There are a host of FA Cup matches taking place on Sunday and we have picked out our three best bets from the fixture list.
There are five FA Cup fourth-round ties on Sunday, with five Premier League teams hoping to avoid an upset against lower-league opposition.
Arsenal, who went into the weekend at 9/2 to win the FA Cup host League One Wigan at the Emirates, while Leeds United head to Birmingham City in another intriguing tie.
We have three selections for Sunday’s action.
U’s to trouble Premier League Black Cats
Sunderland have surpassed all expectations on their return to the Premier League, but that may not be carried through to the FA Cup.
The Black Cats huffed and puffed against Liverpool on Wednesday night, but Sunderland failed to find the net and that was a taxing tie on a tough pitch.
The Wearsiders head for Oxford, having won only two of their last 11 matches in 90 minutes, and Regis Le Bris’ men have scored only four goals in their last nine away games.
Of course, Sunderland step down in class against Oxford, but there are no guarantees that the Black Cats will find the form in front of goal.
The U’s have performed well against the Championship’s top teams this term, twice avoiding defeat against Coventry, taking points against Millwall and Middlesbrough and collecting victories against Ipswich and Southampton.
Given the goalscoring issues of Sunderland, there is enough in the price to take a chance on Oxford upsetting the Black Cats at the Kassam Stadium.
Bet 1 – Oxford to beat Sunderland @ 10/3
Blues good value for home upset
There could also be a shock brewing at St Andrews when Birmingham host Leeds.
Blues have splashed the cash in a bid to reach the Premier League, and while their promotion push has yet to really take hold, Chris Davies’ men have been excellent on their own patch this term.
Birmingham have lost only two of their 18 matches in the second city this term and it’s only one defeat in 11 all told for Blues.
West Ham’s good form has kept Leeds looking over their shoulder at the relegation zone and that may lead Daniel Farke to make changes to his starting line-up, with top-flight safety this season’s priority.
Leeds’ first-choice side have won only one of their 13 away Premier League games, and a rotated Whites’ team was dumped out of the League Cup by Sheffield Wednesday, who could barely field 11 players.
Birmingham are 5/2 to win this fourth-round tie on Sunday and that rates pretty good value.
Bet 2 – Birmingham to beat Leeds @ 5/2
Goals on the cards in Staffordshire
Marco Silva made plenty of changes to his side when Fulham took on Newcastle in the League Cup in December and it was a similar story when the Cottagers faced Middlesbrough in the third round of the FA Cup in January.
Rotation looks likely at Stoke on Sunday and that could see the goals flow.
There have been 26 strikes in Fulham’s last eight matches, and whatever personnel Silva selects, his side will go on the front foot.
Stoke have been struggling to find the net, but the Potters put three past Charlton and Derby and they struck five goals against Bristol City at the bet365 earlier in the campaign.
Taking over 2.5 goals rates a play in this fourth-round contest.
Bet 3 – Over 2.5 goals in Stoke v Fulham @ 4/5
