Watford v Wolves
FA Cup Semi Final – 4.00 pm
BBC
The second of the FA Cup semi-finals this season is such an intriguing one. It is here that we will start off Sunday’s best bets of the day preview. It is Watford v Wolves and looking at the two of them it is really hard to split them. This just has the look of being such a tight clash at Wembley on the day. You have to consider that this is such an important game for both. It is a rare opportunity to make it to the FA Cup Final and caution is probably going to be the big winner on the day. The leading bookmakers are undecided with Wolves at 7/5 and Watford at 2/1 to win.
There is only one point between them in the top half of the Premier League table. They are both in decent form too. Watford have won six of their last nine games played (L3), the defeats in that sequence happening in the league away from home at Liverpool, Man City and Man Utd. Tough games in other words. Then you have Wolves who have only lost two of their last fourteen games in all competitions and who beat Man Utd in league action on Tuesday.
Of the two, Wolves have had the tougher path to the final four. They started in the third round at home against Liverpool as underdogs but pulled out a 2-1 success. They were in the exact same situation in the quarter-finals when they had to host Man Utd. Again it was a 2-1 underdog success for Wolves. In contrast, Watford have only conceded a goal in their four FA Cup games, scoring exactly two goals in three of the four. Watford were 2-0 winners over Wolves in an earlier league meeting this season. Considering how close this looks, the To Qualify market where Wolves are 3/4 and Watford are evens, maybe a decent market.
Northampton v Gloucester
Premiership Rugby – 3.00 pm
BT Sport
If the recent meetings between these two Premiership clubs at Franklin’s Gardens is anything to go by, we are in for a treat on Sunday. Northampton have won their last two league duels with the Cherry and Whites, but both of those victories were by a narrow three-point margin. The top bookmakers have the Saints at 10/11 to cover a -4 handicap on the weekend. They are clearly expecting yet another tight duel between the two clubs.
Northampton have not lost at home against Gloucester in league action since 2013, so they do have home form going. Overall home and away against the Cherry and Whites, the Saints are W3 L2. Since December 2018 Northampton have only lost the one home game in all competitions. But if you look at the overall recent form of the Saints, they have won just one of their last three league games. Does that open the door for Gloucester?
Gloucester are bang in form at the moment with four wins in their last five league games. They faced a massive away test recently in a top-four showdown against Harlequins and Gloucester prevailed with some aplomb. They are a dangerous side and have beaten the top two of Exeter and Saracens this term. The big challenge for them here is shaking off their losing streak at Franklin’s Gardens. Gloucester are 6/4 underdogs in the match outright with leading bookmakers, but they are a team in form.
Everton v Arsenal
Premier League – 2:05 pm
Sky Sports
Arsenal deserve some huge credit for the way that they have hauled themselves into the race for a top-four finish. They are on a hot streak of form with five wins in their last six league outings going (D1). They have won their last two games by a 2-0 scoreline, having taken out Manchester United and Newcastle fairly comfortably. The only two sides in the division to have scored more league goals than the Gunners this season are Man City and Liverpool, the top two.
The Gunners haven’t had a tremendous season away from home though. They have actually won only one of their last eight on the road (D3 L4). Their defence still hasn’t managed a shutout in an away game this season. But with them on a nine-match scoring streak at the moment in the league, you can’t help but see a team in form. They produced a 2-0 home win over Everton earlier this season too.
But Everton, who are 2/1 underdogs against the 27/20 favouritism of the Gunners for this one with top bookmakers, have reason to be confident. They have won back to back games for the second time this season with wins over Chelsea and West Ham. The Toffees have also taken four clean sheets in their last five games. Each of their last four Premier League wins have been with a clean sheet. Their home record is at W7 D4 L5 this season. Can Everton improve that and put a huge dent in Arsenal’s top four ambitions at the same time?
