Magic of the FA Cup begins – on a Thursday!

Crystal Palace vs Everton

The FA Cup has traditionally heralded the start of a new year and footballing optimism for many.

Because even those clubs who have struggled to this point in the campaign can dream of Wembley and the most glamorous showpiece of the year (as long as they’ve made it this far, of course).

Some of the lower league clubs will also have been helped by the fact a number of Premier League clubs have been paired together in the third round of the competition – including Crystal Palace and Everton.

So, will it be the Eagles or the Toffees who have FA Cup highlights to enjoy this week?

Talking Points

If this contest had been played before Christmas, the visitors to Selhurst Park on Thursday night (yes, you heard that correctly) would have been the in-form team.

Not so much now for Palace beat Brentford for their first victory in nine games last weekend, while Everton lost for the third time in a week.

After falling behind to Brentford, Palace rallied and first-half goals from Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze turned the match around, only their second home league win of the season securing them some comfort in mid-table.

It was also only the second time this season Roy Hodgson’s side have netted more than two goals in a league game.

The hosts may be sweating over the fitness of star winger Olise, though, after he pulled up with an apparent muscle problem towards the end of that encounter.

Everton, meanwhile, appeared to be bouncing back well after their controversial 10-point deduction (of which they are appealing) in mid-November, imposed after they were found to have breached profitability and sustainability rules over a three-year period.

They had claimed four wins in a row and had some wriggle room between themselves and the strugglers until consecutive defeats to Spurs, Manchester City and Wolves left them teetering above the bottom three.

It’s fair to say Sean Dyche is doing a fine job on Merseyside and they should stay up with something to spare.

Yet for a club which has suffered more highs and lows than most this term, they need to find a way to turn things around with Aston Villa, Fulham, Tottenham and Manchester City to come next.

They have not been helped that key man Abdoulaye Doucoure and Idrissa Gueye have been missing – both are doubts for this tie – while Ashley Young and Dele Alli remain sidelined.

Fellow midfielder Amadou Onana limped through most of the game against Wolves last Saturday and defender Jarrad Branthwaite seemed to be nursing an injury too.

It never rains but it pours.

Both clubs will certainly be looking for the fillip of a cup run before they return to the bread and butter of league action.

History

Ironically, their very first meeting came in the FA Cup – back in 1907 and a quarter-final which finished 1-1.

Defender Jack Taylor scored the Toffees goal that day and then played in the replay at Goodison Park when Everton triumphed 4-0, courtesy of goals from future Man Utd chairman Harold Hardman, Jimmy Settle (two) and Sandy Young.

Their inaugural league meeting didn’t actually occur until August 1969 in the former Division One when John Morrissey and Joe Royle netted in a 2-1 win at Goodison Park.

When they met at Selhurst Park in the league just under two months ago, Everton edged a five-goal thriller as Vitaliy Mykolenko, Doucoure and Gueye, with five minutes remaining, found the net.

Eze (penalty) and Odsonne Edouard replied for the hosts,

The two league meetings last season also went in favour of Everton with a goalless draw in south London preceded by a 3-0 home win when Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Anthony Gordon and Dwight McNeil were the marksmen.

Palace have not defeated Everton in their last four meetings but the match before that was in the quarter-finals of this competition two season ago when Palace ran riot through Marc Guehi, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Wilfried Zaha and Will Hughes.

Betting Tip

There’s not much to separate the sides with the SBOTOP FA Cup betting odds.

Palace have the edge priced 1X2 @ 2.26 and Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 2.13, with Everton on offer 1X2 @ 2.59 and Asian Handicap 0.00 @ 2.04.

The draw will pay out @ 3.20, while a repeat of November’s exciting contest will earn you a tidy pay day @ 36.00 with Correct Score 2-3.

If you expect more goals again, then how about Over 2.50 @ 2.08 or Total Goals 4-6 @ 3.75, in contrast to Total Goals 2-3 @ 1.81 and 0-1 @ 2.87. I think Palace will edge this tie and my ⭐⭐ tip is Half Time Draw Home @ 6.20.

 

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