MY ACCOUNT
– There are 22 FA Cup third-round fixtures coming up on Saturday
– Leicester will be looking to put their league woes behind them when they travel to League Two’s Gillingham
– West Ham are out for revenge for last week’s home loss to Brentford
Saturday’s slate of FA Cup third round matches features a good mix of potential giant killings and top-flight tussles on one of the most highly anticipated weekends of the domestic season.
Our Bet Builder tips cover two games, starting with Leicester’s trip to League Two’s bottom side Gillingham at lunchtime, before attention turns to Brentford against West Ham in an all-Premier League encounter.
Barnes can steer Leicester to round four
Bet 1: Leicester to win to nil
Leicester’s return from the World Cup break has not gone to plan with Fulham’s 1-0 success at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday making it three straight league defeats for the Foxes.
The injuries are piling up for boss Brendan Rodgers too as they get set to make the long trip to Kent to play on a far-from-ideal Priestfield pitch against a Gillingham side that held its own against Brentford and Wolves in the Carabao Cup this season.
However, while all the ingredients might be there for a cup upset, the Gills’ inability to score means FA Cup romantics are likely to be left disappointed.
Gillingham have managed just seven league goals all season and may struggle to cause too many problems for a Leicester side that has kept clean sheets in four of their last five away games.
The Foxes have dispatched lower league sides Newport and MK Dons to nil in the League Cup this season and can transfer that kind of form to the FA Cup.
Bet 2: Over two Leicester goals
Leicester are currently missing the creative qualities of James Maddison and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the Premier League, but their absences may not be as keenly felt against Gillingham.
The Foxes were ruthless when visiting MK Dons in the League Cup last month, securing a 3-0 win, and Rodgers’ side have scored at least twice in six of their last eight away games in all competitions.
Gillingham’s defensive record against League Two opposition may not be too bad — 28 goals conceded in 23 matches — but once the Foxes have broken the home side’s resistance, the goals could start to flow.
Bet 3: Harvey Barnes anytime goalscorer
Harvey Barnes could be one those to get amongst the goals for the visitors if pressed into service by Rodgers due to Leicester’s injury woes.
Had the Foxes been at full strength, Barnes may have been rested with one eye on the EFL Cup quarter-final tie at Newcastle on Tuesday, but he is likely to be needed at Priestfield.
Barnes has developed a knack for scoring in the FA Cup, netting at least once in the competition in each of the last three seasons.
The 25-year-old is not afraid to try his luck, having had two or more shots in five of Leicester’s last six games, and is one to watch out for in the clash in Kent.
Bees to be brought back down to earth
Bet 1: West Ham to win
Brentford enjoyed a brilliant festive period which included a 2-0 win at West Ham and was capped off by beating Liverpool at the Brentford Community Stadium.
The 3-1 victory over the Reds lifted Thomas Frank’s men to ninth in the standings, 11 points better off than the Hammers, who are now without a win in seven matches after a 2-2 draw at Leeds United in midweek.
While the form book suggests another win for Brentford, their recent cup results and David Moyes’ need to get a win to ease some of the pressure that has been building on the Iron boss means they are worth opposing.
Brentford have lost four of their last seven FA Cup ties and were dumped out of the League Cup by Gillingham this season.
West Ham have not failed to make it beyond the third-round stage since the 2016-17 season and could sneak through once more.
Bet 2: Over three goals in the match for both teams combined
There tends to be goals when these two sides are involved in FA Cup action with Brentford’s last four ties in the competition all producing three or more goals.
The 3-1 win over Liverpool was the fourth Brentford league game in the last five to feature at least three goals, while West Ham and Leeds shared four goals between them two nights later.
Bet 3: Both teams to score
West Ham can count themselves unlucky not to have at least grabbed a consolation in their recent league loss to Brentford.
Declan Rice hit the frame of the goal, one of several good chances wasted by the home side in the 2-0 defeat.
They looked sharper in front of goal at Leeds and have now scored in five of their last seven away games in all competitions.
The Hammers’ defensive frailties remain a concern for Moyes though and they may not keep out a Brentford side that has been scoring at an average of two goals per home game in the Premier League this season.
Get full control over your Bet Builder
With LiveScore Bet’s Bet Builder, you can edit your selections in the betslip.
So, whether you’ve built your own or chosen one of the pre-built ‘popular’ builders, you can change any of the individual selections without having to go back to the main menu.
To change a line, simply click on the selection, choose the new bet and return to the betslip.
