him dangerous, but Daryl Gurney may be the player having the few chances to get out of Legs and that may see him come up a little short in terms of winning the match, but also on the maximum hitting count in this one.

Gary Anderson over 5.5 180s v Martin Schindler: Both of these players can be huge maximum hitters, but the focus for the selection is on Gary Anderson.

The Flying Scotsman was in great form on Friday and he should have enough to get past Martin Schindler, although it is going to be far from easy.

Being up on the main stage will be a different feeling for both players, although Anderson is plenty experienced.

In a match that is likely going to need at least sixteen Legs before we find a winner, the match total for maximums is set at a 9.5 line.

There is every chance that could be surpassed, but Gary Anderson is likely going to have to lead the way and he can tally at least six of his own.

James Wade - 2.5 legs v Gabriel Clemens: Both of these players came through in final Leg deciders in the Fourth Round, but James Wade will be expecting to have a bit too much for Gabriel Clemens to deal with in the Fifth Round.

After a relatively poor run of form, James Wade should have taken a lot of confidence out of the win over an in-form Chris Dobey.

His doubling remains a big strength and Wade will certainly feel he scores well enough to stick with Gabriel Clemens and steal a few more Legs than the opponent.

Anyone who has won two matches on the same day will also have earned plenty of confidence and Gabriel Clemens is very dangerous at his very best.

We have just not seen enough of that over the last twelve months and the German may end up coming up a little short in what looks likely to be a 10-6 or 10-7 kind of win for the higher Ranked player.

Stephen Bunting win & most 180s v Mensur Suljovic: The biggest test in this Fifth Round match for Stephen Bunting is how he is going to deal with the pace that Mensur Suljovic plays with.

There is no doubt that the underdog is happy to get into a bit of gamesmanship by slowing things down even further and there was a disagreement with Jermaine Wattimena on the boards on Friday.

Mensur Suljoviv is capable of playing really good darts too, but he perhaps leans a little too much into disrupting others when things are not going his way.

Ultimately Stephen Bunting has to focus on his own performance and he will be very happy with his opening win in Minefield, which has backed up some strong recent performances in the Premier League.

Confidence has to be in a decent place and Bunting was hitting plenty of maximums in his win on Friday.

His opponent is capable of finding those big power shots too, but Stephen Bunting may have a bit more in the locker and come through this contest to take his place in the Sixth Round draw.

Danny Noppert win & most 180s v Peter Wright: Winning a match with a Nine Darter is about as good as it can get and that is what was achieved by Danny Noppert in the Fourth Round.

He continues to put up plenty of wins and Noppert has to be a player targeting a Premier League spot for next season having come close to joining the elite eight in 2026.

Peter Wright has shown something at the UK Open following a difficult start to the 2026 season and two wins will have given him confidence.

However, this is a big challenge for Wright at this current stage of his career and he will do well to match the improved scoring power Danny Noppert has been putting together over the last twelve months.

Maximum hitting has been a noticeable improvement from the World Number 11 and Danny Noppert can use that edge to help him win this match.

Mike De Decker & Rob Cross over 3.5 180s: After the upset over Gian van Veen, Rob Cross has to be feeling really good about his chances in this Fifth Round match.

He is down as the favourite, but Mike De Decker is capable of racking up the maximum hitting and this could develop into a fun contest.

Neither is likely going to pull away for a very easy win and the likelihood is that we will need to see sixteen or more Legs to decide which of the two will be going through to the Sixth Round draw.

With that said, both De Decker and Cross are capable of reaching at least four maximums each following strong showings attacking the treble 20 on Friday. Backing that up is not always easy, but both are capable and in a longer format match, these are achievable targets.

Luke Humphries win & most 180s v Dave Chisnall: No one will have to tell Luke Humphries twice about the threat that Dave Chisnall can pose, but it was the World Number 2 who got the better of the match when they met at the World Masters.

His strong win over Luke Woodhouse can only have increased the confidence and Humphries has been operating at a really high level throughout 2026.

The results have yet to follow as consistently as he would like, but the power scoring and strong checking out on Friday will make Luke Humphries tough to beat.

You have to expect Dave Chisnall to have his moments and he can go through incredibly strong scoring spells.

It does make the most maximums part of the equation a little more troubling, but Luke Humphries deserves the edge and he should have enough consistency to move past this opponent into the Sixth Round.

Stephen Bunting v Josh Rock: A very strong Day Session has just turned this tournament around for the Darts Picks, but the Sixth Round is a key moment.

Two Premier League participants have been drawn to face one another and it is perhaps a slight surprise that Stephen Bunting has been set as the underdog.

Out of the two players, Bunting has been playing at a more consistent level over the last month and his two wins here have been relatively stress-free, which is so important especially on days when you are being asked to play twice.

Josh Rock has shown some character to come through tougher matches, but he has to find another level if he is going to beat Bunting and he has yet to show that in the Premier League.

A best of nineteen format means having a bit more time to turn things around, but Stephen Bunting has been playing well enough to deserve favouritism.

Rob Cross win & most 180s v Daryl Gurney: The latter was the one selection in the Day Session that failed to return a winner, but it feels right to go against Daryl Gurney again.

He was fortunate that Ross Smith failed to find his feet with the doubles, especially late into the contest, but this looks a tougher match.

Daryl Gurney will have to be a little stronger in the scoring to get the better of Rob Cross who has impressed through his first two wins.

A decider was needed to get past Mike De Decker, but Rob Cross has shown flashes of his best form and the scoring power has been there.

Rob Cross won the sole meeting between the players in 2025 and he can get the better of Daryl Gurney and with more maximums in the contest.

Luke Humphries win & over 9.5 match 180s v Danny Noppert: Two wins at the UK Open have been secured without being put under much pressure, but the standard produced by Luke Humphries has to be respected.

Maintaining that level will give Humphries every chance of winning the title on Sunday, but he will be well aware of the growing threat posed by Danny Noppert.

A crushing win over Peter Wright has taken Noppert through to the Sixth Round and he continues to be one of the bigger maximum hitters on the Tour.

However, Danny Noppert needs to win a match like this one to show he really belongs amongst the best.

Five straight losses to Luke Humphries, including at the World Masters a few weeks ago, will have just reminded Danny Noppert of the level he still has to find to join the very best players and win the biggest titles.

That is not to say he has not been competitive though and Danny Noppert can certainly put Luke Humphries under pressure with his maximum hitting.

Both can get that part of the scoring going and we should see at least ten in this best of nineteen format with the assumption being that neither player blows past the other.

You still have to favour the World Number 2 to find a way to get to the winning line first and that is the third play from the Evening Session.

MY PICKS: Ross Smith to Win & Most 180s @ 1.80 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Gary Anderson Over 5.5 180s @ 2.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)

James Wade - 2.5 Legs @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Stephen Bunting to Win & Most 180s @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Danny Noppert to Win & Most 180s @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Mike De Decker & Rob Cross Over 3.5 180s @ 2.20 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Luke Humphries to Win & Most 180s @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)

SIXTH ROUND PICKS: Stephen Bunting @ 2.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Rob Cross to Win & Most 180s @ 3.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Luke Humphries to Win & Over 9.5 Match 180s @ 2.15 Bet365 (1 Unit)

UK Open Update: 1-5, - 4.28 Units (6 Units Staked, - 71.33% Yield)

Weekend Football Picks 2019 (February 15-18)

There was a real feeling of deflation at around 10pm on Tuesday evening once the Manchester United defeat to Paris Saint-Germain was confirmed, but I really do think that is how far Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has changed the mood at Old Trafford since taking over from Jose Mourinho.

I genuinely believed United could win the First Leg, although I was very much unsure about winning the tie as a whole and it does feel the Champions League race is run.

It is important for the players to remember that they can still make this a very successful season if they can win the FA Cup and finish in the top four of the Premier League, especially when you think where the club were the day Mourinho was sacked.

The FA Cup is up this weekend with the Fifth Round taking centre stage while the Premier League clubs who are out of the competition get a chance to rest and recover for the big League games ahead. There are a number of lower League clubs hosting Premier League teams from Friday through to Sunday and the television companies will select those games for live coverage hoping to be able to find an upset or two. Finally it will be the turn of Chelsea and Manchester United who play on Monday evening just after the draw for the FA Cup Sixth Round is made.

That does mean we are not having any Fantasy Selections this week, but those will be back in the thread for the Premier League games next weekend.


Queens Park Rangers v Watford Pick: The opening FA Cup Fifth Round tie comes from Loftus Road on Friday night as one of a number of selected games for live coverage. I am not sure Steve McClaren will be that pleased that his team are being asked to play on Friday considering Queens Park Rangers played in the League on Tuesday, but there isn't a lot the manager can do about that.

It is already a difficult enough challenge for Queens Park Rangers to take on a Premier League opponent, but Watford should be well rested having been in action last Saturday. However trying to second guess the manager is not easy and Javi Gracia making wholesale changes as he has done in the first couple of FA Cup ties will perhaps leave Watford a little vulnerable in this one.

Loftus Road is not an easy venue to play at and through the last few years where Queens Park Rangers have been struggling a number of big clubs have visited here without success. Those have come in League games as Queens Park Rangers have had miserable Cup records, but McClaren's men have won both FA Cup ties at home against Leeds United and Portsmouth and will believe they can make it a hat-trick on Friday.

Queens Park Rangers have scored a huge amount of goals at home over the last couple of months and they have managed at least two in 7 of their last 9 here in all competitions. That certainly makes them dangerous and confident of causing an upset and Watford will have to be on their toes to avoid that.

The Premier League team can be encouraged if they watched Queens Park Rangers concede four goals in home losses to Preston North End and Birmingham City in recent weeks. Watford have also been a team who have scored plenty of goals in away games since early December and I have a feeling we are going to be given an entertaining game on Friday evening.

I wouldn't be surprised if both teams score and the 1-1 scoreline is perhaps the most dangerous in this one, but Queens Park Rangers and Watford have shown they can score plenty of goals at home/away respectively. Neither has looked defensively sound either and I am surprised to see three or more goals being scored priced up at odds against.

My feeling is that Watford may just do enough to win here with fatigue perhaps seeing Queens Park Rangers tire after League exertions on Tuesday evening, but the Premier League club look plenty short at odds on to win. Backing goals looks a more appealing price all in all and that will be my selection from this Fifth Round tie.


Brighton v Derby County Pick: This FA Cup Fifth Round tie is a tough one to try and predict what the managers of both Brighton and Derby County will be thinking considering League matters are the priority for both Chris Hughton and Frank Lampard.

In recent weeks Brighton have slumped back towards the bottom three thanks to teams below them improving and the 1-3 home defeat to Burnley was a big blow to them. You would think they still have enough to avoid relegation, but Hughton will be aware of their slide and I do wonder if that comes into his thinking when selecting a team ahead of big Premier League games to come.

The bonus for the manager is the fact that Brighton are not due out again until a week on Tuesday because their League game with Chelsea is postponed next week as The Blues are playing in the League Cup Final. They've had plenty of time to get players ready for this one and it may mean Chris Hughton selects a strong team in a bid to rediscover the winning feeling which has been lost.

All season Frank Lampard has picked strong teams in the Cups for Derby County and he has been rewarded with some big performances. They have drawn 2-2 at both Manchester United and Southampton in the League Cup and FA Cup respectively and both times Derby County were able to win on penalties, while The Rams also pushed Chelsea in the League Cup at Stamford Bridge in what was an eventual 3-2 defeat.

The players won't be overawed by this occasion either, but Derby County have played a game during the week while Brighton were resting and have another big League game to come on Wednesday. That does potentially impact the team selection for the visitors and makes the prices look hard to oppose.

I was keen on selecting Derby County with a start on the Asian Handicap, but the schedule spot looks to favour Brighton who are also at home. What Derby County can do is give their hosts something to think about and the fact they have scored at least two goals at three Premier League grounds in the Cup already this season will give the fans belief that an upset can be created.

A lack of Brighton goals is a worry for Chris Hughton, but Derby County don't defend as well as they would like away from home and we may see goals in this one. The weather looks good for football this weekend and I do think the two teams can expose vulnerabilities the other has in defensive areas to make this another FA Cup Fifth Round tie that does have at least three goals shared out this weekend. 


AFC Wimbledon v Millwall Pick: There won't be too many times clubs like AFC Wimbledon and Millwall will have the kind of opportunity to make the Quarter Final of the FA Cup as the one they are presented with this weekend.

Both sets of fans have seen their clubs have success in the FA Cup in the past and both upset Premier League clubs at home in the Fourth Round to earn their spot in this tie, but there will be a different feeling around this one. With just two wins between them and a stunning outing at Wembley Stadium the players will look to put their relegation battles in League One and the Championship respectively aside for this weekend.

In the last Round neither club were under pressure to win, but I do think AFC Wimbledon and Millwall players will have a different feeling for this one. Knowing they have a very winnable tie in front of them to reach a FA Cup Quarter Final is going to be the distraction they need to avoid to make sure each player is doing the job assigned to him and I do think this is a very close one to call.

The obvious favourite is Millwall considering they are twenty-nine places higher up the League standings than AFC Wimbledon. However you can't ignore how poorly Millwall have played away from home during this entire season and the results are not exactly the kind you would want to see from an odds on shot to win a game of football.

Millwall have perhaps been unfortunate in some of those games, but they have to be feeling the pressure a little more than AFC Wimbledon who will still believe they can use the underdog spirit to shock their higher League opponents. That pressure may have affected Millwall in a 1-0 loss to League One strugglers Rochdale in the FA Cup last season when Millwall were playing much higher up the Championship at that time and I do think they are vulnerable as the favourites.

It is hard to back an AFC Wimbledon team who have not scored enough goals and who have lost to the likes of Sunderland and Burton Albion since the win over West Ham United. Both of those clubs came down from the Championship and Millwall should have a clear edge in terms of quality in this one too.

However the situation of the fixture and AFC Wimbledon having nothing to lose gives them every chance of the upset. It can't be ignored that Millwall have struggled for away wins and the players know the weight of expectation is on them, while that 1-0 loss at Rochdale last season shows they may potentially struggle to cope with that.

Backing AFC Wimbledon with the start looks the way to go in this one as they can at least force Extra Time before they perhaps fade against a team from a higher Division. The first goal will be critical for them and if AFC Wimbledon get that I do think they will avoid defeat within the ninety minutes.


Newport County v Manchester City Pick: It might be a football game where eleven play eleven, but I don't think anyone is going to be surprised to see Manchester City as a huge favourite to beat Newport County and move through to the FA Cup Quarter Final for the second time under the guidance of Pep Guardiola.

The 1-0 loss at Wigan Athletic twelve months ago has really been something that Guardiola has not forgotten and that has seen him pick strong teams in the domestic Cup competitions as they have made progression on four fronts. Heavy wins over the likes of Oxford United, Burton Albion and Rotherham United from the lower Leagues shows what Manchester City can do even when they make a few changes to the starting eleven and the squad depth is actually pretty scary.

In this one you can expect to see seasoned internationals like Danilo and Nicolas Otamendi playing in defensive areas, while Fabian Delph played at the World Cup last summer and also could come in. Both Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus are players who terrorise opponents in the Premier League so all the quality is with Manchester City and it is going to need to be a serious off day for them to lose here.

Newport County can't be completely dismissed though- a lot of the big Manchester City wins over lower League opponents have come at the Etihad Stadium where the playing surface is a carpet. Rodney Parade is far from that and it might just take a bit of time for the visitors to adjust to their surroundings.

The League Two club have beaten Leeds United, Middlesbrough and Leicester City in the FA Cup at home over the last thirteen months. Tottenham Hotspur needed an 82nd minute Harry Kane equaliser to force a Replay last season, but Manchester City don't have the same luxury with this tie needing to be completed on Saturday evening.

With that in mind I expect a slightly stronger team than the one that played and won 0-1 at Burton Albion in the League Cup Semi Final Second Leg last month. Even that Manchester City team had the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero playing, but I don't think this team will be littered with the Academy players like that Second Leg line up was.

It should mean Manchester City win pretty easily on the day, but they are being asked to cover a very big handicap on a playing surface that is not easy to deal with. A Newport County goal can't be ruled out as they load the box and look for set pieces to try and disrupt Manchester City, but at the end of the day the Premier League leaders should be comfortable enough.

Comfortable means matching the wins at Oxford United and Burton Albion in the League Cup earlier this season. Manchester City won 0-3 and 0-1 on those days and I think this one is likely to be closer to the former scoreline. In the win at Oxford United, Manchester City scored twice in the final twelve minutes to put a gloss on the scoreline and I have a feeling something similar is going to happen here.

For the first 45 minutes I can see Newport County having the energy to chase their runners but I am expecting them to tire against a relentless Manchester City team. It's looking like a dry weekend so the pitch won't cut up too much and it feels Manchester City will wear down their opponents and then pull away in the second half so backing the second period to be the higher scoring half is my selection.

In the League Cup wins over Oxford United and Burton Albion at home, as well as the FA Cup wins over Rotherham United and Burnley, Manchester City scored more goals in the second half than the first. At just under odds on I think that happens here, while so looking at in-play markets may back a goal to be scored in the final ten minutes if the prices suit.


Bristol City v Wolves Pick: The first live FA Cup tie on Sunday afternoon comes from Ashton Gate and this has all the makings of a really interesting Fifth Round meeting between Bristol City and Wolves. Neither team has made it through to the latter stages of the FA Cup for a long time now and the players have to be smelling the opportunity of really making this a memorable season in the competition even if the priority for both may be finishing as high as possible in their respective Divisions.

Lee Johnson and Nuno Espirito Santo have six days to prepare their teams for their next League fixtures though and I think the managers will appreciate the chance in front of Bristol City and Wolves respectively.

Bristol City have been in fine form of late too with 9 straight wins in all competitions and they have been scoring plenty of goals at Ashton Gate. That will give them the belief they can find a way past Wolves having beaten Premier League Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup this season and last season seeing off the likes of Stoke City, Crystal Palace and Manchester United at Ashton Gate in the League Cup on their way to the Semi Final.

That makes them dangerous and this is going to be a tough test for a Wolves team who may be pretty good defensively, but who don't earn a lot of clean sheets. Wolves needed to come from 2-0 down to earn a late draw with Shrewsbury Town in the initial FA Cup Fourth Round tie away from home, but they have won 0-2 at Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup and much will depend on what kind of team the manager selects.

Even a full strength Wolves team will be tested, but they have shown they can turn on the style away from home and picking a winner is not easy. The chances of seeing Extra Time can't be ignored, but Bristol City and Wolves tend to be involved in entertaining games over the last three seasons and that trend being continued suggests there will be a winner in normal time.

The last 5 between these clubs have all ended with at least three goals shared out and 2 of those have come at Ashton Gate. 3 of those 5 games have featured at least four goals and both teams have scored in each of those fixtures.

I do think both teams will score here and the 1-1 is perhaps the one scoreline that will let me down with my selection. However I think both teams will really want to go for this and it could mean an open, attacking game of football that features at least three or more goals shared out as Bristol City and Wolves have done in recent meetings against each other.

That's an odds against shot here and I will look for that to be the outcome of this Fifth Round tie.


Doncaster Rovers v Crystal Palace Pick: The second of the live televised games in the FA Cup on Sunday comes from the Keepmoat Stadium as Doncaster Rovers try and upset Premier League Crystal Palace. That is something the television companies will be looking for in this tie and the home team are in good enough form to believe they can bridge the gap to a Premier League opponent.

Being at home is the key for Doncaster Rovers who are unbeaten in 10 in front of their own fans in all competitions and they have won 8 of those games. Goals have been flowing at home with at least two scored in each of those 10 fixtures and Doncaster Rovers have something of a reputation of being able to upset higher League clubs over the last few years.

It won't be easy to knock off a Crystal Palace team who have been scoring a lot more goals away from home than they do at Selhurst Park. Part of the reason is that teams come onto their in front of their own fans and that has left spaces for a pacy front three to exploit, but it doesn't feel like Doncaster Rovers will be playing with that kind of attacking intent in mind.

Yes I do think Doncaster Rovers will get forward and try and rattle their Premier League opponents, but they will also respect the fact that they are not favourites and so will also be making sure they don't give too much space for Crystal Palace to counter attack.

The mentality of the Crystal Palace players will be the key to how well they do on Sunday- if they are fully focused and respect Doncaster Rovers you would expect them to win, but Bristol City and Middlesbrough have knocked out The Eagles from domestic Cup competitions under Roy Hodgson. Both of those losses came away from home so Doncaster Rovers could come close to upsetting them too with the Premier League the priority for the former England manager.

Crystal Palace do have a week before they are back in League action so they can pick a strong team and this feels like yet another Cup tie this weekend that is going to see a lower League club contribute to a high-scoring game against a Premier League one. I did consider backing Doncaster Rovers with the full goal start on the Asian Handicap, but my overriding feeling is that is going to be a push as the visitors edge through by scoring the majority of the three goals shared out on Sunday.

I do think Doncaster Rovers will play their part, but they may also leave themselves open if they begin chasing the game and I will back at least three goals to be shared out in yet another Cup tie in England this weekend.


Swansea City v Brentford Pick: Both Swansea City and Brentford have to be looking at this FA Cup Fifth Round tie and really believing they have an excellent chance to not only reach the Quarter Final, but with the right draw could also play at Wembley Stadium in the Semi Final.

A maximum of six Premier League clubs can make the Last Eight in the FA Cup this season and with the way the Third and Fourth Round have gone I don't think anyone will be surprised if a couple more than expected were to be beaten in the Fifth Round.

It would really open the door for the winner of this tie depending on the draw on Monday and I think that does create some pressure on the players. At least the Swansea City players have the experience of playing in the Quarter Final eleven months ago and I do believe home advantage is going to see them edge out Brentford in this one.

The Bees have improved away from home in the last couple of months, but they are still a team who struggle to produce wins on their travels. On the other hand Swansea City have won 3 of their last 5 games at the Liberty Stadium and Graham Potter has them playing some very good football here.

Swansea City have a good record against Brentford at home, but host them for the first time in over ten years. They did win 2-3 at Griffin Park to give them a slight mental advantage in this Fifth Round tie and I think Swansea City are going to edge it.

I will not be surprised if this is yet another high-scoring FA Cup Fifth Round tie, but I give Swansea City enough of an edge to back them on the Asian Handicap which will return the stake in the event of a draw. Home advantage should just see the pendulum swing in their favour and Swansea City's run of 3 wins in 4 games here can be extended to put their name into the draw for the Quarter Final.


Chelsea v Manchester United Pick: As soon as the draw for the Fifth Round of the FA Cup was made there was only one tie that leaped off the page and it has been selected for live television coverage on Monday evening. A part of the problem was the Chelsea participation in the Europa League on Thursday evening, but that isn't going to make Manchester United fans feel any better having to travel to London for a late Monday night fixture.

The fans are secondary to the television money will come as no surprise to those who regularly attend matches, but there isn't much you can do about that now.

On the field the fixture looks to be coming at a better time for Chelsea than it does for Manchester United despite the fact the visitors have had two extra days to prepare for this FA Cup Fifth Round tie. Unfortunately for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Manchester United are coming off a loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League which has really burst what had been a positive bubble for the club.

Bouncing back would have been much more likely if both Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard were available, but muscle injuries suffered last Tuesday means they are unlikely to be risked here. It gives Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku another opportunity to impress after both were key to the win over Arsenal in the FA Cup Fourth Round at the Emirates Stadium last month, but neither has really been a big part of the Solskjaer plans and may be under pressure to deliver.

Chelsea may have played on Thursday and they may not be long off the embarrassing loss to Manchester City in the Premier League, but a win in Malmo would have just eased some tensions. They have also been in much better form at home in the last six weeks than on their travels and Chelsea have won 5 in a row at Stamford Bridge while scoring two or more goals in each of those.

The Blues also have a very strong recent record against Manchester United with 9 games unbeaten against them at Stamford Bridge. They've also won the last 4 FA Cup ties between the clubs including beating Manchester United 1-0 in each of the last two seasons (one Quarter Final and one Final). That has to give them belief they can make it a hat-trick here, but Manchester United can play their part and offer a threat on the counter attack as they did at the Emirates Stadium last month.

Both teams will be looking to get on the front foot and for me Chelsea look short considering they have shown signs of being a team that drop heads when they fall behind. If United were at full strength I would fancy them to win here, but the injuries may just have come at the wrong time.

I still expect a reaction from the players after the 0-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday and Manchester United should have their chances on the counter attack. With Chelsea being in better form at home this could be a decent FA Cup tie for the neutrals to enjoy on Monday evening too, and I think it is going to be one that produces at least three goals.

In recent seasons games between Manchester United and Chelsea have been tight affairs, but the outlook and approach of the two managers suggests this one will be different. A Jose Mourinho led Manchester United team scored twice here back in October and Ole Gunner Solskjaer is going to want his team to get forward.

There remain serious defensive issues that can be exploited by Chelsea too though and I think both teams will hit at least one goal in this one. Neither manager will want to settle for Extra Time or penalties so I imagine a positive game develops through much of the evening and backing at least three goals to be shared out looks the play.

MY PICKS: Queens Park Rangers-Watford Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.05 Sporting Bet
Brighton-Derby County Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.05 Bet Victor
AFC Wimbledon + 0.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Bet Fred
Newport County-Manchester City Second Half Highest Goals @ 1.91 Bet Fred
Bristol City-Wolves Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.20 Paddy Power
Doncaster Rovers-Crystal Palace Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.83 Bet Victor
Swansea City 0 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Bet Victor
Chelsea-Manchester United Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.85 Paddy Power

Weekend Football Picks 2018 (February 16-19)

The Premier League takes another short break this weekend as the FA Cup Fifth Round games have been scheduled for four days from Friday through to Monday.

One of the weirder aspects of the Cup this weekend is the draw is taking place on Saturday evening at around 8pm- that is almost an hour after the last FA Cup tie of the day is played and before two other Fifth Round ties are to kick off.

And yet the fans moan that clubs don't take the FA Cup as seriously as they would like(!)

At least the majority of the top Premier League clubs are still involved going into this Fifth Round, although Manchester United have the toughest of the ties with a trip to Huddersfield Town. I would expect Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City to make up three of the final eight teams in the FA Cup this season and the competition looks like it could produce some big ties in the last couple of months of the season.


I said during the week that I would have a short piece about Manchester United and the problems in getting the best out of our top players at Old Trafford. I posted that on Thursday and you can read it here.


Now onto the FA Cup Fifth Round Picks, even if this competition has kicked my behind so far this season.


Leicester City v Sheffield United Pick: There will be a few teams who have been humbled by Manchester City this season so I am not expecting a long malaise from Leicester City as they look to progress to the FA Cup Quarter Final on Friday.

Claude Puel knows the importance of a deep Cup run having taken Southampton to the League Cup Final last season, and I expect him to pick a stronger team than he has in the last couple of Rounds.

Firstly that is down to the quality of Sheffield United who are in a decent position in the Championship compared with the League One opposition Leicester City have faced so far. Secondly this fixture comes at a good time in the calendar with Leicester City's key players well rested and it would be a surprise if the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy are not called upon in forward areas.

The FA Cup is very important for a Leicester City team who are in no danger of being relegated and I expect Puel's team to underline that point with no game set for seven days after this one.

Sheffield United have to be respected as a team who will work hard and try to remain organised defensively to try and frustrate the Leicester City players. However they have already been beaten 1-4 by Leicester City at home in the League Cup and the Championship is a bigger priority for The Blades who are fighting to get back into the top six.

I would still expect Chris Wilder to pick a strong team for this Fifth Round tie, but Leicester City should have a little too much for them. The Foxes have been scoring plenty of goals at the King Power Stadium recently, while the return of Mahrez can only be a boost to the team who want to add silverware to sit alongside the Premier League trophy they won two years ago.

I think Leicester City will prove a little too good and can score a killer goal when Sheffield United begin to chase a way back into this one. I will back the home side to win and cover the Asian Handicap on their way through to the Quarter Final.


Chelsea v Hull City Pick: The first live game from the FA Cup Fifth Round this weekend is played on Friday night at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea host Hull City.

Unsurprisingly Chelsea are considerable favourites to win this tie and Antonio Conte has to be hoping the 3-0 win over West Brom on Monday night will have given his players a boost in confidence. The scoreline was flattering for Chelsea and they will have to better in the days ahead with some big games to come, but that win over West Brom has to at least give Chelsea the confidence to win this kind of fixture.

As well as Hull City have played in the last couple of weeks, they are a team who have struggled on their travels for the last eighteen months. Prior to the win at Nottingham Forest, Hull City had lost 5 straight away Championship games and only scored a single goal in that run.

Chelsea have found a way to earn clean sheets at home and that could be the foundation to their success in this Fifth Round tie. Trying to guess the Antonio Conte team is more difficult with the Barcelona Champions League tie on deck, but I think momentum is important and having this game on a Friday helps the Italian pick a strong team.

I would anticipate Eden Hazard being given a start and he has been a big part of Chelsea's play in recent weeks having another starring outing on Monday. Conte will want his team to get into a position where he can begin to rest the likes of Hazard for the Barcelona game and I think Chelsea will be able to be too good for Hull City in this Fifth Round tie.

I will look for Chelsea to also improve their run of 6 clean sheets in their last 8 games at Stamford Bridge in all competitions. Backing the home team to win to nil is the call from this tie as Chelsea reach yet another FA Cup Quarter Final in recent years.


Sheffield Wednesday v Swansea City Pick: Much of the intrigue around this fixture is surrounding the return of Carlos Carvalhal to Hillsborough having been sacked as manager of Sheffield Wednesday and days later taking over at Swansea City.

While Carvalhal's time at Sheffield Wednesday came to an end because of an underachieving season, he has surpassed all expectations with Swansea City by giving them a real chance of avoiding the drop in the Premier League.

The players at the Liberty Stadium look much happier under the Spaniard's guidance and Swansea City have become tough to beat as they have played well over the last few weeks. Strong teams have been picked to help Swansea City make it through to the FA Cup Fifth Round too and I would be surprised if Carvalhal suddenly decides to make wholesale changes to his starting eleven for this one.

Momentum can be so important for teams at this time of the season and Swansea City have plenty of that behind them. However they have not played as well away from home as at the Liberty Stadium and Swansea City have drawn 4 consecutive away games including in both initial ties in the FA Cup at Wolves and Notts County.

Sheffield Wednesday may be turning a corner themselves and you have to think the fans are itching for this game to kick off. They can give the home players a real boost and I think Sheffield Wednesday can cause problems for this Swansea City team who have not had many clean sheets away from home.

The Owls have won both home games in the FA Cup this season and I think this is going to be a tight game where both teams have their opportunities to win it. I think the 1-1 is also a real player and backing both teams to score at close to odds against is the likely outcome of this one.

Both teams have scored in 4 of the 5 away games Swansea City have played under Carvalhal, and Sheffield Wednesday had seen both teams score in consecutive games at Hillsborough before the 2-0 win over Derby County this past week.


Brighton v Coventry City Pick: The lowest club left in the FA Cup this season are Coventry City and they have been rewarded with an away tie at a Premier League opponent in the FA Cup Fifth Round.

No doubt the fans and players would have hoped for a 'bigger' name in the Fifth Round, but Coventry City will still look to head to Brighton and earn another upset having already beaten Stoke City in the FA Cup this season.

Chris Hughton will also recognise the opportunity in front of Brighton although he is still likely to make changes to keep his top players fresh for the key Premier League challenges ahead. That shouldn't affect Brighton's performance too much and they have begun to score goals regularly at the Amex Stadium which should be enough to see off an opponent who are playing significantly lower down the League standings.

While Brighton have shown improvement at home, Coventry City have struggled on their travels in League Two. They have lost their last 3 away games in the League and Coventry City will have to be careful with fitness issues against the Premier League trained Brighton who also have the fans firmly behind them.

Ultimately I do think being at home will be enough for Brighton to win this tie and win it by a couple of goals on the day. Even with the expected changes, Brighton have a squad that are used to playing at a higher level than these Coventry City players and the chance to reach the FA Cup Quarter Final should be a big motivating factor for the home players.

Coventry City have to be respected for beating Premier League Stoke City, but that came at home and was a game that could have gone very differently if The Potters had taken their chances. With Brighton scoring at least twice in 3 of their last 4 games at the Amex Stadium, I don't think they will be as poor in front of goal as Stoke City were in the FA Cup Third Round and I will back Brighton to win and cover the Asian Handicap.


West Brom v Southampton Pick: Both West Brom and Southampton would take a deal where they are out of the FA Cup and guaranteed a place in the Premier League next season, but for one weekend the players can release themselves from the tension of trying to earn big League points.

The two teams come into the FA Cup Fifth Round inside the bottom three of the Premier League and it is West Brom who look in a much bigger hole. They are now 7 points from safety compared with Southampton who are just a point behind 17th placed Huddersfield Town.

Both Alan Pardew and Mauricio Pellegrino have decided to play strong teams in the FA Cup in a bid to improve the confidence of the players and that makes this a potentially big game for both West Brom and Southampton. The winner could earn some momentum to take into big League games, while the losing team may just start to get that sinking feeling.

However neither team is going to want to accept a draw in this fixture and add another game to their schedule at the end of the month. That should see both West Brom and Southampton look to produce some attacking football and follow a similar path to the 2-3 win Southampton recorded at the start of the month.

West Brom have struggled in front of goal all season which perhaps is a concern, but they have created chances under Alan Pardew. Losing Daniel Sturridge is a blow, but West Brom should be able to create opportunities in front of goal against a Southampton team who have conceded 4 goals in their last 2 away games.

On the other side, Southampton have scored 5 goals in those same couple of away games and I can see these two teams producing at least three goals for the second time inside two weeks. The layers don't tend to agree, but I think both Southampton and West Brom are likely to play with attacking intent to try and win this tie at the first time of asking and that could lead to a more open game than most anticipate.

Recent performances of both teams suggest they can get on the front foot in this one and I will back at least three goals to be shared out.


Huddersfield Town v Manchester United Pick: There was little doubt this fixture was going to be picked for television coverage and Jose Mourinho has to at least be satisfied that Manchester United can play on Saturday evening.

It is the start of a big weekend for Manchester United who play the First Leg of their Champions League Second Round tie at Sevilla on Wednesday before hosting Chelsea in a huge Premier League game next Sunday. The FA Cup is also important to the manager and the players and this game represents a chance to make up for a particular low point of the season.

Back in October Manchester United were beaten 2-1 at Huddersfield Town in the Premier League which was a big upset. A similar result would be an upset, but perhaps not as unexpected considering the back to back away losses Manchester United have suffered coming into this one.

Huddersfield Town had a confidence boosting 4-1 win over Bournemouth last weekend and scored 4, albeit after extra time, in their win at Birmingham City in the FA Cup Fourth Round Replay too. David Wagner is hoping his team can build on the performance from last weekend against Bournemouth, but that came at a time when The Terriers had been struggling in the Premier League.

In recent weeks the likes of West Ham United and Liverpool have won comfortably at the John Smith's Stadium and both teams managed to score at least three times in those wins. With the changes that Huddersfield Town are expected to make, Manchester United should be able to create their opportunities in this one and I do expect a strong away team to begin this one.

The deeper Manchester United squad should mean any changes should not really be a problem for Jose Mourinho's men. I don't think those changes will be made in attacking areas so Manchester United should remain dangerous, while the likes of Marcos Rojo and Luke Shaw are able players to come into defensive areas.

I expect a reaction from Manchester United after the result at St James' Park last weekend and I do think they can get the better of Huddersfield Town on Saturday. Manchester United remain one of the better away teams in the Premier League despite the recent setbacks and I will back them to become the latest team to leave Huddersfield Town with a comfortable win recorded.


Rochdale v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: The Spotland surface looked to be in terrible shape when Rochdale beat Millwall in the FA Cup Fourth Round Replay and it took a lot of criticism from outsiders including Mauricio Pochettino who is bringing his Tottenham Hotspur side to town.

The pitch has been relaid since that match, but it has also meant Rochdale home games have been forced to be postponed. Some have even suggested the surface could be dangerous for players, although Keith Hill rounded on Pochettino for making those suggestions in a press conference a few days ago.

It certainly feels like the pitch will be something of a leveller and Rochdale would have seen the way Tottenham Hotspur struggled at Rodney Parade in the Fourth Round when needing a late goal to secure a 1-1 draw at Newport County. The home team will try and make this Tottenham Hotspur team uncomfortable and it will be a challenge for the Premier League club who will make some rotations to their starting eleven.

Ultimately the team should still be good enough to beat the team at the foot of League One and it will be about getting used to some of the bounces and bobbles on the surface. If Tottenham Hotspur can just work their way into this fixture, I would expect they can show their class at some point and win this tie without the need to add a Replay to their busy schedule.

Games at Spotland have not featured a lot of goals in recent weeks as the playing surface has made it difficult. That could be the case again on Sunday even though a Premier League team is the visitor this time, and I am looking for a professional job from Tottenham Hotspur.

Rochdale can make life difficult with more familiarity with the conditions on their home surface, but I think Tottenham Hotspur will find a couple of goals to win this one and I will back them to win a lower scoring game than expected.


Wigan Athletic v Manchester City Pick: I will expect this live televised FA Cup Fifth Round to be preceded by lots of video of Wigan Athletic upsetting Manchester City in this competition in both 2013 and 2014.

This would be an even bigger upset than those two occasions if The Latics can take a third consecutive Premier League scalp in the FA Cup. After beating both Bournemouth and West Ham United at home, Wigan Athletic shouldn't be overawed by the occasion, but it is a totally different test taking on clubs who will make changes compared to a Manchester City team looking to win every competition they have entered.

With six days between their last game and a further six before Manchester City are playing again, Pep Guardiola will likely pick a strong team. I would expect some changes to keep things fresh, but the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero should also be supported by Leroy Sane and Bernardo Silva which will give Manchester City a huge threat going forward.

Wigan Athletic will give this a go and they have scored 5 home goals against the Premier League clubs they have faced in the FA Cup this season. However, Wigan Athletic have also failed to score in 4 of their last 5 home League One games and I think they will have difficulties in trying to breach a Manchester City team who dominate the ball as much as they do.

On the other side it has proven to be a really difficult task to contain this Manchester City attack and I don't think Wigan Athletic will have a lot of joy doing that despite being a solid defensive outfit in League One. Manchester City have scored at least twice in the last month at Cardiff City and Bristol City who are playing at the top of the Championship and I think they are going to be good for at least a couple of strikes here.

I imagine there will be some sticky moments at the back for Manchester City with the way Wigan Athletic will approach things, but I think they can ride those out and then dominate much of the play as they have in many games this season. The lack of goals Wigan Athletic have produced in League One games recently has to be a concern for them and I will back Manchester City to win with a clean sheet here.

MY PICKS: Leicester City - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 2.07 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Chelsea Win to Nil @ 1.83 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Sheffield Wednesday-Swansea City Both Teams to Score @ 1.95 Bet365 (2 Units)
Brighton - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.05 Bet Victor (2 Units)
West Brom-Southampton Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.20 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Manchester United - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 2.11 Bet365 (2 Units)
Tottenham Hotspur & Under 3.5 Goals @ 2.05 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Manchester City Win to Nil @ 1.86 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Weekend Football Picks 2017 (February 18-20)

I mentioned before the midweek fixtures that I have had a pretty demoralising last couple of months for the Football Picks with little going my way and there was a little bit more misfortune attached to my picks over the last few days.

Derby County somehow blew a 2-0 lead to lose 3-4 at home to Cardiff City and Athletic Bilbao conceded late which meant they missed the Asian Handicap cover in a 3-2 win over APOEL. If both of those go my way, I am back into a positive for February, but instead I have made a big dent in the totals from last weekend.

Another penalty miss hurt in the Benfica-Borussia Dortmund Champions League Last 16 First Leg on Tuesday- I have lost count of the amount of penalty misses in games where I am backing goals but that is another to add to the list as it came with half an hour to go and the game set to move to 1-1 on the scoreboard.

So while I did have a winning midweek, I should have had one which turned things right around and really got the month back on track. Hopefully I will be able to build on that momentum this weekend as the FA Cup Fifth Round and Championship takes centre stage before the Premier League resumes next weekend.

Before that there will be another busy midweek of Champions League, Europa League and domestic football in the lower Leagues to come. Both Manchester City and Leicester City will have their Last 16 First Legs in the Champions League during the week, while Tottenham Hotspur are trying to turn around a 1-0 First Leg loss in the Europa League.

I am pretty confident Manchester United have already done enough to move into the Last 16 because I think they will score out in St-Etienne and the draw will be made next Friday for the Last 16 when country protections are set aside.


Burnley v Lincoln City Pick: You can't take anything for granted in football, but Burnley have to feel they are well on their way to avoiding relegation from the Premier League with 13 League games to play. The form at Turf Moor has been incredibly good all season and Burnley have used that to move onto 30 points with 29 points being earned at home.

That should mean Sean Dyche can play a strong team in a bid to help Burnley put an exclamation mark on the season by continuing their run in the FA Cup. With a week to prepare for this game and another week before Burnley are due to play again, not playing a strong team would be really disappointing as Burnley are very close to playing at Wembley Stadium.

The form this season should also mean Burnley fear no team left in the FA Cup, especially with many of them having other priorities, and I think the right draw can take Burnley all the way to the Final. It won't be an easy ride, but Burnley have to be very pleased with their Fifth Round draw as they take on one of the two non-League teams left in the FA Cup and at home.

Lincoln City have to be respected, but this is a huge challenge for the National League leaders who are being challenged for promotion and have a big game on Tuesday night. Players at this level won't want to 'rest' for that game at North Ferriby United, but this is still a huge step up from their usual level of opponents.

Burnley have been winning plenty of games at Turf Moor and played so well against Chelsea that only complacency will prevent them moving through. I don't think Dyche does complacency though and I expect Burnley to work hard and give Lincoln City all the respect in the world.

I would be surprised if it is a really comfortable day for Burnley because Lincoln City will be up for it, but eventually you would imagine the home team are too strong. Burnley don't concede many goals here and have only conceded 2 goals in their last 7 home games in all competitions. They have won both home games in the FA Cup with a clean sheet and I will back them at odds against to do that in the Fifth Round too and end the dream run for The Imps.


Huddersfield Town v Manchester City Pick: You have to think that both David Wagner and Pep Guardiola are looking ahead to a much bigger game on Tuesday despite being in the FA Cup Fifth Round this weekend. For Manchester City clearly the Champions League Last 16 First Leg against Monaco is the one they will be really looking forward to, while Huddersfield Town have a huge game against Reading in the Championship with the winner potentially being in a good position to secure automatic promotion to the Premier League.

With that in mind I am expecting both managers to shuffle the pack in this one and trying to work out the starting line ups is far from easy.

It should make this Fifth Round tie a fairly open one too as neither Huddersfield Town nor Manchester City will want a Replay in ten days time. Both teams are much more comfortable going forward than they are defending and I am not surprised that the layers have priced up at least three goals to be shared out at a pretty short price.

In saying that, I am a little more surprised that both teams to score is a much bigger price than there being at least three goals overall. I understand Manchester City are capable of covering these numbers themselves, but I actually considered backing Huddersfield Town with the start on the Handicap if they did not have such a big fixture next up on deck.

Manchester City do have 3 clean sheets in a row away from home and in 5 of their last 7 on their travels overall, but there could be changes made by Guardiola in this one which will give the home team encouragement. This is a team in Huddersfield Town who have been very good going forward all season anyway and I do think they will pose problems, although they do have to be better defensively.

Overall there looks a real chance for both teams to play their part in this Fifth Round tie before all is said and done and I will back both to score in an entertaining afternoon.


Middlesbrough v Oxford United Pick: There is no doubt that Middlesbrough are firmly in the mix of a relegation battle in the Premier League and the problem has been a lack of goals. Defensively they have been very good for the most part, but the pressure is definitely on for Middlesbrough in the coming weeks.

For this weekend they can put aside Premier League concerns and try and beat a third lower League team in the FA Cup and move onto the Sixth Round next month. Middlesbrough are unsurprisingly the favourites to win the tie against Oxford United of League One, especially as they are hosting it, but I wouldn't want to underestimate the visitors who have 'nothing to lose'.

Oxford United will look to play their football and see if they can build some pressure on the struggling Premier League side, while they have previous having beaten Swansea City of the Premier League and Newcastle United of the Championship in the last fourteen months in the FA Cup. Both of those wins have come at home though and it is a big ask for Oxford United to stun Middlesbrough here.

The U's have scored in their last 7 away games in all competitions though and I expect that is an issue for Middlesbrough who have not been as watertight at the back in recent weeks as they were a month ago. They are still very good at home though and both FA Cup games have been won with a clean sheet against Sheffield Wednesday and Accrington Stanley, but I do anticipate Oxford United causing a few more problems.

Middlesbrough did score three times in their win over Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup Third Round and did the same to Swansea City in the League. With that in mind I can see both teams playing their part in a lively Cup tie on Saturday and I am looking for at least three goals to be shared out.

It wouldn't surprise me if a changed Middlesbrough team conceded, but they should still be too strong over the course of 90 minutes and I expect they will get through. The Cup being as it is, a late goal may see this number surpassed and I am backing goals.


Millwall v Leicester City Pick: After such a memorable 2016, 2017 is shaping up to be a really difficult season for Leicester City. Their priority is now finding a way to reverse momentum and secure their place in the Premier League for next season, but Claudio Ranieri has one FA Cup game and one Champions League game to negotiate before The Foxes return to Premier League action.

It would be a real surprise if Ranieri did not make wholesale changes to his Leicester City starting eleven following the 2-0 loss at Swansea City last weekend, and that gives Millwall the chance to take a hat-trick of Premier League scalps. Millwall have already beaten Bournemouth and Watford in the FA Cup here and there is every chance that they can take out a much changed Leicester City team and move a game away from playing at Wembley Stadium in the Cup Semi Final.

I have to admit I was tempted to back Millwall to win this game, but Leicester City's fringe players have performed well in the FA Cup at Everton and at home against Derby County. They still have plenty of speed in forward areas which can be tough for a League One side to deal with and South London's weather won't have produced a great equaliser with the pitch condition either.

Millwall are in fine form and have kept 5 clean sheets in a row which includes in both games in the FA Cup against Premier League opposition. That made the home team appealing, and Leicester City's goal drought in the Premier League is well documented.

However, the changes made in the FA Cup have seen Leicester City score 5 times in their 3 Cup games and I can see both teams creating their chances in this one. The oddsmakers are not anticipating a free flowing game, but I think it might surprise with both Millwall and Leicester City looking to win the tie without the need for a Replay.

At a fairly big price, I am going to back this to be another Cup tie where there are at least three goals shared out.


Wolves v Chelsea Pick: It is hard to second guess some of the teams that managers will put out in the FA Cup, but it would make very little sense for Antonio Conte to rest players just three games out from the Cup Final. There are only two competitions in which Chelsea are involved the rest of this season and they have a very good lead in the Premier League that I am expecting a very strong side to be picked.

There will be some changes, but the formation will likely be the same as usual and the biggest concern for Chelsea in this game is that Wolves produce something close to the level they did at Anfield. That Wolves team has not been seen too often since the win at Liverpool in the Fourth Round and they have actually looked pretty poor in the last couple of weeks as Wolves have slipped back into a potential relegation battle.

The win at Liverpool also came against a changed home team who were going through a really difficult patch, but this Chelsea team are playing much better. Draws at Liverpool and Burnley in their last couple of away games shouldn't be a real concern for Antonio Conte as they could easily have won both on another day, but Chelsea do have to be at their best to get a result here.

There is enough talent in the Premier League leaders' squad that they should be good enough to come away from Wolves with the win without the need for a replay. I am anticipating the likes of Eden Hazard, Diego Costa and Willian to start in the forward positions and that should be enough to beat Wolves.

Chelsea are not conceding a lot of goals and even a couple of changes might not affect them here. They can pick off a Wolves team that is potentially chasing an equaliser late in the game and finish off the tie and I like Chelsea to win this by a couple of goals at odds against.


Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: The television cameras will pitch up to Craven Cottage on Sunday and Tottenham Hotspur have been set as the odds on favourites to win here. I really can't understand that considering recent form that both Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur have displayed and I am going to back the home team to avoid defeat at the least.

That won't be easy for Fulham as they try and raise their level to take on a Premier League side currently in the top three of that Division. However the game is being played at Craven Cottage and Tottenham Hotspur have shown they have not been as strong on their travels as they have been at White Hart Lane.

A lack of goals in the last couple of weeks has to concern Mauricio Pochettino while this game comes at an awkward time in the football calendar for Tottenham Hotspur. They played on Thursday night in Belgium and the home game with Gent next week in the Second Leg is clearly the more important game for Pochettino if you consider the team he put out in the First Leg.

That does make me think that Tottenham Hotspur will make a number of changes to their first team which almost cost them against Wycombe Wanderers in the Fourth Round. On the other hand I would think a much more recognisable Fulham XI to start this game and they look a good shout at odds against to at least force a Replay.

I did consider backing at least four goals to be shared out, but Tottenham Hotspur's struggles in front of goal do concern me, especially if both Dele Alli and Harry Kane are left out of the starting eleven. Fulham have shown they can score plenty of goals at Craven Cottage in recent weeks and two goals could potentially be enough to secure the upset. I will stick with backing the home team on the Asian Handicap in this one.


Blackburn Rovers v Manchester United Pick: There have been times that I have expected Manchester United to rest players in their Cup games and use the squad, but Jose Mourinho continues to pick his strongest players where possible. He has tended to make the majority of his changes in the FA Cup so far and the admittance that he will play a strong team at St-Etienne on Wednesday night suggests this is the game where others will be given a chance to shine.

This might not be the strongest Manchester United squad of the last twenty years, but it is definitely one with depth and is improving. Even if the starting eleven is not as familiar as it could be, Manchester United have the players that should be too good for a Blackburn Rovers team who are struggling at the wrong end of the Championship.

I can't imagine too many who started on Thursday being involved here, but the likes of Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford, Wayne Rooney should still be good enough to beat a team of Blackburn Rovers standard. That is no disrespect to Blackburn Rovers who have played well at Ewood Park in recent weeks and beaten Newcastle United here, but they are not 23rd in the Championship by fluke with almost three-quarters of the season played.

There is no doubt the game at Burton Albion next Friday is the far bigger game for Blackburn Rovers and the fans are more likely to be protesting against the owners than backing the players. That is an issue at the moment and I am not sure Ewood Park is a pitch where Blackburn Rovers can make life difficult for Manchester United, but instead is one where the Premier League team can play their football.

Manchester United have been very strong in the Cup competitions this season but the majority of their best performances have been at Old Trafford, which is in contrast to the Premier League where Manchester United have been very effective on their travels. The side have lost 3 of their 5 away Cup games this season, but Manchester United have won the other 2 by a couple of goals each time and I will back that to happen here.

Jose Mourinho is right that a fixture backlog is developing for Manchester United, but this is a manager who insists they win every game they play and I expect Manchester United to reach the Sixth Round of the FA Cup at the first attempt. I will back them to win at Ewood Park by a couple of goals at odds against.


Sutton United v Arsenal Pick: A defeat at Sutton United for Arsenal would be one of the biggest upsets in arguably any football game played around the world, but in reality this is probably the perfect chance for the Arsenal players to bounce back from the disappointment of Munich last Wednesday.

They have had time to recover physically and Arsenal will not play again until Saturday 4th March following this one so Arsene Wenger will have a number of his recognisable players out on the field. It has been a good period of weather in and around Sutton United too so the pitch should be in perfect condition once the Arsenal players get used to the bounce on an artificial surface.

Of course Sutton United should have a very strong work ethic and the fans will be on top of the Arsenal players which should pump up their own players, but ultimately there is some difference in quality here.

I don't imagine the Arsenal players will have been dwelling on the result in Bayern Munich too much (just an outward appearance I get from many of their players) and so they should come out with their usual game plan in place. Over the course of 90 minutes, the Arsenal quality should be too much for Sutton United to contain and I think The Gunners will overcome the Asian Handicap.

Even a changed Arsenal team should contain enough about them to see off Sutton United and I am expecting them to win by a wide margin after weathering an early storm.


Barnsley v Brighton Pick: This is a really tough game for Brighton as they have just hit a rough patch of form and are now beginning to feel the heat from the teams below them in the Championship. After spending such a long time in the automatic promotion places, Chris Hughton will be aware of the mental effort it would take to try and earn promotion through the Play Offs and has to right the Brighton ship as soon as possible.

No one gets an easy ride in Barnsley though even if the home team have been inconsistent at Oakwell in the League. They have had some memorable wins in the League here, but Barnsley have also lost their fair share of games and it is tough to work out which version of their team will turn up.

Will be see the Barnsley who just hammered Aston Villa away from home or the one that were comfortably beaten by Wolves here a couple of weeks ago?

The one encouragement the home team have to have is seeing the amount of goals Brighton have been conceding in recent away games. Brighton have not had a clean sheet in their last 7 away from home in all competitions and they have conceded 15 goals in those games which is a concern when facing the fifth highest scoring home team in the Championship.

Brighton do score too and that should mean we are in for a decent game on Saturday and one that could produce at least three goals. The three points are important enough for both teams to think neither will settle to defend and both managers have shown a liking for attacking football so backing at least three goals to be shared out at odds against looks a decent price.


Burton Albion v Norwich City Pick: Playing at The Pirelli Stadium was a really difficult test earlier in the season, but the season has been wearing on the Burton Albion players. Goals continue to be a problem and they only recently snapped a pretty long losing run in front of their own fans in the League.

It might be equalled out by the poor form Norwich City have shown away from home for much of the season. The last few weeks had been particularly tough, but the last two performances at Cardiff City and Wigan Athletic will have been encouraging.

The issues defensively continue to blight Norwich City though and that will give Burton Albion some hope. In the 2-2 draw at Wigan Athletic, Norwich City looked miles better than Wigan Athletic for the first 45 minutes before allowing their hosts to fight back and that does make it difficult to trust them here.

However the top teams have generally found a way to get it done here and recent games have seen Huddersfield Town, Newcastle United and Fulham all win here. Brighton also won here earlier in the season and all of Norwich City's away wins in the League have come against teams in the bottom half of the table.

It won't be easy for Alex Neil's team, but I will back Norwich City to keep the pressure on the top six by earning a vital three points at Burton Albion this weekend.


Cardiff City v Rotherham United Pick: There has to be some real confidence flowing through the Cardiff City players after coming from 2-0 down to beat Derby County 3-4 at The iPro Stadium during the week. That follows on from another impressive win at Leeds United last weekend and now they return home where they had been playing pretty well in recent weeks.

Being matched up against Rotherham United this weekend certainly feels like it is giving Cardiff City a big chance to continue the momentum from their away wins earlier this week.

There is a lot of willing in the Rotherham United dressing room but the quality has just not been there for them this season. They will be looking to make life awkward for teams who have plenty more to play for than The Millers the rest of the season, and Rotherham United showed they can do that in a narrow home loss to promotion chasing Huddersfield Town during the week.

Rotherham United put a lot of effort into that game without reward which may have dented their belief even more, while a lack of goals away from home is a concern. The side don't do clean sheets and Cardiff City have beaten the likes of struggling Aston Villa and Burton Albion at home in recent weeks.

Half of the last 6 League games won by Cardiff City have come with a clean sheet and I think they can do that here. Prior to the 0-1 loss to Norwich City, Cardiff City had won 3 in a row at home with a clean sheet too and I will back them to do that this weekend at a big price.


Ipswich Town v Leeds United Pick: The improved form for Ipswich Town coupled with the Leeds United slide in form could mean there is a chance for another dent in the promotion bid for the latter.

The oddsmakers have found it tough to separate these teams, but I do feel they are taking a chance with the price for at least three goals to be shared out. Goals have been flowing at both ends in recent Ipswich Town games which have seen the last 5 at Portman Road feature at least three goals.

Ipswich Town have scored at least twice in 4 of their last 5 here, while the away team has scored at least 4 times in a row at Portman Road.

Usually that would mean Leeds United games have been on the lower-scoring side, but 4 of their last 5 in the League on their travels have also featured at least three goals. Late goals have contributed to that, but Leeds United and Ipswich Town should be pushing for the points very late into the game so I am not anticipating a tight, tense game.

Fixtures between Ipswich Town and Leeds United have tended to be higher-scoring at this ground too with the last 6 all featuring at least three goals shared out. I think both teams will likely score in this one, but with both pushing for the three points I can also see a late goal turning this in favour of one of them.

Either way I don't mind as long as they can cover the goal line at what looks a very big price.


Nottingham Forest v Sheffield Wednesday Pick: There were so many goals in the Championship during the midweek round of games and this weekend could surprise the layers. They have offered a big price in the Ipswich Town versus Leeds United game to see three goals and are doing the same in this fixture too.

That might have a lot to do with how Sheffield Wednesday have played at both ends of the field, but they have brought in reinforcements to strengthen in forward areas. I am anticipating the likes of Jordan Rhodes to really help Sheffield Wednesday produce more goals and I think they will have chances here.

However Nottingham Forest are much stronger at home than on their travels and I expect they can play a part too having scored five goals in their last 3 home games. Prior to the 0-1 win at Wigan Athletic, Sheffield Wednesday had been involved in 3 straight away games that featured at least three goals and I think the same can happen here.

At this stage of the season, three points are so important to both teams that I don't expect either to settle back and look for a draw and that could mean a surprisingly high scoring game. The oddsmakers don't agree but I will back at least three goals to be shared out.

MY PICKS: Burnley Win to Nil @ 2.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Huddersfield Town-Manchester City Both Teams to Score @ 1.83 Stan James (2 Units)
Middlesbrough-Oxford United Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.91 William Hill (2 Units)
Millwall-Leicester City Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.20 Coral (2 Units)
Chelsea - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.04 Bet365 (2 Units)
Fulham + 0.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.07 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Manchester United - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.05 Bet365 (2 Units)
Arsenal - 2.25 Asian Handicap @ 2.02 Bet365 (2 Units)
Barnsley-Brighton Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.00 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Norwich City @ 2.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Cardiff City Win to Nil @ 2.62 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Ipswich Town-Leeds United Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.40 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Nottingham Forest-Sheffield Wednesday Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.20 Coral (2 Units)

February Update: 16-22, - 6.80 Units (72 Units Staked, - 9.44% Yield)

January Final: 32-47-1, - 30.88 Units (164 Units Staked, - 18.83% Yield)
December Final: 38-40, - 7.93 Units (153 Units Staked, - 5.18% Yield)

November Final: 40-38-3, + 5.76 Units (159 Units Staked, + 3.62% Yield)
October Final: 29-41-2, - 21.23 Units (139 Units Staked, - 15.27% Yield)

September Final: 43-28-1, + 35.17 Units (133 Units Staked, + 26.44% Yield)

August Final: 31-38-2, - 9 Units (124 Units Staked, - 7.26% Yield)

Season 2016/17: 212-232-9, - 28.11 Units (872 Units Staked, - 3.22% Yield)

Season 2015/16: 133-174-2, + 0.89 Units (669 Units Staked, + 0% Yield)

Season 2014/15: 159-208-5, - 20.22 Units (647 Units Staked, - 3.13% Yield)

Season 2013/14: 164-185-3, + 15.84 Units (577 Units Staked, + 2.75% Yield

Season 2012/13: + 4.42 Units (415 Units Staked, + 1.07% Yield)