English FA CUP
2012-02-07 - Sheffield Wednesday vs Blackpool
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: FA Cup 4th Round Replay
Tuesday 7 February 2012 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Sheffield Wednesday
This is a big opportunity for a League One side to earn a money-spinning trip to a Premier League side in the next Round of the FA Cup if Sheffield Wednesday can knock out Blackpool in this replay. They came very close to winning at Bloomfield Road in the original tie 10 days ago, and it has often been said a lower-League side does not usually get the second chance to beat a team from a higher Division when missing their opportunities the first time around.
While a potential FA Cup tie at Everton will get the fans excited, Gary Megson is much more concerned with restoring this sleeping giant to the upper levels of the League structure, meaning promotion is the priority for the Owls. They are currently 2nd in League One, but are likely to be fighting with locals rivals Sheffield United and Huddersfield Town for one automatic promotion spot. They do have an impressive 10-3-1 record at Hillsborough this season, scoring 29 goals and conceding 14.
Wednesday are unbeaten in their last 5 games in all competitions, although they have drawn 3 of those including the game at Blackpool. The Owls have won 1 of their last 3 games at home, and suffered their first home defeat of the season to League One leaders Charlton in January.
The Captain, Rob Jones, is back in contention in time for this game, although Gary Megson will miss a couple of players, like John Bostock, who are cup-tied.
Blackpool
Ian Holloway was given a lot of plaudits last season with the way he had his Blackpool side playing, and they have been good enough this season to be challenging for a return to the Premier League this season. The FA Cup was not really a big priority for Holloway last season, and he may consider this an unwanted distraction with the Championship being all-important.
Blackpool had a very impressive win at 3rd place Cardiff City on Saturday, a win that moves them up to 4th in the table and only 4 points behind Southampton in the automatic promotion position. They will want to improve their away form in the League if they are to achieve these goals, currently going 4-6-5, scoring 24 goals and conceding 26.
The win at the Cardiff City Stadium means the Seasiders are unbeaten in all 7 games they have played in 2012, winning 5 of those and drawing just 2, one of which was the draw with Sheffield Wednesday in the original tie. Blackpool have lost just 1 of their last 6 away games in all competitions, and are unbeaten in 3 coming into this one.
There have been clear suggestions that Ian Holloway will rotate his squad as this month is a busy one for the promotion chasers. Kevin Phillips continues to find himself amongst the goals and looks set to play a part in this one, while Keith Southern is the only absentee through injury.
Head to Head
These two teams may be in different Divisions, but this will be the third time they have met one another with the first two games ending in draws.
Sheffield Wednesday beat Blackpool in the Carling Cup here on a penalty shoot-out after the tie had finished 0-0.
The Owls are unbeaten in their last 5 home games against Blackpool.
Prediction
Blackpool have continued to play the attacking football that produced a number of high-scoring games in the Premier League last season, and that has show in recent weeks as 4 of their last 5 away games has seen at least 4 goals scored, the exception being a 3-0 loss at Birmingham City.
However, they may not have the same flow and rhythm in this game as they are expected to make a number of changes to their starting XI and that could make this a tigher game than expected.
Sheffield Wednesday themselves are no pushovers in front of their own fans, only losing 1 game here all season, and I think they can cause Blackpool problems after coming so close to beating them at Bloomfield Road 10 days ago.
In both games this season between the teams, goals have been an issue and I think the layers may have underestimated the chance for a lack of goals on Tuesday night. The teams drew 0-0 here with Blackpool playing a rotated side in that one, and it is entirely possible that could happen again.
However, I won't be overly greedy and just go for the 'Under' in this one.
The Pick :
Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Blackpool
