5 FA Cup Tips for the Weekend’s Action - 6/11/21

On Saturday, Carlisle United of League Two host Ismithian League Premier Division side Horsham at Brunton Park, where recently appointed manager Keith Millen will be hoping for his first win as manager of the Cumbrians.

Horsham shocked National League South side Woking in the fourth qualifying round of this year’s competition to reach the first round proper, thanks to an 87th-minute goal by Tommy Kavanagh.

Meanwhile, Carlisle, who ply their trade three divisions above Saturday’s opponents have been struggling in League Two this season, which eventually cost Chris Beech his job at the Blues, but, at home against a side who haven’t won any of their last four matches since beating Woking, they will be expected to turn up in what would be a confidence-boosting victory.

Southern League Premier Division South side Harrow travel to Fratton Park where they’ll face 2008 FA Cup winners Portsmouth in the first round proper.

Pompey, who are managed by Danny Cowley who famously lead non-league outfit (at the time) Lincoln City to the FA Cup quarter-finals in 2017 will know what to expect from a side that plies their trade four leagues below their side in the English football ladder.

Harrow managed to defeat Chelmsford City in the fourth qualifying round, as James Ewington was the hero, having scored a hattrick in a 4-2 win, whilst Imran Uche also got on the scoresheet.

The hosts are 14th in League One having scored 19 in 16 games and should realistically have enough firepower to comfortably reach round two of the competition, especially if the likes of Marcus Harness and John Marquis carry on their form for the club, as they have 13 goal contributions between themselves this season.

This is less of a David versus Goliath clash, as League One Sunderland face League Two sides Mansfield Town at the Stadium of Light in the first round proper.

Lee Johnson will be hoping to see the Black Cats significantly improve on recent performances, as they have lost their last three matches in England’s third tier 1-0 to Charlton Athletic as well as 5-1 to Rotherham United and 3-0 to Sheffield Wednesday, seeing them sit fifth in the table.

On the other hand, Mansfield have badly petered off after a good start to the season, their 2-0 win over Tranmere Rovers last time out lifted them to 20th in the division. This victory over the Prenton Park club was the first time that the Stags had won in League Two since 14th August, ending a 12 game winless run.

A player to look out for in this match is Sunderland’s Scottish striker Ross Stewart, as the 25-year-old former Ross County man has scored 10 in 18 games for the Black Cats this season and is priced at 13/5 to score first when his side take on Mansfield.

Ipswich Town and Oldham Athletic go head to head at Portman Road in the FA Cup this weekend.
The Tractor Boys come into this match as favourites, as they are one division above the Latics in League One and seem to have found some form under Paul Cook, following a tricky start to the season with many new arrivals joining the club.

Ipswich have won three of their last four league games in League One, beating Portsmouth 4-0, as well as Fleetwood Town 2-1 and Wycombe Wanderers 4-1 last time out, as Bersant Celina scored a brace, whilst both Macauley Bonne and Wes Burn added one each. Cook’s side have scored 34 and conceded 25 in 16 league matches.

Meanwhile, Oldham are 22nd in League Two but have had some FA Cup success in recent years despite struggles in the league, having defeated the likes of Fulham in the third round as recently as 2019 2-1 at Craven Cottage, before exiting to Doncaster by the same score. Keith Curle will be hoping to use this competition as a financial booster for the club, as well as a confidence builder.

The final tip on this list comes from the DW Stadium, as Wigan Athletic take on National League side, Solihull Moors.

This is a match that the Latics will be expected to win comfortably, as they are top of League One, having scored 30 and conceded just 13 times in 16 matches, whilst Solihull Moors are sixth in their division, but, will likely have their work cut out against the 2013 winners of this competition.

Solihull defeated Hereford 1-0 to reach this round via a Danny Newton goal and will be dreaming of shocking Wigan this weekend, although Leam Richardson will expect his side to get over the line and put themselves in the hat for round two.

Summer signing Charlie Wykes is a player to watch out for this weekend, as the former Sunderland man has scored five goals and assisted twice in 15 appearances this season and will be desperate to find the goalscoring form that saw him fire in 25 in 43 matches for the Black Cats last season.