FA Cup Cheat Sheet: Football tips, stats and offers

With the Premier League taking a break this weekend, the FA Cup takes centre stage which means our weekly Cheat Sheet feature will be tailored towards the prestigious cup competition.

There are a number of eye-catching fixtures on show, with many lower league sides pitting their wits against some of the biggest sides in the English game and I've done my research to bring you some informed tips which could be worth following. Shall we get started?

Top three BTTS plays this weekend according to the stats

First, we’re looking at the both teams to score market to try and find you some goals galore value. 

My three BTTS tips for this weekend are as follows:

QPR v Fulham - 10/11

• The last six meetings between these two sides has seen both teams score
• Fulham have leaked goals this season (23 conceded in 15 league games), whilst QPR also have one of the worst defensive records in the Championship having shipped 30, this would suggest that there will be plenty of openings at Loftus Road
• A west London derby, there should be plenty of goals in this one as both sides will be eager to defeat their rivals and make it through to the next round

Stoke v Leicester - 19/20 

• The last three games between Stoke and Leicester has seen BTS
• Leicester have scored 10 goals in their last 6 matches

Brentford v Middlesbrough - 19/20

• Brentford have scored the third-most goals in the league this season (36)
• Middlesbrough's last three matches have been BTTS

Treble pays: 6/1 with bet365

Three Anytime Goalscorer Tips for the FA Cup third round

Bit of a tough one to call this weekend with so many managers set to rotate their squads, but I reckon these three players - each of whom have seen playing time limited this season - could all be in line for starts, and if they are then you would fancy them to find the net against their respective opponents. 

Mason Greenwood v Watford -  6/4 to score anytime

• Greenwood should feature here given his lack of consistent playing time this season, and always poses such an attacking threat when he plays
• The young Englishman's pace and directness should cause Watford plenty of problems and I can see him getting in behind to find the net here

Callum Hudson-Odoi v Morecambe - 7/4 to score anytime

• CHO has looked really sharp coming off the bench for Chelsea this season, and like Greenwood should feature from the outset given his limited playing time
• The England international has scored 4 goals in 15 apps (all comps) so far but should prove too much for League Two side Morecambe to handle

Sergio Aguero v Birmingham - 11/20 to score anytime

• Aguero was fit enough for the bench during City's League Cup semi-final win over United in midweek and has Pep has hinted in a start for the Argentine this weekend
• The 32-year-old has a good record in the FA Cup - scoring 20 goals in the competition since 2011/12. He will be desperate to get his season up and running with a goal against the Blues

Treble pays: 9/1 with 888sport

Ref Watch: Top three officials to back for/against in the cards market this weekend

Everton v Rotherham, Stuart Attwell - Over 1 card for Rotherham

• Rotherham have the third-worst discipline record in the Championship this season (38Y and 2R) and I expect them to be chasing the game against a strong Everton side, where they could become frustrated and commit silly fouls leading to bookings
• Attwell loves dishing out the cards, brandishing 48Y and 1R in just 9 PL and 1 Championship appearances this season - an average of 4.78 p.g in the top-flight

Man Utd v Watford, Andy Madley - Under 4 match cards

• Madley is well known to be a lenient referee; this season he has averaged just 2.5Y p.g (no reds)
• The last time these two met there was only 1 card awarded (Watford)

Stoke v Leicester, Tony Harrington - Over 3 match cards

• Stoke have picked up more cards than any side in the Championship this season (43Y, 1R)
• Leicester are the Premier League's worst offenders when it comes to cards, picking up 35 yellows so far. Put together, this should be a feisty affair

Longshot bet of the week

The FA Cup has long been known to produce some of the biggest upsets in football history, and we're certainly hoping for some more shocks as the third round is introduced this weekend.

Our man Anthony Eadson has picked out a very tasty looking 56/1 longshot treble with William Hill.

Huddersfield to beat Plymouth - 10/11

• Huddersfield have lost just one of their last seven games at home, while Plymouth are winless on the road since November 7th

Bristol Rovers to beat Sheffield Utd - 18/5

• Bristol Rovers have won four of their last five games under Paul Tisdale. They host Sheffield United who have just two points from 17 league games with morale incredibly low

Newport to beat Brighton - 6/1

• Newport are second in League Two and manager Michael Flynn has wins over Leicester, Leeds, Middlesborough in this competition in recent years with this side, as well as taking Spurs to a replay back in 2017/18

The best bookmaker offers this weekend: