MY ACCOUNT
– There are 11 FA Cup fourth-round matches coming up on Saturday
– Leicester are back amongst the goals and can see off lower-tier Walsall
– Southampton have won three of their last four cup matches, scoring twice in each
Two struggling Premier League clubs have opportunities to progress at the expense of lower-level opponents in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday.
Kelechi Iheanacho has a fine scoring pedigree in the FA Cup and he can play his part in ensuring Leicester avoid a slip-up against lower-league Walsall.
Southampton have been enjoying some cup success of late, which includes beating Manchester City, and home advantage can help them avoid the banana skin of Blackpool.
Foxes can put league woes behind them
Bet 1: Match result will be Leicester
Leicester may not be in the best moment of form when it comes to the Premier League, but there are not many clubs with a better recent FA Cup pedigree,
The Wembley winners in 2020-21 have come out on top in 11 of their last 13 FA Cup ties, eight of them without conceding.
League One opponents Walsall have lost three of their last four home FA Cup games and will probably struggle without suspended centre-back Manny Monthe and cup-tied new signing Jamille Matt for this clash.
Bet 2: Both teams to score
Walsall boss Mike Flynn has promised to give it a go against a much stronger team on Saturday and that could lead to goals at both ends.
As Newport boss, he sent the Foxes crashing out at the third-round stage four years ago with a 2-1 victory and knows that on these occasions, it is always better to go down fighting.
Bet 3: Kelechi Iheanacho to score anytime
The Nigerian has been much more prolific in the cup than in league play over his Leicester career and can boast an incredible tally of 16 strikes in his last 22 FA Cup outings, including six in his last six.
Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers seems more inclined to play with two forwards when going up against lower-tier sides in the cup and that aids Iheanacho, who lashed home Leicester’s only goal against Gillingham in round three after a touch from Jamie Vardy.
Bet 4: Over two match goals for Leicester
The last time the Foxes faced League One opponents they raced into a 3-0 lead just after half-time and then eased down against Milton Keynes Dons in December.
This may not be as trouble-free, but they are back among the goals again after striking twice against Brighton last weekend.
Home advantage can help Saints through
Bet 1: Match result will be Southampton
The Premier League team are worth siding with in this contest as they have a bigger squad, more quality all over the pitch and home advantage.
Saints boss Nathan Jones will know Blackpool well from managing former club Luton against them — and getting a 1-0 win — earlier this season.
He has had some mixed fortunes in the league since taking charge at St Mary’s, but has recorded three wins out of four in cup competitions.
Opponents Blackpool, meanwhile, are adjusting to life under new boss Mick McCarthy, who has not taken a team beyond the fourth round since his Wolves side reached the fifth stage in 2008.
Bet 2: Over two goals in the match for both teams combined
Southampton were denied goals in their last two games by VAR reviews, but prior to that had scored exactly two goals in three straight victories over Premier League opponents.
Meanwhile, they have only kept one clean sheet in their last five games and the absence of suspended centre-back Duje Caleta-Car for this game probably enhances Blackpool’s prospects of grabbing a goal too.
At least two goals have been scored in six of Blackpool’s last seven away games and, with James Ward-Prowse a menace from free-kicks, Saints should get on the scoresheet at least twice in this game.
Bet 3: Adam Armstrong to score two or more in the match
Southampton striker Armstrong appears to be one of those goalscorers who can consistently rack up 20 goals a season in the Championship, but struggles to get into double figures in the Premier League.
He hit 44 goals in 86 games for second-tier Blackburn in the two seasons prior to joining the Saints, since when he has managed to hit the back of the net just three times in 42 appearances.
Armstrong has been enjoying himself in cup competitions recently, scoring Southampton’s winner at Crystal Palace in round three and only being denied an equaliser in their Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg loss to Newcastle on Tuesday by a close VAR review.
He should enjoy facing Championship defenders again this weekend and may even double up with two goals in the game — as he did when he last faced Blackpool in Blackburn’s colours.
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