FA Cup Fifth Round – Luke Andrew’s Match Previews & Latest Betting Odds

by Luke Andrews, 27 February 2024

We take a break from the Premier League to highlight five of the FA Cup fifth-round games with teams expected to up the tempo with the quarter-finals within touching distance. Our resident sports expert, Luke Andrews, analyses the teams that could make it to the final eight and highlights their form, strengths, and history in the competition.

Premier League side Bournemouth welcome Championship leaders, with the home side boasting top-flight status, but Leicester City is in better form. Chelsea and Leeds United have a similar situation, with the Blues still reeling from a Carabao Cup final defeat, having the FA Cup as their only path to secure silverware against an in-form Championship side.

The third Championship side in the fifth round of the FA Cup is Blackburn, who will battle Premier League side Newcastle United. We have two all Premier League action with Luton Town welcoming the competition’s reigning champions, Manchester City.

Manchester United travels to Nottingham Forest in the other top-flight battle as the Red Devils are eager to avenge their December defeat and retain some pride after a humiliating defeat to Fulham over the weekend, but with United suffering with injuries, many FA Cup betting fans might fancy backing the home side.

Premier League Betting – AFC Bournemouth vs Leicester City

Bournemouth will try deflecting from their troubles in the Premier League as they try to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for just the third time in the club’s history. The Cherries are winless in their last five games (three draws, two defeats) but would still be confident facing Championship side Leicester City.

Manager Andoni Iraola could name a strong side as they have a good cushion over the bottom three, hoping to make it three consecutive wins against Championship sides, having knocked out Swansea and Queens Park Rangers. The home team has a good record at the Vitality Stadium, unbeaten in the last six games (four wins, three draws).

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A thread ⚽
No 1

Justin Kluivert
Club: Bournemouth
Father: Patrick Kluivert pic.twitter.com/2wByKRyQbq

— BABS🦁🕊️ (@BankableBabs) October 14, 2023

Justin Kluivert netted in their third-round win against QPR and has been a lucky charm, losing just once when he scored over thirteen matches (nine wins).

Home team top scorer: – Dominic Solanke, anytime goal scorer 6/5 & first goal scorer 4/1.

Leicester City have lost two games in a row against Leeds and Middlesbrough and are in danger of losing three in a row when they face Premier League outfit Bournemouth. Manager Enzo Maresca would be concerned seeing his side squandering a 1-0 lead to concede three times in the final ten minutes, reducing their lead at the top to six points.

The Foxes won the FA Cup in the 2020-21 season but have not reached the quarter-finals since then. Leicester City has a good record against Premier League opposition, with five consecutive wins and eight wins in their previous nine FA Cup games away from the King Power (one defeat). The hopes for Leicester City’s promotion and their spell in the English Premier League make this game feel like a top-flight battle, and fans will likely see this game as a dress rehearsal for next season.

🇵🇱 Jakub Stolarczyk for #LCFC this season

👕 6 Appearances (4 away from home)
🎯 29 Shots on Target Faced
🧤 24 Shots on Target Saved
🧼 4 Clean Sheets
📊 82.7% Save Success Rate

Putting in some huge shifts pic.twitter.com/TsIfd2xbx2

— 𝙇𝘾𝙁𝘾 𝙎𝙋 (@LCFCshitposting) January 27, 2024

Jakub Stolarczyk has a 100% record from five FA Cup ties, managing two shutouts.

Away team top scorer: – Jamie Vardy, anytime goal scorer 11/4 & first goal scorer 8/1.

Selected bets: – Bournemouth 3/4, Draw 3/1, Leicester City 15/4. Over 2.5 8/13, Under 2.5 27/20. BTTS: No 7/5, Yes 8/13.

Premier League Betting – Blackburn Rovers vs Newcastle United

Blackburn’s new boss, John Eustace, will hope his luck will come in the fifth game, having gone four without a win (three draws, one defeat). They had a 1-1 stalemate at Ewood Park against Norwich and must bring their best performance as they welcome Premier League side Newcastle in the fifth round.

Rovers have had a good spell at this stage as they knocked out then-Premier League side Leicester City (2-1); thus, we hope they can replicate this performance. They, however, don’t have a good record against the Magpies; in nine matches, they have won just twice (seven defeats).

The hope of reaching the quarter-finals in two consecutive seasons for the first time since 1920 could be a significant landmark to rejuvenate their season.

Blackburn’s Sammie Szmodics has scored SEVEN goals in his last four FA Cup appearances…

He is also this season's top scorer in the competition from the first round onwards with five goals!

Can he knock Newcastle out tonight?#beINFACUP #BRFC #NUFC pic.twitter.com/S5Q44TXhwr

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) February 27, 2024

Sammie Szmodics is the joint top scorer for the FA Cup with five goals; all his goals come in the first half.

Home team top scorer: – Sammien Szmodics, anytime goal scorer 13/5 & first goal scorer 9/1.

Newcastle United were butchered 4-1 by Arsenal, ending their impressive five-game unbeaten run (three wins, two draws) at the Emirates Stadium. Eddie Howe will have to inspire his side for another game on the roads for the third time in the FA Cup but would be confident, having breezed through rounds three and four without conceding.

It’s reasonable to expect the Premier League team to advance from the fifth round, given their track record of doing so in their last eight attempts, with the most recent success in the 2019-20 season. Additionally, they aim for their first trio of consecutive victories at Ewood Park in forty years, adding an extra layer of motivation.

Bukayo Saka to Joe Willock after he took away Arsenal’s clean sheet late on in the victory over Newcastle on Saturday. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/buJFcDGCI6

— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) February 26, 2024

Joe Willock stepped back from an elongated injury layoff, scoring to announce his return in their most recent game against Arsenal, showing promise in front of goal since coming on the pitch and could start in the FA Cup tie.

Away team top scorer: – Alexander Isak, anytime goal scorer 19/20 & first goal scorer 4/1.

Selected bets: – Blackburn Rovers 5/1, Draw 17/4, Newcastle United 1/2. Over 2.5 2/5, Under 2.5 21/10. BTTS: No 17/10, Yes 8/15.

Premier League Betting – Luton Town vs Manchester City

Luton Town has not won in their last four matches, suffering three losses and one draw, including a 4-1 defeat to Liverpool in their most recent game. They are set to host Manchester City, the current Premier League and FA Cup champions, at Kenilworth Road. This match marks the first FA Cup encounter between the two teams since 1969, a game in which the Hatters were narrowly defeated 1-0.

Luton will be making their third appearance in the fifth round since the 1993-94 season have already knocked out Premier League opposition Everton. They hope to give a spirited effort similar to their 2020-21 campaign, where Chelsea knocked them out (3-2) despite taking the lead twice.

Elijah Adebayo is among five confirmed players who will be absent, alongside Mads Andersen, Tom Lockyer, Marvelous Nakamba, and Jacob Brown.

“For Luton to get anything from this game will be a football miracle. I just can’t see it. The Hatters have injury woes, and they face arguably the best cup team in England. I’ll be backing a City win and ‘no’ on both teams to score (BTTS). ” – Luke Andrews, Betting Expert – UK Market.

Chiedozie Ogbene is HIM! 👒 pic.twitter.com/Ut7Sdqqyzo

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) February 21, 2024

Chiedozie Ogbene gave Luton a half-time lead at Anfield, with his side leading at half-time in their home game against the Citizens. Only one of the fourteen games by the home team has been goalless at half-time.

Home team top scorer: – Elijah Adebayo, anytime goal scorer 9/2 & first goal scorer 13/1.

Manchester City has been known to be ruthless in domestic competition; thus, expect a strong side and performance against the relegation-threatened side of Luton Town. Pep Guardiola’s side are unbeaten against the Hatters in nine straight games (four draws, five wins).

A defeat and elimination at this stage will be the biggest shock of the competition, as they have reached the quarter-finals in six of their previous seven campaigns. Manchester City have a 100% winning ratio against a side in the bottom four, winning all seven games against them. It’s hard to see anything other than a win for the travelling side as they are on an eight-game winning run in the competition, keeping seven shutouts.

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— Deedy 🇧🇪 (@DeedyMCFC) February 23, 2024

Phil Foden has netted two of their six gals in this season’s competition and scored the winning goal against Bournemouth over the weekend.

Away team top scorer: – Erling Haaland, anytime goal scorer 7/10 & first goal scorer 5/2.

Selected bets: – Luton town 9/1, Draw 19/4, Manchester City 1/3. Over 2.5 8/15, Under 2.5 31/20. BTTS: No 19/20, Yes 10/11.

Premier League Betting – Chelsea vs Leeds United

Chelsea must recover from the disheartening loss in the Carabao Cup final, where they conceded a goal from a corner in the last minutes of extra time. The Blues’ quest for a trophy relies solely on the FA Cup, as it remains their only chance for silverware this season. This is particularly troubling as they have faced defeat in six consecutive domestic cup finals.

They have won six consecutive games at Stamford Bridge against Leeds United, which should boost their confidence in making it to the next stage. The two sides hadn’t featured against each other in the FA Cup since 1970 when the London side won the trophy, getting better of the Yorkshire side in the replay.

Mauricio Pochettino has a reputation to keep for his team as they have progressed in thirteen of their previous fifteen ties and would demand a reaction after the Carabao defeat.

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— KELIMOICFC (@kelimoicfc) February 23, 2024

Enzo Fernandez could become the first player since Pedro to score in the FA Cup campaign’s third, fourth, and fifth rounds.

Home team top scorer: – Cole Palmer, anytime goal scorer 7/5 & first goal scorer 5/1.

Leeds United is confident heading to Stamford Bridge despite being in a lower division; their dream of gaining promotion this season is high. The Whites came from a goal down to win 3-1 against Leicester, securing a ninth consecutive league win.

They are in better form than their hosts, and given their experience, having been a Premier League outfit recently, they should have the confidence to perform and even disappoint their hosts on their turf.

Leeds will be looking at a chance to play in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the first time in twenty-one years, having been eliminated at this stage on three occasions, including last season, losing 2-0 to Fulham.

Wilfred Gnonto has scored in four consecutive Leeds away games as his side has scored three or more goals in three of their four FA Cup games on the road.

Away team top scorer: – Crysensio Summerville, anytime goal scorer 15/4 & first goal scorer 11/1.

Selected bets: – Chelsea 7/12, Draw 7/2, Leeds United 11/2. Over 2.5 5, Under 2.5 29/20. BTTS: No 5/4, Yes 5/7.

Premier League Betting – Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United

Nuno Espirito Santo is having a tough time at Nottingham Forest as his side are still four points off the relegation zone after a 4-2 defeat over the weekend to Aston Villa. They will be hoping for a match to deflect from the looming Premier League troubles to face Manchester United, which will be their second time in a decade.

The Tricky Trees beat Manchester United 2-1 in last year’s final match, which ended a twelve-game winless run (eleven defeats, one draw). Their performances in the FA Cup haven’t been convincing, having needed a replay and extra time to knock out Championship side Bristol City on penalties.

They will be counting on Morgan Gibbs-White, who netted over the weekend since he scored in the third round against Blackpool. The England international scored the winning goal when the two sides met in December.

Home team top scorer: – Taiwo Awoniyi, anytime goal scorer 41/20 & first goal scorer 6/1.

The Red Devils’ impressive run of seven games unbeaten after they lost to Nottingham Forest in December came crashing with a 2-1 home defeat against Fulham over the weekend. Erik ten Hag will hope he doesn’t ruin an impressive run at this stage as Manchester United have progressed from each of their last thirteen FA Cup fifth-round ties, only failing to do so in 2005-06.

Additional worries stem from the team’s weekend performance and an expanding list of injured players. Erik ten Hag will be missing up to eight players due to injuries for this match, including striker Rasmus Hojlund, who had recently been in notable goalscoring form.

The match will be the first time the two sides have met in the FA Cup since January 1990, when Mark Robin scored the winning goal; saving Sir Alex Ferguson’s job. A similar result would be poetic, especially with the pressure behind Ten Hag.

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"I don't think even Rodri or Casemiro were as good as he is at his age. He is the backbone of a club like Manchester United as young as he is. I think he'll outlive very many big names." pic.twitter.com/mY38TAQC4b

— 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐭 (@UTDMist) February 26, 2024

Kobbie Mainoo, who scored in United’s win in the fourth round against Newport, has been inspirational in the midfield for the Red Devils. In the six games between the two sides, both sides have not scored in the same games in the FA Cup.

Away team top scorer: – Scott McTominay, anytime goal scorer 9/2 & first goal scorer 12/1.

Selected bets: – Nottingham Forest 13/5, Draw 77/29, Manchester United 23/20. Over 2.5 3/4, Under 2.5 11/10. BTTS: No 11/8, Yes 4/6.

The two Championship sides Leicester City (first in the Championship) and Leeds United (second in the Championship) are in exemplary form. They will flex their strength against Bournemouth and Chelsea, who have not been convincingly impressive. It would be interesting to see whether form or status wins the day.

The third game between the sides is not defined as Blackburn sits sixteenth and has not been particularly convincing against Newcastle, who are not at their best form. Pep Guardiola doesn’t rest his players, so we anticipate an entire squad against Luton Town as they defend their title. Manchester United should get a result against Nottingham as their only possible path to secure silverware this season.

All stats are taken from SoccerSTATS.comand WhoScored.com, and the odds are from bet365 and are correct at the time of writing but can fluctuate, especially in play.

All tips are provided as entertainment only; the author’s opinion should not be considered financial guidance. Always bet responsibly; if you need help with problem gambling, you can find organisations that offer support in this page’s footer.