Tim Cahill loves being a thorn in the side of the best teams and he and Everton could upset Chelsea this weekend
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The FA Cup is beginning to hot up and this weekend the fifth round promises a host of intriguing matches but there is also the small matter of a fourth round replay between Chelsea and Everton at Stamford Bridge.
A few weeks ago, I thought Chelsea had turned the corner after a difficult month or so in which they lost their way in the league title race but in the past couple of matches, they have really struggled for rhythm. Their loss at home to Liverpool was a real body blow while they then were lucky to escape with a goalless draw at Fulham.
Fernando Torres will doubtless sparkle in due course but at the moment Chelsea look a little clueless when things are not going their way and they are lucky to even have a replay because Everton were the better side when they first met and should really have won.
David Moyes' side are under pressure after a poor run but they have reserved their best form this season for the better sides and the boost that an FA Cup run would bring could be the spur they need to sort themselves out. It's obviously totally possible that Chelsea click into gear this weekend but I can also see Everton upsetting them and that's why they are the weekend punt at 11/2 with bet365 to win the match.
Cambers' Calls
- Bet of the weekend: Less than three goals in Man Utd v Crawley Town - 47/20 bet365
- Weekend punt: Everton to win at Chelsea - 11/2 bet365
- Weekend treble: Stoke, Fulham and West Ham to win - 6/1 bet365
The romantics will be out in force this weekend as non-league Crawley Town make their way to Old Trafford to face the might of Manchester United in the fifth round. Now Crawley have done fantastically well to get this far and there is no way, surely, that they will get past United but I fancy them to give a good account of themselves.
Home advantage should ensure that United don't have too tough a time but Crawley have shown that they are a decent side and if they are not overawed by playing at Old Trafford, they could at least force the Premier League leaders to work for the win.
There is usually plenty of respect shown by the better side in these contexts but when you think that United will surely not play their first choice XI from the start, perhaps it won't be as one-sided as we might think. Sir Alex Ferguson won't care what the score is as long as United go through and that's partly why I think there may not be too many goals in it.
Bet365 make it 47/20 that there are two goals or less in the match and I think that has to be worth a try; in fact, I am going to make it the bet of the weekend.
At home, Stoke should have far too much strength for Brighton and the 4/6 on offer with bet365 looks quite generous so let's start the weekend treble with Tony Pulis's men.
Fulham can take advantage of the fact that Bolton played their fourth-round replay only in midweek by winning their battle at Craven Cottage at 6/5. And West Ham, for all their problems in the league, should be too good for Burnley at Upton Park, so take the even money on them to progress.
A successful £10 treble on Stoke, Fulham and West Ham would bring in more than £70 so good luck!
Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.
Simon Cambers is ESPN.co.uk's betting correspondent
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Simon Cambers
Simon Cambers is ESPN.co.uk's betting correspondant Simon Cambers is ESPN.co.uk's betting correspondant
