Football Bet of the Day: Card selection for FA Cup tie

Sunday’s games come from across the continent, but there are also two FA Cup quarter-finals for us to get our teeth stuck into.

Bournemouth v Manchester City looks like it is going to be an intriguing clash, but for our Football Bet of the Day, let’s head to Deepdale, where Preston host Aston Villa for a place at Wembley. 

A nice easy selection for Sunday afternoon. Listen, this is a really exciting tie if you are a Preston fan and they will fancy their chances of causing a major upset, but I just have an overwhelming feeling that Aston Villa will prove to be too strong for them. 

Unai Emery isn’t one to mess around when it comes to cup competitions and Aston Villa are in desperate need of silverware. Having watched Newcastle United end their long draught this season, they will be longing to win something for the first time since they lifted the League Cup in 1996. They’ve got a favourable draw and a squad that should be able to go and trouble the others in the competition, with Betfred pricing them up as the second favourites to win the FA Cup, behind Manchester City. 

But enough about their cup hopes, having won four in a row in all competitions I am backing them to dominate this tie against PNE, and make it through in 90 minutes. Their odds to win are fairly short, so I’ve taken a look at another angle at a slightly bigger price. 

Villa have some of the finest midfielders in the Premier League and the likes of John McGinn, Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans should dominate the midfield area on Sunday. Preston have a few key absentees with Kaine Kesler-Hayden unable to face his parent club and the likes of Brad Potts and Ali McCann doubtful. 

Football Odds

It means their 5-2-1-2 system may not be as solid as it usually is, and I think Villa will have a lot of the ball on their way to a comfortable victory. I don’t think Preston will go down without a fight however, which brings me to my selection. They are going to be right up for this in front of a sell-out crowd, with the carrot of Wembley dangled in front of them. 

If they are going to get something out of this, they will have to bully Villa, but I can see that spilling over slightly and therefore the referee could have a busy afternoon. Ben Whiteman will play as one of the defensive midfielders for Preston, and he is going to have to get through a lot of work. 

Preston vs Aston Villa Odds

He was working his way back to full fitness before the international break having missed nine games through injury, but now he’s back fully fit and raring to go. His stats speak for themselves in the Championship. In just 27 appearances, and only 20 starts, he has picked up 10 yellow cards.

That’s one every two starts, by far the highest rate in the division, while he is only one yellow behind stat-leader Gustavo Hamer, who has pretty much been a mainstay in Sheffield United’s team this term. He’s going to start, and I think he is not going to be frightened of getting his foot in against Villa’s Premier League starts. I’m really happy to back Whiteman to get booked as our Football Bet of the Day for Sunday. 

Offers

Build your own Bet Builder bet (3/1+) of 4+ legs on any FA Cup game on Sunday and get 50% of your stake back in Free Bets up to £5 if you lose

Acca Flex: Place a pre-match 5+ leg Football accumulator and get a CASH bonus up to 100% if all of your selections win or your money back as CASH if one leg lets you down

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