Monday, February 21, 2011

FA Cup Betting: Manchester City v Notts County

FA Cup RSS / Feizal Rahman / 19 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

It's eight goals in eight games for Carlos

It's eight goals in eight games for Carlos

"With another shot to finish the job against Paul Ince’s spirited side on home soil, City should ensure that the Magpies’ chance has flown."

County's cup run should finish here, says Feizal Rahman, who has dug up a few bets to accompany that eventuality

The oldest club in England will take on the richest once again as Notts County travel to Manchester City for this FA Cup fourth round replay, with Aston Villa awaiting the winner. The Magpies were ten minutes away from causing a huge upset in the original tie at Meadow Lane, until £27m Edin Dzeko equalised with his first City goal.

City midfielders Nigel de Jong and James Milner could miss out with ankle and hamstring problems, however, striker Mario Balotelli may feature having completed his knee rehabilitation. County have doubts over Lewis Gobern with Alan Judge and David Martin ruled out. Loanees, Conor Clifford and Kevin McDonald, are ineligible though Liam Chilvers could return.

Match Odds
County's win over Colchester United in midweek was their first in seven games, having hit a barren patch since the turn of the year. Yet, County are unbeaten in five away from Meadow Lane and proved they can go to a Premier League ground and win with a 2-1 victory at Sunderland in the previous round.

City are also on a relatively fruitless run with just a single victory over a struggling West Brom to their name in the last six in all competitions - five of which have been played away. Having lost the Manchester derby thanks to a Wayne Rooney wonder goal, City went on to toil against Aris Salonika in the Europa League, held to a frustrating goalless draw.

Roberto Mancini's men have won their last five at Eastlands, however, and will be confident of finally putting away their League One opponents. With another shot to finish the job against Paul Ince's spirited side on home soil, City should ensure that the Magpies' chance has flown.

In a head-to-head history spanning 118 years, County have won only three times at City, losing each of their last five visits - the most recent being in 1998. City currently trade at [1.23] to win in normal time with County out at [17.0] and the Draw around [7.4].

Over/Under 3.5 Goals
For all their multi-million pound attacking firepower, under Mancini, City's game has been based on a stereotypical defensive Italian style. Yet, it is this safety-first approach that has elevated them to the top three in the Premier League with goals conceded in just three of the last ten fixtures played at home, while themselves averaging two goals scored per game.

Six of the last eight fixtures at Eastlands have seen three goals or more - half of those producing four or greater. For their part, Notts County have failed to score in only a quarter of their 16 away fixtures this term and with both teams sure to go for it, Over 3.5 Goals may attract at [2.2].

Other Markets
Only twice in the last eight at home have City failed to be leading at the break - three times taking at least a two-goal lead. They can be backed be ahead at by a 2-0 Half Time Score at around [5.0] with the Man City/Man City Half Time/Full Time result available at [1.7] and [2.09] on offer for City to win -2.0 goals via the In-Play Asian handicap markets.

City captain, Carlos Tevez, has struck eight times in his last eight appearances and hit three in his last home game. The Argentinean is the [3.25] favourite to be the First Goalscorer and around [11.0] To Score a Hat-Trick. Each of the last five contests at Eastlands has seen a spot-kick awarded and the Penalty Taken market will go around [4.0] about there being six in a row.

Recommended Bets:
Best Bet: Back Man City/Man City HT/FT @ [1.7]
Back Over 3.5 Goals @ [2.2]; Back 'Yes' Penalty Taken @ [4.0]

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