18-01-2011. FA Cup Preview

Cariff City – Stoke City

With arguably one of the strongest squads in the Championship, including England striker Jay Bothroyd and Manchester City loanee Craig Bellamy, there is an argument to make the hosts favourites for the upcoming clash with Stoke.

The first tie was a tight affair, with Cardiff taking the lead through Michael Chopra only for Sanli Tuncay to equalise and force the game into a replay. With Cardiff prioritising promotion and Stoke aiming to reach the magic 40 point mark in the Premier League as quickly as possible, you'd be forgiven for thinking that this game may be a somewhat dispassionate affair. But there'll not be a chance of that happening, and with two full-blooded teams who hate to lose, expect fireworks in South Wales.

Cardiff City

After conceding an agonising last-gasp goal in a 1-1 draw with Norwich City this weekend, Dave Jones will look to lift his players ahead of Tuesday evening's FA Cup Third Round replay against Stoke.

The Bluebirds are likely to start with an unchanged side from the clash at Carrow Road, with star striker Jay Bothroyd unlikely to feature until the weekend as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury.

Bothroyd's misfortune is new signing Jon Parkin's gain, who, after scoring on his debut on Saturday, will look to continue to stake his claim for a regular first-team place after joining the Championship side from Preston at the beginning of the month.

Possible starting XI: Heaton; McNaughton, Naylor, Hudson, Quinn; Whittingham, McPhail, Olofinjana, Bellamy; Chopra, Parkin.

Stoke City

Tony Pulis may look to rotate his side following the Potters' 2-0 victory over Bolton at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

Eidur Gudjohnsen is the club's only notable absence through injury (neck) leaving Pulis an almost full squad to pick from after he chose to rest a number of first team regulars in the first clash against Cardiff earlier this January.

After scoring in the first tie between the two clubs, Tuncay could again start after a virtuoso performance against Bolton.

Possible starting XI: Sorensen; Wilkinson, Higginbotham, Faye, Collins; Pennant, Whelan, Wilson, Pugh; Tuncay, Jones.

Wolves – Doncaster

The first tie between these sides had it all: goals, a penalty and a sending off. Expect a similarly exciting match-up on Tuesday evening as both sides look for a win for the right to play the winners of Stoke versus Cardiff at home in the fourth round, teams that both of these sides would feel confident against.

The last time these two teams faced each other prior to last week's draw was as recently as the 2008-9 season, when Wolves did the double over the South Yorkshire side as they went on to claim the Championship title.

Wolves

Mick McCarthy's side will feel that they were unlucky not to gain anything from trip to Eastlands on Saturday where they eventually succumbed to a 4-3 defeat.

Captain Karl Henry may possibly start as he makes his comeback from a two-month lay off with a knee injury. Henry will most likely take the place of David Edwards who is set to miss out with a hamstring injury.

George Elokobi continues his three-game suspension that was picked up in the first match-up between these two sides and that may pave the way for Stephen Ward or Steven Moyoukolo to step into the Wolves defence. It may be too soon for Jody Craddock, who has been out since November, to start the game but he is likely to play some part.

Possible starting XI: Hennessey; Zubar, Stearman, Berra, Ward; Jarvis, Foley, Henry, Hunt; Fletcher, Doyle.

Doncaster

Following a comprehensive 3-0 defeat to Reading on Saturday, Sean O'Driscoll's side will look to bounce back with a positive performance at Molineux.

Despite languishing in a disappointing 15th place in the Championship, Rovers will still see themselves as potential play-off contenders and that effort will only have been bolstered by the return to full fitness of Martin Woods, who returned to the first team line-up on Saturday, replacing Sam Hird in the process.

Possible starting XI: Sullivan, Lockwood, O'Connor, Mills, Chambers, Wilson, Coppinger, Woods, Oster, Sharp, Hayter.

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FA Cup 3rd round replays Opta Facts - 18-19 January

Statistics and facts to help your football betting are available every week at Sta Sam Ti Reko courtesy of Opta Sportsdata, Europe's leading provider of sports performance statistics.

Cardiff City v Stoke City

• Stoke have won three and lost none of the last five meetings with the Bluebirds.
• Cardiff have only won one of their last 11 matches in the FA Cup against top flight opposition.
• The Welsh side have only lost three of their last 14 FA Cup matches.
• Cardiff have only lost one of their last 25 matches in the FA Cup on home soil.
• Cardiff have won none of their last five matches against Stoke City.
• Michael Chopra has scored in his last two appearances for Cardiff against Stoke City.

Manchester City v Leicester City

• Manchester City played Leicester City in the 1969 FA Cup final, with the Citizens winning 1-0.
• Man City have prevailed on the last five occasions they have been drawn against the Foxes in the FA Cup.
• Only one of the last 11 meetings in all competitions between Man City and Leicester has ended as a home win and none of the last seven.
• Man City have won four and lost none of their seven home FA Cup matches against Leicester.
• The Citizens have kept just two clean sheets in their last 12 FA Cup games on home soil.
• The Foxes have only kept two clean sheets in their last 15 FA Cup matches.

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Doncaster Rovers

• Wolves have won five and lost just one of their seven matches against Doncaster.
• Rovers have failed to score in five of their seven games against Wolves.
• Doncaster's last FA Cup win against a top flight team came in 1985 when they beat QPR 1-0.
• All three meetings between Wolves and Doncaster at Molineux have ended as wins by a single goal margin.
• Wolves have only won one of their last six FA Cup matches on home soil.
• Doncaster have only won one of their last 14 FA Cup matches against opponents from a higher division.

Leeds United v Arsenal

• The last four times Arsenal and Leeds have been drawn together in the FA Cup, the eventual winner of the tie has triumphed on their opponent's turf.
• Only one of the last eight matches between Leeds and Arsenal has ended as a home win and five were away victories.
• This is the 24th time Arsenal have been drawn against lower league opponents in the FA Cup, Arsenal have never lost and this is only the fourth time they have been taken to a replay.
• Arsenal have played six FA Cup replays against Leeds United, losing none, drawing three and winning three.
• Arsenal have won five of the last six FA Cup replays they have played (one on penalties).
• The last three times Arsenal have been eliminated at the Third Round Stage came against lower league opponents and the last two in replays.
• Leeds have scored exactly one goal in each of their last five home matches against Arsenal.
• Arsenal have won their last three trips to Elland Road by a 4-1 scoreline.

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SPL Opta Facts - 18 January

Statistics and facts to help your football betting are available every week at Sta Sam Ti Reko courtesy of Opta Sportsdata, Europe's leading provider of sports performance statistics.

Kilmarnock v Hearts

• Killie´s 3-0 win at Tynecastle earlier this season ended a run of five straight defeats against Hearts.
• The Jambos are unbeaten in their last three trips to Rugby Park, winning the last two.
• Kilmarnock (24) and Hearts (28) have picked up more points in their last 11 matches than any other SPL side.
• Conor Sammon has bagged six goals in Kilmarnock´s last five league games at home.
• Hearts have won eight of their last nine league matches.
• Former Killie man Kevin Kyle has scored in Hearts´ last four league matches, three times from the penalty spot.

Rangers v Inverness CT

• Caley Thistle are unbeaten in their last three meetings with Rangers, winning one and drawing two.
• Inverness are unbeaten in 41% of their meetings with the Old Firm, no other SPL side has a better record against these two teams.
• Caley Thistle have lost just one of their last 21 league away games.
• However they have failed to score in the last two.
• Rangers have won only two of their last five league games at Ibrox.

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17-01-2011 21:00 Atletico Madrid - Mallorca

Considering The Derby Blues

In a madcap derby encounter on Thursday evening, Atletico Madrid once again fell short of fierce city-rivals Real, who benefitted from los Colchoneros’ inability to defend to claim a 3-1 advantage heading into next week’s second leg encounter. Atleti won’t have long to ponder the loss, as they are immediately faced with a difficult Monday night encounter against Mallorca.

Coach Quique Sanchez Flores was angry about his club being forced to play at the same time last week, labelling it an insult to Atletico Madrid to make them play at such an unconventional hour. And against Hercules, his players played like they were in a strop, leaking three first half goals en route to an embarrassing 4-1 loss against the newly promoted side.

An improvement was certainly evident in midweek against los Blancos, but after going 1-0 up thanks to a Diego Forlan tap-in before 10 minutes had been played, the home side were allowed to dictate what was a franticly exciting match to watch.

While Flores pondered the ability of his side to bounce back from their Copa del Rey deficit, which was made problematic by the concession of a 90th minute Mesut Oezil goal, he was also keen to stress that the Primera Division cannot be allowed to go forgotten.

Champions League hopes for los Colchoneros are fading after a run of two wins in six matches and seven points back of fourth placed Valencia, no silly slips can be afforded.

Dangerous Islanders

Mallorca are locked with Atletico Madrid on 27 points, but their goal at the start of the season was far more modest. Taking over an outfit bereft of finances and stripped of their best players, Michael Laudrup was simply instructed to guide the Balearic club away from relegation, but on the verge of the season’s halfway point, els Barralets can again hope to finish in the European spots.

Europa League football was denied to the Islanders last term on behalf of their poor financial state, and if they were to achieve a finish as lofty as last season’s fifth, it would be an utterly remarkable achievement.

Laudrup’s men remain a strong force at the Estadio Iberostar – though they are no longer the all conquering side they were at the venue last season – but the Dane wants to oversee an improvement in the club’s fortunes away from home. A draw in Barcelona and wins over Sevilla and Valencia have shown that they are capable, but against the so-called lesser sides they have been impotent.

There is certainly confidence in the camp. Emilio Nsue remarked to the media: “We can do damage [at the Vicente Calderon]. They are a strong team, and difficult to play against, and they are a rival that can often be a mystery, but we must trust ourselves because we know we can beat them.”

Bristling with confidence, Mallorca could strike a big blow in the race for a top five finish on Monday.

TEAM NEWS

Atletico

Sergio Aguero and Mario Suarez fail to make the cut due to injuries, but Tiago returns after a three game absence because of hamstring complaints.

Mallorca

Akihiro Ienaga is called into the squad, but Ivan Ramis is left out as a precautionary measure. Marti is sidelined with an injury.

Prediction

Atletico Madrid may have strengthened their side, but they will take time to gel and could be caught focussing on Thursday’s repeat encounter against Real Madrid. Mallorca’s away record is poor, but they have claimed some impressive points on their travels this season and perhaps should be fancied to upset the odds once again in the capital.

Atletico Madrid 1-2 Mallorca

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