ENGLISH FA CUP BETTING PICK - TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR V CHELSEA

English FA CUP

2012-04-15 - Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea

A Sports Betting Pick by Cruiser

Match Preview :

There will be no love lost when Tottenham and Chelsea face each other in the FA Cup semi final to determine who will get the chance to meet Liverpool in the Final. These two teams are not only top four rivals, but are also capital foes and will want to get the FA Cup in their trophy cabinet as they do battle at Wembley on Sunday evening.

Chelsea might have their eyes on the Champions League clash with Barcelona on Wednesday to come but have accepted the decision by the FA and will be looking to get one better over Tottenham in this cup tie. And Chelsea's recent record in the FA Cup suggests they could go all the way to the Final with the West London outfit having taken the trophy in three of the last five campaigns.

For the record, Chelsea also do tend to play well against Tottenham, but the fact that the game is being held on neutral territory would appear to cancel out their advantage.

Tottenham will be hoping to end their four-year wait for a trophy and a 21-year wait for FA Cup success when they face Chelsea. In the Premiership this season, there has not been much to separate the sides, with a 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane followed by a goalless stalemate at Stamford Bridge.

But it will be Chelsea who enters the match in better form. The Blue have been unbeaten in their last four games to remain in the hunt for a Champions League spot. Tottenham are outside of the top four, but they have picked up just one Premier League victory in eight games and the teams behind them have closed the gap.

Team News :

Chelsea Team News :
Chelsea are expected to miss the services of two key defenders for this match. Branislav Ivanovic definitely misses out, as he starts the first of a three match ban after being found guilty of violent conduct by the Football Association. Ashley Cole could also be absent for Chelsea. He is still struggling with an ankle injury.

Other then that Roberto Di Matteo has no other injury to contend with. He has to make a decision to field either Fernando Torres or Didier Drogba a man with a good record at Wembley.

Tottenham Team News :
Tottenham is expected to make changes. They suffered defeat against Norwich on Easter Monday and Redknapp is certain to ring the changes here. Emmanuel Adebayor and Rafael van der Vaart are expected to be drafted back into the starting eleven while Ryan Nelsen has played a leading role in Spurs' cup campaign and will continue once again.

Scott Parker is hoping to come back into the side after missing their last game with a hamstring injury while Niko Kranjcar, William Gallas and Younes Kaboul are also looking to shake off knocks.

Possible lineups

Tottenham :
Chelsea :

Predictions :

Take Chelsea on level ball not to lose this match.

The Pick :

BEST BETTING TIP :

I expect a draw here at 90 minutes.