FA Cup Fourth Round Prediction Betting Preview: Boring Burnley

The best cup competition in the world returns this weekend with Matthew O’Regan readying his FA Cup prediction, team news and lineups preview, with bets from Preston vs Wycombe, Brighton vs Chelsea and Southampton vs Burnley. Goals are expected in two of the games, while the latter game is likely to be tedious and cagey. 

• Preston vs Wycombe : Both Teams To Score
• Brighton vs Chelsea: Both Teams To Score and Over 2.5 Goals
• Southampton vs Burnley: Both Teams To Score NO

Preston vs Wycombe Prediction: Debut For Dodds

England, FA Cup, Saturday, February, 15:00 (UK)

Championship side Preston host the surprise package of League One, Wycombe, in a game that has all the makings of a cupset. 

Preston decided to part ways with manager Ryan Lowe just one game into the season, replacing him with the experienced Paul Heckingbottom. The 47-year-old has steadied the ship, with North End sat 15th, ten points clear of relegation and seven off the playoffs. While their games have only averaged 2.36 goals, BTTS has only landed in 18/30 games – the fourth most in the Championship. This included ten of the last 13 games as Heckingbottom’s side have finally started to click in attack. 

Wycombe have shocked many by somewhat keeping pace with heavy favourites Birmingham City in League One. The Chairboys’ sit second in the table, four points clear of Wrexham after five games unbeaten in all competitions, including beating Championship side Portsmouth 2-0 in the previous round. 

Matt Bloomfield’s stellar worked attracted the attention of Luton who appointed him as new manager, with Sunderland coach Mike Dodds finally appointed as his replacement in the recent days. Wycombe have been relentless going forward, scoring 55 goals, while conceding 30 – the most in the top seven. 

The Buckinghamshire club have seen BTTS in a league high 12/15 away games, only failing in the 0-3 win at Stevenage, 0-1 win at Wigan and the 0-5 win at Stockport, meaning Wycombe have scored in every away game, something they look value to do again on Saturday. 

• Preston vs Wycombe Prediction: Both Teams To Score (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.80
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10

Brighton vs Chelsea Prediction: Entertainment on The South Coast

The FA Cup fourth round draw delivered four all-Premier League ties, with Brighton vs Chelsea chosen for live TV coverage on Saturday night. Three away wins in a row against Norwich, Ipswich and Manchester United breathed some much needed optimism into the faltering Albion, but a 0-1 home loss to Everton followed by a 7-0 dismantling at the hands of Nottingham Forest has left The Seagulls licking their wombs. 

All hope is not lost for Brighton, they still sit in the top half of the Premier League and have the chance to progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup for the fourth time in five years. Fabian Hurzeler went strong in the 0-4 win at Norwich and is expected to do the same against Chelsea as the pressure on him begins to grow from a section of a disgruntled fan base. 

Over 2.5 goals has landed in 15/24 in the Premier League, as well as all four cup games so far. When looking at Brighton’s results against ‘the big six’ it is clear that Hurzeler believes his side can go toe for toe with them. BTTS and over 2.5 has landed against Manchester United x2, Manchester City, Tottenham, Chelsea and Liverpool x2, only failing in both 1-1 draws with Arsenal. 

Chelsea made hard work of beating West Ham, coming from a goal behind to win 2-1. It has been a tricky period for new manager Enzo Maresca to navigate, so his set up on Saturday night will be intriguing. The Italian has opted for a ‘second string’ eleven in cup competitions but may play his first choice team and look to expose a fragile Brighton. 

BTTS has landed in a league high 18/24 games for the Blues, only failing at Ipswich, Everton, Bournemouth and West Ham, as well as at home to Aston Villa and Manchester City. In the league, the last five Chelsea games have seen both teams scoring, so a high-scoring entertaining clash is expected at the AMEX, just like it was at Stamford Bridge in the league when Chelsea won 4-2.

• Brighton vs Chelsea Prediction: Both Teams To Score and Over 2.5 Goals (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.75
• Bookmaker: William Hill
• Stake: 10/10

Southampton vs Burnley Prediction: Boring, Boring Burnley

These two sides seem to keep swapping places with each other in the leagues and this is looking to be the case again this year, with Southampton rooted to the bottom of the Premier League and Burnley vying for automatic promotion at the first time of asking. 

The Saints have had a dismal season and sit rock bottom on just nine points but will take solace in their 1-2 win at fellow strugglers. Still it does seem too little too late for Ivan Juric’s side who sit ten points from safety. Not only do Southampton have the worst defensive record in the league (54 conceded) they have scored the league’s fewest goals (18). 

Of their 24 games, 13 have seen BTTS NO land, as well as the 3-0 win over Swansea in the previous round. The Saints feeble attack may struggle against a resilient Burnley defence. 

The Clarets are now nine league games without conceding a goal, conceding just nine goals all season. However, in this run, they have blanked five times, as well as scoring through an own goal in the 1-0 win over Oxford. 

Of their 31 games, BTTS No has landed in 24, including 13/16 away and the last nine in the league. It should be a cagey, tight affair with a lack of goals. 

• Southampton vs Burnley Prediction: BTTS NO (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.80
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10

FA CUP Prediction odds via bet365 as at 12:00, February 5th, 2025. Odds may now differ.

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