Weekend Review: Southampton and Port Vale Premier League scalp gives bookies a boost
League One side dispatched Sunderland 1-0 in the FA Cup, while Southampton edged past Premier League Fulham by the same scoreline at Craven Cottage
The FA Cup threw up a couple of bookie-friendly results at the weekend as Premier League sides fell to lower league opposition.
On Sunday, Fulham (3/5) lost 1-0 to Championship side Southampton (9/2), thanks to a stoppage time penalty from Ross Stewart.
That was followed by Sunderland (1/2) being beaten 1-0 away at Port Vale (11/2). The Staffordshire club are currently rooted to the bottom of League One.
There were some scares on Saturday, including fellow League One outfit Mansfield (20/1) pegging Arsenal back to 1-1 early in the second half before substitute Eberechi Eze got the winner for the Premier League leaders.
Wrexham (11/2) went ahead twice against Chelsea (2/5), and without the intervention of VAR, could well have made it to the quarter finals.
A 2-2 draw in 90 minutes was followed up by the Blues running out 4-2 winners in extra time at Y Cae Ras.
FDJ United’s Ali Gill said: “With FA Cup taking centre stage over the weekend, a draw in the glamour tie between Hollywood-backed Wrexham and Chelsea had something for both sides.
“The draw was good for the book and any accas, but the 2-2 at the end of normal time and 4-2 overall meant goals galore which went in the punters’ favour.
“The shock of the round was Sunderland being beaten by Port Vale 1-0, in a game which had nothing for the punters, and that left us well ahead and was a great result for the book.”
Betfred’s Alan Firkins added: “There was plenty of FA Cup joy for layers at weekend as Premier League Fulham succumbed at home to Championship outfit Southampton, and for pride of place look no further than the Potteries, Vale Park, and League One’s bottom club Port Vale’s 1-0 humbling of another Premier League side in Sunderland.
“Wrexham played their part with a gutsy 90-minute 2-2 draw against Chelsea, before going out 4-2after extra time. The Welsh club were magnificent, and only when reduced to 10 in the dying embers of normal time did they begin to wilt.”
In the other ties, Liverpool ran out 3-1 winners away at Wolves while Manchester City (5/4) came from behind to beat Newcastle by the same scoreline at St James’ Park.
On the scares for Arsenal and Chelsea, Midnite’s sportsbook lead Alex Firth said: “Arsenal were sent off a prohibitive 1/7 while both teams to score was available at 4/5 pre-match. Chelsea started the match as 2/7 favourites to progress but drifted to as big as 3/1 to progress in-play.”
Elsewhere, the Cheltenham Festival gets underway at Prestbury Park on Tuesday
Looking ahead to the action, Firkins remarked: “The Cheltenham Festival takes place the week; quite simply one of the most exciting and prestigious events in the sporting calendar.
“There’s arguably a more open look to proceedings this time around with few red-hot favourites of the kind we’re used to seeing, especially from the all-conquering Willie Mullins camp.
“Tuesday’s traditional opener is the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, with Nicky Henderson’s Old Park Star well-touted at around 5/2, but Willie’s Mighty Park, 38-length winner of his only hurdle spin to date, might have something to say about that, at around 4/1.”