FA Cup 3rd Round Predictions

FRIDAY:

WREXHAM V NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Wrexham's rise up the Football League has been one of the stories of the last few years and they're having a pretty decent first season in the Championship.

Phil Parkinson's side are 9th and just a point outside the play offs and if anything, they're overachieving as I don't think many people expected them to be this high up.

They come into this game in the better form as they've won they're last four games which will give them a lot of confidence of causing an upset here.

Forest reached the semi finals of this competition last season and will will surely be looking to go far again this season to give their hopes of Premier League survival a boost.

Sean Dyche will probably make changes to his team for this game because he'll want to give his fringe players a chance and he'll also probably prioritise Premier League survival over a cup run.

But I do hope he plays a strong team because a good run in the cup can give a struggling team the confidence to stay in the league as I mentioned earlier.

Phil Parkinson has caused some cup upsets in the past including the time his Bradford side shocked Chelsea in 2015.

With the form his team are in, I'm backing him to add Forest to his list of Premier League upsets.

PREDICTION: 1-0

SATURDAY:

EVERTON V SUNDERLAND

Everton have really missed their absent stars and in particular Iliman N'Diaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall because of the energy and goals they bring to the team.

They're going to be without two more for this game in Michael Keane and Jack Grealish who are both suspended following their unnecessary red cards against Wolves in midweek.

David Moyes led the Toffees to an FA Cup final in his first spell back in 2009 where they lost to Chelsea and he'll no doubt want to take his side far again this season because they have nothing to play for in the Premier League, and he'll want to end his side's 31 year wait for a major trophy with the FA Cup being the last they won back in 1995.

Sunderland as well all know have had a brilliant first season back in the Premier League and will no doubt be looking to keep it up by going on a cup run.

Regis Le Bris' side are still without a number of players due to AFCON and they've arguably coped without their absent players than Everton have.

They might not have won any games since their AFCON stars departed, but they have still put in some decent performances and are still in the top ten of the Premier League.

Both teams will hopefully play strong teams for this game as they'll both want to go far in this competition and I can see them do that.

But I think Sunderland will be the side that reach the next round as Everton have not been in good form recently and especially at home.

PREDICTION: 1-2

MACCLESFIELD V CRYSTAL PALACE

Macclesfield are one of the lowest ranked sides left in the competition and both the players and their fans will be right up for this game with it being against Premier League opposition.

Cup holders Crystal Palace will probably make changes for this game with it being a cup tie against lower-league opposition and I feel they have to because of the amount of games they've played this season.

They've looked tired in recent games due to their lack of squad depth and this game will give Oliver Glasner the chance to rest some of his regulars and give some youngsters or fringe players a chance.

The Eagles won't feel at all comfortable in this game because of the pitch and Macclesfield will do all they can to frustrate the holders.

But Palace will still have more than enough to avoid a cup upset.

PREDICTION: 0-3

WOLVES V SHREWSBURY

Wolves really could do with a cup run so they can give their fans something to cheer about in what has been a rotten season for them so far.

They have however picked up some good results recently which have to some extent stopped the rot and given them something to build on for the rest of the season.

Shrewsbury have also had a tough season but not as bad as Wolves as they're currently 22nd in League 2 and just two points above the drop zone.

A cup upset from the Shrews in this one would certainly give them a confidence boost in their quest to stay in the Football League because they're currently a side without confidence following four straight defeats.

I can see Wolves play a strong team here as Rob Edwards will want his side to take this competition seriously knowing that they're pretty much good as gone.

Because of this I can see them get a rare win here and a comfortable one too.

PREDICTION: 3-0

BURNLEY V MILLWALL

Burnley haven't won since October and could do with a win in this cup tie to give them some confidence to take with them into their Premier League relegation battle.

Millwall won't make it easy for them in this one as they're a side who are always up for the fight and difficult to beat.

Alex Neil's side are 5th in the Championship and only three points outside the automatic spots but whilst they can make it difficult for teams, they don't score many goals.

I'm expecting this game to be a low scoring one as both teams are competitive and short on goals.

But I think Burnley will just edge it as they're at home and it's at home where their best performances have come.

PREDICTION: 1-0

FULHAM V MIDDLESBROUGH

Fulham have never won a major trophy in their history and they'll be looking to end that hoodoo this season because of the quality of squad they have.

The club have progressed so much under Marco Silva and with his contract set to expire in the summer, an FA Cup win could be a good parting gift for him if he decides to move on.

Middlesbrough have been in and around the top two of the Championship pretty much all season which is quite impressive given that they changed managers following Rob Edwards; departure to Wolves.

Kim Hellberg has kept them in contention ever since he was appointed and although his side did go through a sticky patch over Christmas, they did get their promotion bid back on track with victory over Southampton in their last game.

I think Marco Silva will field a strong team for this game as he'll want to his side to go far in this competition as I mentioned earlier to some extent.

Boro will give it a good go as they're a side who like to play on the front foot, but I think Fulham will have just enough to see themselves through.

PREDICTION: 2-0

MAN CITY V EXETER

Man City have reached the final of this competition in each of the last two seasons but only won one of them in 2023 during their treble winning season.

Pep Guardiola usually plays a strong team in cup competitions and I'm expecting him to do the same in this one because of how much he takes the cup competitions seriously.

I do think he'll make changes so he can give other players an opportunity, but I still see him field a strong team here.

Exeter are 14th in League 1 but three points above the relegation zone because of how congested the lower half of the table is.

But they won't be too worried about that as the bottom four are all in such torrid form at the moment.

City will definitely win this one because of the difference in quality between the two teams and I can see them winning it rather comfortably as I can see them field a strong team.

PREDICTION: 5-0

NEWCASTLE V BOURNEMOUTH

Newcastle were involved in an absolute classic against Leeds in midweek where they showed resilience and character to stay in the game and come from behind three times to win it.

Eddie Howe may want to make changes for this game following the amount of effort they put in to win that game but I don't see him making too many as he'll want to take his Newcastle side far in this competition.

Bournemouth ended their long wait for a win by beating Spurs in midweek and it was quite fitting that Antoine Semenyo got the winning goal in what was likely to be his last game for the club.

It will be interesting to see how they cope without him for the rest of the season because he has carried their attack for pretty much the entire season.

Both teams may feel a bit tired in this game after being involved in two separate goal fests in midweek.

But they'll still look to play on the front foot and go for the win as that is how they both like to play.

With Newcastle being at home and the record they have at home, I think Eddie Howe will get one over his old club in this one.

PREDICTION: 2-0

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY V BRENTFORD

Sheffield Wednesday have had a rotten season both on and off the pitch as they're rock bottom of the Championship with a negative points total after being deducted many points.

All the fans care about is their team showing fight and unity on the pitch and they have shown that in a number of their games this season.

Brentford are in fine form at the moment and are 5th in the Premier League following four wins from their last six games.

Keith Andrews' side would love to go on a cup run alongside the brilliant the season they're having and they're definitely capable of doing so because of the quality of players they have.

Wednesday will show a lot of fight and put in a performance their fans can be proud of as they have done a lot this season.

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

PREDICTION: 0-2

TOTTENHAM V ASTON VILLA

The atmosphere around Spurs is not nice at the moment as the team are doing poorly in the league and the fans are not happy with the football they're watching.

I thought Thomas Frank would be a good appointment when he came in because I thought he would make Spurs less gung-ho than they were under Ange Postecoglou.

But he's made them too pragmatic and less free flowing and that is why Spurs fans are not happy with the football they're watching.

This has to be the season where Aston Villa win a trophy because they're absolutely flying in the Premier League and are a team who are in their prime.

I think they'll win the Europa League because of the record Unai Emery has in that competition but I also fancy them to go far in the FA Cup.

They reached the semi finals last season and I fancy them to go as far if not further this season.

Winning this cup tie will set them on their way to doing that and with Spurs having such a poor record at home, I can only see a Villa win in this one.

PREDICTION: 0-2

CHARLTON V CHELSEA

This was once a Premier League fixture many years back and it could be many more ears till we see as one again.

Charlton are not in great form at the moment following one win from their last nine games during which they've lost seven.

They were in the top half and in and around the play offs during the autumn but since then they've slipped down the table and are now five points above the relegation zone.

Chelsea will have Liam Rosenior in charge for the first time in this one and he needs to get off to a good start if he is to win the fans over as there are probably quite a few who don't approve of his appointment.

He certainly needs to win this game because his new side are not in great form and a win here will certainly give them some much needed confidence.

I think he'll get off to a winning start here but I don't see the performance being perfect as he hasn't had much time with his players on the training field.

PREDICTION: 0-2

SUNDAY:

DERBY V LEEDS

Derby are having a solid season in the Championship as they're currently 13th in the table which is progress from their 19th placed finish from last season.

Leeds were involved in a Premier League classic in midweek against Newcastle and I felt sorry for them that they weren't able to hold on for the win after retaking the lead twice.

Daniel Farke's side have been poor in the FA Cup in recent seasons and it will be interesting to see what kind of team he sets up and if he'll take this competition seriously.

My guess if that he'll make a lot of changes here as he'll prioritise Premier League survival over progress in the FA Cup.

But I still think his side will get the job done here as I think they'll have the quality to do so.

PREDICTION: 1-3

PORTSMOUTH V ARSENAL

Portsmouth currently sit just a point above the relegation zone in the Championship and their main issue this season has without a doubt been goals.

They've scored the second fewest amount of goals in the Championship this season with 21 and I hope that they fix that problem soon because I want them to stay in the Championship which is where a club of their stature should be.

The FA Cup was the last and only trophy Arsenal and Mikel Arteta all the way back in 2020 in his first season at the club and the pressure is on him to win something this because.

There has been a lot of progress from Arsenal under his management but have no trophy to show for it and with the form they've shown this season and the strength of their squad, this has to be the season where they finally win something.

Arteta will probably make changes for this game as he'll want to give some of his fringe players an opportunity with this being a cup game against lower league opposition.

Whether he does make changes or not, this should still be a straightforward win for the Gunners because of the strength in depth they have.

PREDICTION: 0-3

WEST HAM V QPR

West Ham desperately need to win this game because they look like a side who have no confidence whatsoever.

The pressure is on Nuno Espirito Santo to get results and he needs one here because his team are out of form and he could potentially be sacked if they lose here.

But I hope that is not the case because he's a top manager and he needs to get players through the door so his side have the best possible chance of staying up.

QPR are doing a lot better than most people thought they would this season as they're currently 11th in the Championship and only three points outside the play offs.

Their form at the moment is rather mixed but better than the form West Ham are in which should give them confidence of causing an upset here.

But I think West Ham will show their Premier League quality here and see themselves through to the next round.

PREDICTION: 2-0

MAN UNITED V BRIGHTON

Man United will again have Darren Fletcher in charge for this one and it wouldn't surprise me if he was in charge for the remainder of the season.

There is still now news in relation to a permanent manager being appointed and I have no idea who it will be as there are no outstanding candidates.

I wasn't expecting Bruno Fernandes to be back against Burnley in midweek and it's good that they have him back because of how important he is for them.

Brighton have had some memorable wins against United in the past and they'll be hoping to add another to their collection in this one.

The Seagulls were beaten 4-2 in this fixture back in October which has been their only loss at Old Trafford in their last four visits there.

I think they'll get back at United here and see themselves through to the next round only because I think they'll look the more convincing on the day.

PREDICTION: 1-3

MONDAY:

LIVERPOOL V BARNSLEY

The FA Cup is Liverpool's most realistic chance of ending the season with a trophy as they're well out of the title race in the Premier League and are already out of the Carabao Cup.

They are still in the Champions League and they are still targeting to win that competition despite the below par season they're having. But I don't see them winning that competition because there are a number of teams better than them in that competition.

I wonder how many changes Arne Slot will make to his team in this one following last season's failed experiment against Plymouth where he made wholesale changes and his side went out of the competition.

Barnsley knocked the reds out in this competition and in this very fixture back in 2008 which is one of the greatest FA Cup shocks in the history of the competition.

Conor Hourihane's side will no doubt be hoping to repeat that upset in this one and they'll believe that they as Liverpool are not playing at their best at the moment.

Liverpool will make changes for this game, but I still think they'll field a strong enough side to see themselves through to the next round.

PREDICTION: 2-0