FA Cup 3rd Round Predictions

THURSDAY:

EVERTON V PETERBOROUGH

Sean Dyche's future at Everton has been talked about a lot over the last few days with the form they're in, which has lead the new owners to reportedly review his position.

Dyche could certainly do with a win in this cup tie and winning it could help kickstart the Toffees' season.

Peterborough could also do with a win in this cup tie as they're also not in great form in League 1. They've lost four of their last six and are 20th in the league.

Like Everton, winning this cup tie could kickstart their season and give them the confidence to get results and push up the league.

The Posh have the worst defence in League 1 and although Everton don't score many themselves, I still expect their Premier League quality to shine through here.

PREDICTION: 2-0

FULHAM V WATFORD

Fulham are having a good season so far in the Premier League, and they'll surely want a cup run alongside that.

They never go far in this competition and this season could be a great opportunity for them to do so. Especially with the season they're having and the squad they have.

Watford are having a decent season in the Championship this season as they're 9th and only three points outside the play offs.

But they have lost their last three league games and manager Tom Cleverley will need to put a stop to that, otherwise the owners could pull the plug on another manager. But hopefully that shouldn't be the case as he's done a decent job so far.

The Hornets will look to play on the front foot in this one as they've been that sort of team this season. But I think Fulham's Premier League quality will be enough for them to avoid an upset.

PREDICTION: 3-1

FRIDAY:

ASTON VILLA V WEST HAM

I remember Unai Emery saying that he'd like to win a trophy at Aston Villa in his first press conference as manager. Could the FA Cup be that trophy?

They're more than good enough to go on a cup run because of the quality of players and manager they have. A run in this competition could give them the extra push to finish in the European places and build some consistency.

West Ham appointed Graham Potter as their new manager a few hours after sacking Julen Lopetegui on Wednesday, and he should be in the dugout for this one.

I think he's the right appointment for the Hammers because he'll give the team an identity, and get the most out of the attacking players at his disposal. Two things Lopetegui wasn't able to do.

It could take time for the players to get used to his way of playing as it will be different to what they've been used to

PREDICTION: 3-0

SATURDAY:

BRISTOL CITY V WOLVES

Bristol City are pushing for the play offs in the Championship this season with Liam Manning's side sitting three points outside those spots.

They've been a club who have been knocking on the door of the play offs in recent years and winning this cup tie could reinforce their play off bid.

Wolves' familiar failings returned against Forest on Monday as they got ripped open defensively on so many occasions.

They've made a promising start under Vitor Pereira and winning this cup tie could give their survival hopes the boost it needs.

But I do think they'll make a lot of changes here because of this game being a cup tie and as I think that will be the case, I fancy the Robins to cause an upset here.

PREDICTION: 2-0

LIVERPOOL V ACCRINGTON STANLEY

Liverpool have looked off it a bit in each of their last two games against Man United in the league, and Spurs in the Carabao Cup last night.

I'm expecting Arne Slot to make changes to his team for this one as they have a lot of games coming up, and he'll want to keep his regulars fresh ahead of those games. Mainly the big hitters.

Accrington Stanley are fighting to avoid relegation in League 2 this season as they're currently five points above the relegation zone.

They've been looking forward to this game ever since the draw and they'll just go out there and enjoy the occasion.

Liverpool will probably make a lot of changes for this game, but I still expect them to get the job done comfortably.

PREDICTION: 4-0

LEICESTER V QPR

Leicester come into this game off the back of five straight defeats and they could do with a win in this cup tie to get some confidence back into the team.

The Foxes made a decent start under Ruud Van Nistelrooy when he first arrived, but since then their form has dropped off a cliff and are conceding goals from pretty much anywhere.

QPR have risen up the Championship over the last couple of months after a terrible start which saw them at the foot of the Championship.

They're 13th now and looking upwards thanks to a seven game unbeaten run before Christmas, which saw them rise up the table.

Marti Cifuentes' side will fancy themselves to cause an upset here with the form they've been and the way Leicester have been conceded goals.

But I think the Foxes will have more than enough quality to see themselves through to the next round.

PREDICTION: 3-1

BOURNEMOUTH V WEST BROM

Bournemouth have Europe in their sights this season and I'm sure that they would like to put a cup run alongside that.

Their current squad is arguably the best one they've ever had and if there was a great opportunity to win a trophy, it's this season.

West Brom are still on the hunt for a new manager following Carlos Corberan's departure to Valencia before Christmas.

Ex-player Chris Brunt has been in charge on an interim basis since then and his results so far have been mixed. But they are still in the play off spots.

Bournemouth will probably make changes for this game with it being a cup tie, but I still think they'll have enough quality to see themselves through to the next round.

PREDICTION: 2-0

BRENTFORD V PLYMOUTH

Brentford finally got their first win on the road last weekend against Southampton, who they convincingly blew off the park.

Thomas Frank's side will probably make a number of changes for this game and for two reasons. One being because of this game being a cup tie, the kind of game where a club would rest players, and the other being because their next league game is against Man City.

I don't see him resting all his regulars as he'll want to field a strong enough team to win this game, but I do think he'll rest his big hitters ahead of the big game against City. Wissa and Mbeumo in particular.

Whether he makes changes or not, this game should still be a walk in the park for the Bees as they're facing a Plymouth side who have the worst defence in the Football League, conceding 53 goals.

Argyle are still without a manager since sacking Wayne Rooney and unless they suddenly appoint someone in time for this game, I still don't see any hope for them.

PREDICTION: 5-0

CHELSEA V MORECAMBE

Chelsea have used two different teams this season with one in the Conference League and the other in the Premier League.

What kind of team will they play in this one? My guess is a mixture of both as Maresca will want to give his younger players a chance but still use his Premier League regulars.

The blues' promising season has stalled recently after failing to win any of their last four games in the Premier League. A win in this cup tie will hopefully help them regain the momentum they had before that run.

Morecambe are second from bottom in League 2 and a potential upset from them could give their season the kickstart it needs.

But I don't see it happening as I think Chelsea will win this one and handsomely, whatever team they field.

PREDICTION: 6-0

NORWICH V BRIGHTON

Norwich are having a patchy season so far in the Championship as they've been on good runs of form and also bad runs of form.

They are however four points outside the play offs following a run of three wins from their last four games, which have got their hopes back on track.

Brighton are without a win in any of their last eight games in the Premier League, and a win in this cup tie will hopefully give them the confidence and momentum to kick start their season.

The Seagulls haven't been clinical enough over the last month and that is because they haven't had someone who can regularly put in the ball in the net.

That is someone who Norwich have in Borja Sainz who is the top goal scorer in the Championship with 15 goals.

I fancy him to bag another in this cup tie and for Norwich to go through after extra time. The latter is because I think it will be very close during 90 minutes.

PREDICTION: 2-1 (AET)

NOTTINGHAM FOREST V LUTON

Nottingham Forest are the biggest overachievers of the season as they have Champions League football in their sights. And maybe the title as they're now six points behind Liverpool, who they play in their next game.

Nuno's side will definitely look to go on a cup run in this competition to go alongside the brilliant season they're having so far, and I think they can because of the form they're in.

Luton were expected to be competing near the top of the Championship at the start of the season, but instead they find themselves near the bottom.

Manager Rob Edwards is under pressure and a win in this cup tie could be turning points for both him and his team, who are desperate for results.

But I don't see that being the case here as I fancy Forest to come out on top here and win convincingly.

PREDICTION: 4-0

MAN CITY V SALFORD

Man City have got some confidence back on board recently following back to back wins over Leicester and West Ham. But they're still far from back to being the team we all know they are.

The FA Cup is realistically their best chance of ending the season with a trophy as they're well out of the title race in the Premier League. They can still make the last 16 of the Champions League, but I don't see them winning that competition because of the season they're having.

Salford are owned by some members of Man United's class of 92 including Gary Neville and Nicky Butt. They would love it if Salford were to pull off an upset against their former club's rivals.

The fans have been waiting for a game like this for years because I don't think their team have ever played against Premier League opposition.

Everyone associated with the club will also be looking forward to this game because of what I said earlier, and what a game like this could do for their finances.

City usually go strong when they play in the FA Cup and I'm expecting to do the same again in this one. But I do think they'll rest some players to keep their squad fresh.

Whatever team they play in this one, they should still win it fairly comfortably.

PREDICTION: 4-0

SUNDAY:

TAMWORTH V TOTTENHAM

Tamworth are one of the lowest ranked sides left in the competition and when the draw came out, their fans must've been bouncing.

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou said earlier in the season that he usually wins things in his second season at a club and that saying has been echoed right throughout the season.

It could come true though as his side have one foot in the Carabao Cup final after beating Liverpool in the first leg of their semi final last night, and they could go far in this competition too.

A run in this competition could be what they need to restart their season, which has so far been very frustrating for them due to the results they've had.

This one won't be easy for them as the pitch will be one they're not used to playing on and it could cause them problems in how they play.

But they'll still have enough quality to see themselves through.

PREDICTION: 0-3

ARSENAL V MAN UNITED

Arsenal missed a host of chances against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, where their need for a striker was proved further with the chances they missed.

I don't see them getting one in this transfer window because those kind of players aren't available at this time of year. They may have to wait till the summer, where that kind of player will be available.

I still think they'll win something this season though and the FA Cup might be that competition as they're behind in their Carabao Cup semi final and unlikely to win the Premier League, especially without that 20+ goal a season striker.

Man United put in arguably their best performance of the season against Liverpool where they showed more desire, fight and a better attitude.

Ruben Amorim will want his side to repeat that performance in this one as it's against another top team, and so his side can start building some consistency in both their performances and their results.

Their performance against Liverpool will give them confidence, but whether they can follow it up remains to be seen as they haven't been able to build on promising performances for roughly the past year and a half.

They will look to unsettle Arsenal like they unsettled Liverpool on Sunday, but I don't see building on that result.

Arsenal may be lacking that clinical no.9, but I still think they'll come out on top here and I think they'll win this game like they won the last meeting, with two goals from set pieces.

PREDICTION: 2-0

CRYSTAL PALACE V STOCKPORT

Crystal Palace have improved a lot over the past month or two in the league and Oliver Glasner will want his side to carry those improvements into the FA Cup.

Palace have gone on a few runs in this competition in the past and another one this season could aid their push up the Premier League table.

Oliver Glasner will probably make a lot of changes for this game like a lot of teams will, but I still think he'll field a strong enough team as he'll want his side to have a good crack at this competition.

Stockport have been one of the big overachievers in League 1 this season as they sit just three points outside the play offs.

But their form has dipped a bit recently following one win from their last five games, which has seen them drop out of the play offs.

I said earlier that Palace will make changes for this game, but I think whoever comes in will step up and help the Eagles reach the next round.

PREDICTION: 2-0

IPSWICH V BRISTOL ROVERS

Ipswich have been unlucky in a lot of their games this season in that they've put in some performances, but haven't been able to get the results t match them.

This cup tie could be a good distraction for them as a win for them here could give them the confidence to get results and climb of the Premier League relegation zone.

Kieran McKenna like most Premier League managers will probably make changes to his team for this one, and I say that because he'll want to save his key players for the Premier League and the upcoming relegation battle.

Bristol Rovers currently sit five points outside the relegation zone in League 1 and they come into this game off the back of beating Cambridge, which ended a seven game winless run.

A win in this cup tie will give them even more confidence to push up the league and away from the relegation zone. Most wins against higher league opposition in the FA Cup can do that.

Ipswich will probably makes changes for this game, but I still think they'll have enough to get the job done.

PREDICTION: 3-0

NEWCASTLE V BROMLEY

Newcastle already have one foot in a cup final after beating Arsenal in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi final on Tuesday.

It's been nearly 70 years since the Magpies last won a trophy and they'll be desperate to end that drought this season, in either competition.

Bromley are having a good and solid debut season in the Football League as they currently sit 12th in League 2.

They'll just go out there and enjoy the occasion in this one knowing that they're playing Premier League opposition. They may not get something from the game, but they'll still go out there and let the feeling sink in.

Newcastle will probably make changes for this one as Eddie Howe will want to keep some of his players fresh for the Premier League. But they should still get the job done without too many problems.

PREDICTION: 3-0

SOUTHAMPTON V SWANSEA

This game could've been called the Russell Martin derby had he still been charge of Southampton. But he isn't and life goes on.

An FA Cup run is what Southampton to instil any kind of positivity into their season which has been all doom and gloom so far.

They look good as gone in the Premier League and a run in this competition will give them the confidence to get some much needed results.

Swansea are having a steady season so far in the Championship after an up and down season last season.

Luke Williams has done a decent job so far and his team will fancy themselves to cause an upset here knowing how terrible the Saints have been all season.

With Southampton having literally no confidence at the moment, I'm backing the Swans to cause an upset and see themselves through to the next round.

PREDICTION: 0-2