Solihull Moors v Blackpool
FA Cup – 7.55 pm
BBC Two
I am starting the weekend action off in the West Midlands where National League side Solihull Moors will be hoping to claim a pretty big FA Cup upset. The Moors, who are coached by former Premier League winner Tim Flowers will welcome League One side Blackpool to Damson Park. It looks like a good old fashioned FA Cup tie with the underdogs, of course, having nothing to lose in this first meeting ever against the Seasiders. They are 16/5 odds outsiders in general at the leading bookmakers. So that’s some big odds for them to overcome.
Solihull, a top-six side in the fifth tier of English football found their way past fellow non-league side Hitchin in the last round, taking a 2-0 away win thanks to two second-half goals. That actually was part of a run which has seen them go five goals without conceding a goal. The Moors are W8 D3 L1 in their last 12 fixtures in all competitions home and away. Of course, this is a step up in the level of opposition as they take on the Seasiders. Former FA Cup winners Blackpool got through a tricky away game against League Two side Exeter, banking a 3-2 win against the Grecians at St James’ Park. Away games like this are never easy. It’s going to be a cold night in the West Midlands, can the higher-ranked Pool handle themselves? This should be a great opening to a big weekend of sport. Check out more of the weekend action in our Best Bets of the Day section.
Harlequins v Exeter Chiefs
Premiership Rugby – 7.45 pm
BT Sport 1
I’ll probably never know the thrills of hunkering down and getting clattered around on a cold night on the rugby field. That doesn’t mean I don’t know the thrills of sitting back and watching two teams slam into each other under such conditions. It is more Friday night action for Quins who couldn’t get the better of a resilient Worcester defence at Sixways seven days ago. They get back to home comforts at The Stoop on Friday and are seriously looking for a boost. Harlequins now have just the three wins this season, with three wins in their last nine Premiership home games.
Exeter meanwhile shows up in great form and will be putting their eight-match winning streak against the Quins on the line. The Chiefs are top of the Premiership with eight wins from eight and haven’t lost on the road since February in the top flight. Their try-scoring power is only matched by Saracens, but head and shoulders the Chiefs boast the best defence in the league and are 4/6 to humble the Quins once again. But records, of course, are there to be beaten and a home win at the Stoop could give Harlequins the perfect lift that they need.
Cardiff v Wolves
Premier League – 8.00 pm
SkySports
It will be all eyes on South Wales on Friday night as Cardiff look to boost their fortunes and get out of the relegation zone in the English top flight. If they could scrape out a win then they would jump up to 16th and it would also heap massive pressure on those around them ahead of the rest of the weekend’s Premier League action. Cardiff have only claimed the two wins all season but those two wins have both happened inside their last three home games. In their four games at home this season against sides currently located in the bottom half of the table, the Bluebirds are W2 D0 L1. They will be playing host to a Wolves side who have claimed only the one point in their last five leagues. Wolves suffered a blow at home in a defeat against another of the key relegation candidates Huddersfield last weekend. But Wolves have been so good defensively on the road, will they be able to handle themselves against the low-scoring Welsh outfit? It may well be a long war of attrition at the Cardiff City Stadium in such an important game for both. Cardiff needs the salvation points, Wolves need to snap their slump. The leading bookmakers generally agree on giving Wolves a 44.4% implied probability (5/4 odds) in getting an away win, leaving the home side as the underdogs.
Fabio Tuchi v Tony Conquest
Boxing – 10.00 pm
Sky Sports
If you are looking for warm-up ahead of the massive Deontay Wilder v Tyson Fury showdown on the weekend, then there is an interesting boxing match happening on Friday night being shown on Sky Sports. Italy’s Fabio Turchi is a man on a mission and that is to become the most famous Italian boxer since um, Rocky. Not the Sylvester Stallone one, Rocky Marciano. The 25-year-old takes his unbeaten career record into a scrap with Tony Conquest on Friday. Tuchi defended the WBC International Silver Cruiserweight title against Dario German Balmaceda in his last fight, the second defence of the title. Britain’s Conquest is getting his shot at a title since losing the Commonwealth Cruiserweight back in 2014. The 34-year-old has experience on his side but is the big 9/2 underdog with the leading bookmakers.
