Sports Blog 23/01/2015: Match Preview – FA Cup 4th Round, Saturday 24th to Sunday 25th January 2015

The fourth round of the FA Cup is already upon us, and in typical fashion offers up the tantalizing potential for some big cup-sets.

The first televised game of the weekend sees Bolton Wanderers travel to Anfield at 17.30pm on BT Sport 1. After holding league-leaders Chelsea to a draw in their League Cup semi-final on Tuesday, the Reds will be confident of a win over a Bolton side that are sitting in 15th in the Championship. However, the Trotters’ league position doesn’t tell the whole story; Bolton have only lost once in their last 12 games, and Neil Lennon’s men will be hopeful of getting something on their travels. Yet Bolton are going to have to overcome some issues upfront. Top scorer Craig Davies, himself only on 5 goals, is injured, and Joe Mason, who had scored 4 for the Trotters this season, has gone back to Cardiff City after his loan spell ended.



If Bolton want to cause an upset, then it may be in the hands of former Premier League stars, and Christmas signings, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Emile Heskey. With each on a goal apiece, the former Chelsea and Barca man is 11/1 to score first, whilst Heskey will be looking to shock his old club at 12/1. For Liverpool, Steven Gerrard is 9/2 to score first with 9 goals, alongside Sterling at 7/2, Lallana at 11/2 and the aging Rickie Lambert at 10/3, overall favourite to score first despite only 3 goals this season. Liverpool have won 10 out of their last 11 games against Bolton, causing our Spreadex clients to like the Liverpool/Bolton Goal Supremacy spread betting quote of 1.55-1.75, with a Total Goals quote of 3.1-3.3.

Sunday then sees one of the surprise packages of this season’s Premier League take on one of League One’s best sides at 14.00pm on BBC One. West Ham are currently in 7th in the league and Big Sam will be expectant of a win against Bristol City. However, in each of their 3 cup games this season the Hammers have failed to keep a clean sheet, and Bristol, sitting in 2nd on equal points with top-placed Swindon in League One, won’t be intimidated by the east-London side. Having only conceded 5 goals in their last 12 games, it appears Bristol might be better equipped defensively than the Hammers, and will be looking to cause trouble on Sunday.



With Diafra Sakho still out, it is once again up to Andy Carroll to lead the charge, and with 5 goals this season he is currently West Ham’s second top scorer. Bristol, on the other hand, have Aaron Wilbraham on 10, Kieran Agard on 8 and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas on 7; all in all, not only have they only conceded 5 in their last 12 games, they have scored 26, and will fancy their chances against a West Ham side that aren’t exactly impenetrable. However here at Spreadex our clients are finding it hard to look past the different in leagues at a West Ham/ Bristol City (h) Goal Supremacy spread betting quote 0.45-0.65 and Total Goals quote of 2.7-2.9.

The final televised game on Sunday sees Arsenal, fresh off an impressive victory at Manchester City visit Brighton & Hove Albion at 16.00pm on BT Sport 1. Brighton are currently in languishing in 19th place in the Championship. Perhaps to highlight their difficulties this season, their top scorer is Lewis Dunk with 6 goals. This is all well and good; however, Dunk is a defender, and has still managed to outstrip the Seagulls’ actual strikers this season. Dunk is at 25/1 to score first despite, with actual forwards Adrian Colunga on 4 goals at 11/1 and Craig Mackail-Smith on 3 goals at 10/1.



Arsenal, on the other hand, appear to have gotten over their big-team-phobia that plagued them last year, and put in their best performance season against City on Sunday. This 4th round game may see the debut of Polish youngster Krystian Bielik, signed from Legia Warsaw; this defensive midfielder may shore-up the weaknesses Arsenal have had at the back and even out what is a very strike-heavy Gunners squad. On that topic, Arsenal’s options upfront are mouth-watering, with Sanchez (10/3 to score first), Giroud (7/2), Santi Cazorla (6/1) and Aaron Ramsey (6/1) all in fine form. Unsurprisingly, our traders are looking at an away victory, with an Arsenal/Brighton (h) Goal Supremacy spread betting quote of 1.15-1.35 and a Total Goals quote of 2.8-3.