Naomi Osaka v Petra Kvitova
Australian Open Tennis – 8.30 am
Eurosport
Yes, my bets of the day preview for Saturday are certainly going to be leaning heavily towards the big FA Cup action going down. But I’m starting with early action of the Australian Open women’s tennis final. After a knife attack back in 2016 which damaged the dominant hand of Petra Kvitova, the Czech player’s career looked in jeopardy. But now for the first time since that horrifying incident, Kvitova has reached the final of a Grand Slam.
Kvitova has two career Wimbledon titles, but those have been the only previous Grand Slam finals that she has reached. After overcoming adversity she now finds herself as the 8/11 odds favourite with leading bookmakers to lift the title at Melbourne Park on the weekend. Kvitova has made it to the final without dropping a single set. She will be facing up to Naomi Osaka, who made headlines last season at the US Open. Osaka had never been past the fourth round of a Grand Slam before lifting the title at Flushing Meadows against Serena Williams.
The fact that she has now made it to back-to-back Grand Slam finals shows that she fully deserves a place among the greats. Osaka has had shown plenty of grit in the tournament. She has had to come from a set down more than once. Then in her semi final match against Karolina Pliskova (who had knocked out Serena Williams) Osaka had to withstand a severe fightback. Can she secure back-to-back Grand Slam titles?
Accrington v Derby
FA Cup – 12.30 pm
BT Sport
Saturday’s live FA Cup action comes from the Crown Ground as Accrington play host to Championship side Derby. Stanley are just a mid-table side in their division but that means they could fully focus on this this FA Cup campaign. They have been short of form for a while now having lost eight of their last 12 games in the league. However, they have managed to find a bit of respite in the FA Cup. They started with a 1-0 win over Colchester and then back on home soil they took out Cheltenham in the second round. They did cause something of an upset in the third round as they knocked off Championship side Ipswich.
However, Ipswich are likely to be joining Accrington in Lague One next term, as they are stuck firmly to the bottom of the Championship table. Derby meanwhile are in the hunt for a play-off place at the very least. The Rams have shown great cup touches this season as they beat Manchester United in the EFL cup. They also claimed a win over Premier League opposition in the third round of the FA Cup. Derby nailed a replay victory at Southampton to set up this tie with Accrington. The Rams are 17/20 odds-on favourites with leading bookmakers to win this game. They have scored at least two goals in all six of their cup matches played this season.
Millwall v Everton
FA Cup – 5.30 pm
BBC
The FA Cup action rolls on later in the afternoon with Championship side Millwall playing host to Premier League opposition in Everton. This could be a really interesting game as Millwall have found a bit of form for themselves after a difficult season. They may be near the wrong end of the Championship table but the top bookmakers have 6/5 odds on a Millwall double chance in this tie.
Millwall have only lost four games at home across all competitions this season and have produced some recent great form at the Den. As for Everton, they could face an awkward and uncomfortable afternoon. All season they have only won twice away from Goodison Park in all competitions. Will the top flight side be able to survive this big test? The pressure will be on them. It’s one of the most fascinating ties of the fourth round.
AFC Wimbledon v West Ham
FA Cup – 7.45 pm
BT Sport
Premier League side West Ham will be hoping to avoid any slip up as they go and face League One side Wimbledon in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday night. The Hammers are 2/5 odds-on favourite to get the win in the match. Even though their away form has been a bit hit and miss recently, just back in August they paid a visit Wimbledon in the EFL Cup and produced a 3-1 victory.
Wimbledon are rock bottom of League One. But they are clearly targetting the FA Cup to gather whatever bit of cheer that they can for the season. They have undeniably, had a tough time of things. They have lost three of their last five games played. In the last round, the Dons showed great character in defying the odds and beating Portsmouth who are the current League One leaders. Can they step up on home soil and cause an upset against what could potentially be a weakened West Ham team?
Dragons v Munster
Pro 14 Rugby – 1.00 pm
Premier Sports
Let’s have a change of pace from the FA Cup and switch to rugby action from the Pro 14 league. It is action from round 14 in this season’s competition. This game features Conference A leaders Munster who need to keep up the pace. They are only two points clear at the top of the pile from the Glasgow Warriors. Connacht’s position sees them sitting fourth in the Conference, level on points with third-placed Ospreys.
So there is a tight scrap between the top four in this conference. Connacht have only won two of their three home games against Conference A teams this season. As for Munster, they have won two of their four away games played against Conference A sides. Munster are the top scorers in the Conference and they do also boast the best defence. Can the Dragons put in a big shift on home soil and get what would be an important win? The Dragons are +10 in handicap market at 10/11 odds with the leading bookmakers.
