Man City vs. Sheffield United Betting Tips: Two bets for FA Cup semi-final

Manchester City continue on their pursuit of the treble when they take on Championship outfit Sheffield United in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley on Saturday afternoon (ITV 1, 4.45pm).

Dean Woodward has previewed this cup clash and picked out his two best bets for the action in the capital...

Manchester City recently secured their place in the Champions League semi-finals for the third consecutive year, with an impressive 4-1 aggregate win over Bayern Munich.

They will be eager to keep their hopes of winning the illustrious treble alive by progressing to the FA Cup final, as well as maintaining their Premier League title hopes. 

Man City may be without defender Nathan Ake, who picked up a hamstring injury during their match against Bayern Munich, but the Dutchman will be hoping that it's not too serious.

City has no other injury worries, with Phil Foden back from appendix surgery and available for selection, although it's uncertain whether he'll start. If not, Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish could occupy the wide areas from the beginning. Guardiola may make some changes to his first XI, with Aymeric Laporte expected to start in defence if Ake is not fit to play.

Sheffield United, who are on the brink of securing promotion to the Premier League, will be aiming to pull off an upset and become the first lower-division team to beat a top-flight club in the FA Cup semi-finals since 1991/92.

Manchester City have won each of their last 21 domestic cup ties against lower-league opposition, making them heavy favorites to win on Saturday.

Nonetheless, Sheffield United have won their last four meetings with Manchester City in the competition, providing some optimism for the team.

For Sheffield United, they will be without loan players James McAtee and Tommy Doyle, who are ineligible to play against their parent club.

The team is also without Enda Stevens, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Ben Osborn, Rhian Brewster and Jack O'Connell due to injury. Wes Foderingham is available for selection after serving a two-match ban and could return in goal. In midfield, Oliver Norwood is expected to start alongside Sander Berge and John Fleck, while veteran striker Billy Sharp will push for a place up front alongside Iliman Ndiaye.

With Bet365 offering prop markets on the FA Cup, it's allowed me to delve into markets which take more of my interest. The one that caught my eye was the Sheffield United tackle line and here’s why.

Sheffield United have a pretty high tackle average in the Championship of 17.8 per game where they rank third in the respective league. This high average would have you thinking the 15.5 tackle line looks a good overs bet, but I beg to differ.

Man City are just incredible both in and out of possession, and when they have the ball, they very seldom give it away cheaply.

The last 18 (yes, eighteen) teams to face Manchester City have all failed to register 16 or more tackles. This stretch of games also includes the likes of Southampton, Crystal Palace, Wolves, and Leicester who all have a higher tackle per game average than Sheffield United, and yet they only combined for a total of 47 tackles against City in the four fixtures. 

Given how good the main line of 15.5 looks, it's hard not to have a nibble at the lower line of 11.5 at a nice 4/1.

The four teams mentioned above - Southampton, Crystal Palace, Wolves, and Leicester - who have all faced Man City recently with a higher tackle average than Sheffield United, three of the four games registered under 11.5 tackles deeming this bigger price also a winner.

Of the last 18 matches where the under 15.5 line has won, the under 11.5 line has also won eight times. That’s a whopping 44% strike rate.