Our attention turns to the FA Cup this weekend with 32 Third Round ties set to take place over three days, Saturday through til Monday.
Former footballer and manager turned BBC Sport ‘football expert’ Mark Lawrenson has given his verdict on who might spring a surprise. Find out what he said below and on the next few pages…
SHEFFIELD UTD v AFC FYLDE
The score Mark Lawrenson has predicted is: 2-0
Places between both sides: 104
He said: “This is the first time AFC Fylde have played a Premier League club and it is going to be a great day for them – this is the biggest game in their history.
“I don’t give them much hope of an upset because they are away from home and are in a relegation scrap in the National League, but this tie is a reward for their fans who have followed their rise up the non-league pyramid.
“Some people might see Sheffield United as dark horses for the FA Cup this season but I actually think they will have bigger fish to fry in terms of their league position, and focusing on finishing as high as possible in the Premier League.
“At the moment the Blades are on course for their best top-flight finish since they finished sixth in 1974-75, and if they stay in the top half then that would be a big achievement in itself.”
MAN CITY v PORT VALE
The score Mark Lawrenson has predicted is: 3-0
Places between both sides: 74
He said: “Manchester City are the FA Cup holders and are clearly going to be overwhelming favourites to progress here.
“But this is another tie where a smaller club will get a pretty substantial windfall from the gate receipts and, when you look at what has happened to the likes of Bury and Macclesfield recently, you realise how important this game is going to be for Port Vale’s finances.”
ROCHDALE v NEWCASTLE
The score Mark Lawrenson has predicted is: 1-1* *Away team to win at home in the replay
Places between both sides: 49
He said: “Newcastle have got a whole load of injuries to deal with after their festive programme. Yes, they knew they had a busy schedule just like every else did, but if you don’t have the biggest of squads then you are not able to rotate like the big teams do, and you pay the price.
“The Magpies have been left short defensively, which will not help here, and they are going to find it tough if they try to rest too many more players at Spotland (also known as Crown Oil Arena), because it is a tight little ground and it feels like the crowd are breathing down your neck.
“Rochdale had a scare themselves in the second round, where they needed a replay to beat non-league Boston, but they held Tottenham here in the fifth round a couple of years ago and they will be confident of doing the same on Saturday, and securing another pay-day with a replay.”
BURNLEY v PETERBOROUGH
The score Mark Lawrenson has predicted is: 2-0
Places between both sides: 35
He said: “Burnley are on a run of three defeats in the Premier League but their tie with Peterborough could actually help them get their season back on track, to boost their confidence as much as anything.
“The Clarets are meant to be watching Peterborough striker Ivan Toney, who is the top scorer in League One with 15 goals, so they will get a chance to take a closer look at him at Turf Moor.”
WATFORD v TRANMERE
The score Mark Lawrenson has predicted is: 2-0
Places between both sides: 46
He said: “While Watford are on the up, Tranmere are struggling a bit – they got thumped at home by Coventry on New Year’s Day – and it is hard to see them getting anything at Vicarage Road.
“There is an argument that Hornets boss Nigel Pearson will see the FA Cup as a distraction from their relegation fight so this is a game he could do without.
“But, now they are winning again and playing well, another victory will build even more momentum.”
GILLINGHAM v WEST HAM
The score Mark Lawrenson has predicted is: 1-2
Places between both sides: 39
He said: “New West Ham boss David Moyes is in a similar situation before his side’s trip to Gillingham, where he is looking to keep things going, so it will be interesting to see how many changes he and Pearson make.
“The Gills have got an excellent home record – they had won seven in a row at Priestfield before Wednesday’s draw with Pompey – but it is only a short hop for the Hammers so they will have a big following and I would back them to edge this one.
“For all of these top-flight sides playing lower-division teams, it is a case of picking a team that you think is capable of beating the opposition.
“That’s different to a lot of Premier League games, because half the time you are only thinking about stopping the opposition. If you are going out to win, then you pick your strongest side.
“For various reasons, that is not going to happen this weekend, so the challenge is to get the balance right between resting players and winning the tie.”
BRIGHTON v SHEFFIELD WED
The score Mark Lawrenson has predicted is: 2-1
Places between both sides: 13
He said: “Sheffield Wednesday have had a bit of a slump since Christmas, suffering three straight defeats, but I don’t think that is any real cause for concern – that is just what it is like in the Championship where lots of teams go on very good runs, then go a few games without a win.
“I would back Brighton to beat them, though, and the Seagulls might fancy a bit of a FA Cup run this year because they have got a bigger squad, and there is a bit of a buzz about the way they are playing under Graham Potter.”
FULHAM v ASTON VILLA
The score Mark Lawrenson has predicted is: 1-1* *Away team to win at home in the replay
Places between both sides: 8
He said: “As far as other shocks go, Fulham are decent at home and Aleksandar Mitrovic will be a handful for Aston Villa, who I think will be happy to take the tie back to their place.
“Villa tried a different formation, a 3-4-3, in their win over Burnley last time out. It worked, but they saw striker Wesley and goalkeeper Tom Heaton get injured, which will not help them on Saturday.”
SOUTHAMPTON v HUDDERSFIELD
The score Mark Lawrenson has predicted is: 2-0
Places between both sides: 28
He said: “Southampton have impressed me lately and they should be too strong for Huddersfield.”
PRESTON v NORWICH
The score Mark Lawrenson has predicted is: 0-2
Places between both sides: 9
He said: “I think it will be the same story for Norwich against my old team Preston. I hate to tip my own side to be beaten, but I am not expecting any surprises there.
“We are at Deepdale for Focus earlier on Saturday but, speaking as a Preston fan, this tie has come at a bad time for us. We looked exhausted against Middlesbrough.”
BOURNEMOUTH v LUTON
The score Mark Lawrenson has predicted is: 2-0
Places between both sides: 26
He said: “Like Norwich, Bournemouth badly need a win and they should get it against Luton, who are bottom of the Championship and cannot stop shipping goals – they have conceded 56 in 26 league games this season, so more than two a game.”
LEICESTER v WIGAN
The score Mark Lawrenson has predicted is: 2-0
Places between both sides: 40
He said: “Last season Leicester suffered a shock exit in round three at the hands of Newport County after making a load of changes but that was under Claude Puel.
“Things are very different with Brendan Rodgers in charge, as we saw when he rested lots of people over Christmas and his side still beat West Ham.”
“Wigan got their first league away win of the season when they beat Birmingham this week, but while they will make life difficult for the Foxes, I don’t see them beating them.”
Find out more of Mark Lawrenson’s FA Cup Third Round score predictions by clicking on the next page.
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