4256: Prediction Panel 2006/7: FA Cu

by : Antony Melvin

Down to the last eight of the cup and there are only two clubs from the top six left with an interest in the tournament. Could this be the year when an unheralded winner comes through? The big match is at Stamford Bridge where Chelsea play Tottenham. Chelsea rarely lose to Spurs, rarely look like losing at home and are in great form. Blackburn have a great chance to book an FA Cup semi-final berth when they host a Man City side suffering a crisis of confidence. At the Riverside Middlesbrough face Manchester United and have a very good record against the league leaders. And finally the two lowest placed teams, in league terms, Plymouth and Watford meet to decide who will play Chelsea in the semi-final.

Saturday, 10 March 2007

Middlesbrough (12) vs Manchester United (1), KO 17:30

The draw specialists Middlesbrough are struggling a bit for form with just two wins in the last ten games. Becalmed in mid-table if Middlesbrough want European football next season then they need this cup run to reach Wembley (always assuming that Wemb... etc.). Middlesbrough have a good record against United and a decent home record all told - so this would not be a fixture that they would fear. United may have won nine of the last ten, but the wins are getting increasingly fortuitous and as injury and suspension problems mount there have to be doubts over their focus on this competition.

The panel are torn between a draw and an away win.

FORM
Middlesbrough Last 10; W2, D7, L1, F15, A13
Manchester United Last 10; W9, D1, L0, F21, A5

PREDICTIONS
Colin Illingworth: 2-3
Hugh Larkin: 1-2
Antony Melvin: 1-1
Stephen Orford: 1-1

Sunday, 11 March 2007

Blackburn Rovers (10) vs Manchester City (17), KO 16:00

A Lancashire derby and Blackburn go into the tie as strong favourites as they are getting close to threatening the top six. City are in some relegation trouble - and with a desperately difficult run-in could become becalmed. The rumblings over Stuart Pearce's tenure grow stronger each week so there are some interesting subtexts. But the big picture is that both sides will try to keep it tight - but Blackburn have such talent in Bentley and McCarthy that you would expect them to get the goals to win the tie.

The panel are unanimously behind Blackburn.

FORM
Blackburn Rovers Last 10; W5, D2, L3, F14, A9
Manchester City Last 10; W4, D2, L4, F12, A13

PREDICTIONS
Colin Illingworth: 3-1
Hugh Larkin; 3-1
Antony Melvin: 2-0
Stephen Orford: 2-0

Chelsea (2) vs Tottenham Hotspur (8), KO 12:45

The big match of the weekend pits two teams - and two sets of supporters that simply don't like each other. Chelsea will be strong favourites as their recent cup successes have already resulted in silverware - but Spurs can call on their White Hart Lane victory earlier in the season when Aaron Lennon was at his beguiling best. Surely Spurs' hopes rest on 'parking a bus' and hoping for something on the break or a replay? I'm not expecting this to be pretty.

The panel is surprisingly split with only half going for the obvious home win.

FORM
Chelsea Last 10; W9, D1, L0, F25, A3
Tottenham Hotspur Last 10; W6, D1, L3, F24, A19

PREDICTIONS
Colin Illingworth: 3-1
Hugh Larkin; 1-1
Antony Melvin: 2-0
Stephen Orford: 0-1

Plymouth (C12) vs Watford (19), KO 18:00

Plymouth have done well in this tournament and there is little doubt that a home match against Watford is the best draw they could get if they hoped to progress (in terms of cash an away trip to Old Trafford would be most lucrative). Equally Watford must be happy to be playing the only non-Premiership team left in the competition. Could all this happiness yield goals?

This is too close to call for the panel who see a draw.

FORM
Plymouth Last 10; W4, D4, L2, F16, A11
Watford Last 10; W4, D2, L4, F8, A14

PREDICTIONS
Colin Illingworth: 2-1
Hugh Larkin; 0-1
Antony Melvin: 2-2
Stephen Orford: 0-0

(in brackets are current league positions, all except Plymouth are in the Premiership - Plymouth are in the Championship)