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Horse Racing The Longshot: High Odds Acca Tips and Predictions on Jimmy’s Cupset
In a weekend where round two of the FA Cup takes centre stage, it would be foolish not to draw on its magic as Jimmy the Punt lines up another Longshot: High Odds Acca Tips.
This weekend’s treble pays out at 78.85 and features three ‘underdogs’ as we pray for some shocks via England’s most historic cup competition. We start with Crewe vs Bristol Rovers, continue with Eastleigh vs Reading and finish with Chesterfield vs Leyton Orient.
- Crewe vs Bristol Rovers: Crewe Win & BTTS (Bet Builder)
- Eastleigh vs Reading: Eastleigh Win
- Chesterfield vs Leyton Orient: Chesterfield Asian Handicap (-1)
The Longshot Acca odds: 78.85
The Longshot: High Odds Acca Tips and Predictions Odds via bet365 as at 15:00, 29th November 2023. Odds may now differ.
Crewe vs Bristol Rovers: Crewe Defend at Gresty Road
England, FA Cup, Saturday, December 2nd, 15:00 (UK)
Crewe stunned Derby County in the FA Cup first round. A side that the bookies ranked as the ante-post favourites for the League One title.
In the first leg, the League Two side went two goals ahead and the score remained that way until one minute from time. First, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing pulled one back, before Conor Hourihane spared the Rams’ blushes in stoppages. Paul Warne’s side did not get away with it in the replay, as the Railwaymen ran out 3-1 winners.
Next on the roster for Lee Bell’s side are Bristol Rovers, who emphatically avoided a banana skin of a clash with Whitby in the last round.
Unsurprisingly, Andrew Mangan rotated heavily for that game, but I fear if he does not pay his next opponents with the respect they deserve, the Pirates will suffer the same fate as Derby.
The last time Saturday’s hosts lost was at the end of October, seven games ago, and they won the two before that. The defeat was against League Two leaders Stockport, who were amidst a 13-game winning streak at the time.
I think it is worth being a bit greedy here and backing Crewe to win and both teams to score, as this bet has clicked in 73% of their 11 victories this campaign. If you build the bet in bet365’s Bet Builder though, you get the added security of a payout for the win leg if Crewe go two-nil up. That means if Crewe ultimately fail to win the game, you are still paid out.
Eastleigh vs Reading: Royals Rotten on Road
England, FA Cup, Sunday, December 3rd, 13:30 (UK)
This is the selection I am probably the most uneasy about: Eastleigh to beat Reading.
The visitors, until very recently a side who frequented the upper end of the Championship, have turned a corner.
The 2-1 victory over Wycombe at the weekend was their first on the road in the league of the season, and the Royals followed it up with an emphatic win over Carlisle on Tuesday.
It means Reading have won their last three on the spin and, despite the first third of the season being pretty dire, Rubén Sellés’ side have thrived in cup competitions.
Excluding the first round of the FA Cup, Reading have played five cup games and scored a staggering 25 goals putting nine (yes 9) past Exeter, five past Swindon and Arsenal Academy, four past the second tiers Millwall and two past Championship title hopefuls Ipswich.
In this competition, Reading only edged past MK Dons of the division below which gives us a crumb of comfort. Sellés made nine changes for that game, which will only serve as motivation for the Eastleigh players if he does the same on Sunday.
Central to this angle, though, is the aforementioned away form. It reads: played nine, lost eight and won one.
Chesterfield vs Leyton Orient: Shocker, Not
England, FA Cup, Sunday, December 3rd, 14:00 (UK)
I said last round when Chesterfield hosted Portsmouth that despite being three leagues apart, the gulf between the sides was nowhere near as large as the English pyramid suggested.
The Spireites went on to beat Pomey, the highest-ranked side in the competition at the time, and now look at a great price for another upset against Leyton Orient.
In truth, it would not be that much of a shock if Chesterfield won on Sunday. The lines have been blurred by the financial clout at the disposal of the sides at the top end of the National League. The hosts probably have a budget that trumps their next opponents and a squad that could compete in the third tier. In fact, some of their squad have played in the third tier..
Paul Cook named a strong squad in round one, he appears to be keen to showcase the potential of his side, and I suspect that will be the case on Sunday.
Richie Wellens did not make any changes for the game against Carlisle, and with real daylight between his side and the dotted line, the O’s manager may be eyeing up the third round. I am just not sure they have the quality.
Chesterfield on the 1X2 is worth taking, but backing them to win by a two goals cushion (Asian Handicap -1) is the bet. Stakes back if they win by one goal and paid out at a smidge over 4.00 if they put Orient to the sword.
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