FA Cup Third-Round Replay Fixtures – Selected Match Previews

by Luke Andrews, 16 January 2024

The draw for the fourth round has been completed, but eight spots remain to be filled. These will be decided by replays of the third-round matches that ended in ties. Our expert analyst, Luke Andrews, has selected five out of these eight replay games that promise to be particularly thrilling midweek matches.

The oldest domestic football cup in the world offers lower-tier teams the opportunity to compete against the elite clubs in the top division. In the upcoming replays, there are two matches featuring Premier League teams: Wolves will face Brentford, and Everton will play against Crystal Palace.

West Ham, who lost their lead after scoring first, must now play a full ninety-minute match against Bristol City to secure their spot in the next round. Nottingham Forest made a comeback from a two-goal deficit to tie 2-2 with Blackpool, and they now need a strong start in their next game against a challenging opponent on their home turf. The final match to watch is Bristol Rovers taking on Norwich City.

FA Cup Betting – Wolves vs Brentford

Wolves gave a superb performance in the first leg, surviving over eighty minutes with ten men and scoring with their only shot on target for a 1-1 draw. Their tremendous efforts see them book a home game with the Bees, hoping they can repeat their heroics at the Molineux to book a slot in the next round of the FA Cup.

Gary O’Neil’s men are on excellent home form, unbeaten in the previous eight games (five wins, three draws), with their only defeats coming against Brighton and Liverpool back in March.

They have just one loss in their last ten games (six wins, three draws), which shows a side in great form looking forward to a Black County derby against West Brom in the fourth round.

🚨 Pep Guardiola is ready to move Phil Foden into a more central role, to accommodate for signing Pedro Neto on the wing.

[via @stevek9KS1TV] pic.twitter.com/GQAXP8Ajgv

— City HQ (@City_HQs) January 15, 2024

Pedro Neto could have earned his place in the starting eleven after creating the goal in the first game. The Rumour mill is suggesting that Manchester City might be interested in the player.

Home team top scorer: – Matheus Cunha, anytime goal scorer 15/8 & first goal scorer 5/1.

Brentford has more to contemplate heading to the FA Cup as they are winless in their last six games (five defeats, one draw) in all competition. The only win in this run came against newly promoted side Luton Town in the Premier League, but they have lost four straight-away games.

Thomas Frank admitted his side lacked quality, failing to see off ten men Wolves side playing at home and now have to battle eleven men on the road.

The unavailability of Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, and their leading striker Ivan Toney, who is set to return from suspension the day after this match, significantly weakens their attack. Neal Maupay has scored four goals in six games, including the only goal in their recent draw.

The Bees aim to maintain their strong performance record under Thomas Frank, who has yet to secure a win against them in five encounters, resulting in two draws and three defeats.

Away team top scorer: – Mathias Jensen, anytime goal scorer 10/1 & first goal scorer 22/1.

Selected bets: – Wolves 22/23, Draw 11/14, Brentford 16/5. Over 2.5 1/1, Under 2.5 10/11. BTTS: No 11/10, Yes 6/7.

FA Cup Betting – Bristol Rovers vs Norwich

Bristol Rovers managed a close 1-1 draw with Championship team Norwich City, securing a replay in the FA Cup at the Memorial Stadium. The Pirates have triumphed over Norwich in their two previous FA Cup encounters. Their first victory came in the 1912-13 season after two replays in the second round, and the second win was in the 1963-64 campaign, where they defeated Norwich 2-1 in the third round.

They will be hoping to reach the fourth round for the first time since the 2007-08 season, having been knocked out in the third round five times since their fourth-round exploits.

Chris Martin scores goals. ⚽#BristolRovers pic.twitter.com/OiMMIfCGGK

— Bristol Rovers (@Official_BRFC) January 14, 2024

Chris Martin is their top scorer with nine goals this campaign.

Home team top scorer: – Chris Martin, anytime goal scorer 2/1 & first goal scorer 13/2.

Championship side Norwich City would be disappointed not to kill the match in the first encounter against Bristol Rovers. Despite scoring first, they gave a solid performance in the game, dominating possession but not finding the deciding goal.

The Canaries have to give a strong performance on the road to try to reach the fourth round and would be confident, having won the previous two games on the road against their hosts.

This match marks the first meeting between the two teams since their clash in League One in May 2010, where they secured a 3-0 victory. The Canaries have advanced from three of their last four FA Cup third-round matches but were eliminated at this stage last season by Blackburn. Their track record in FA Cup replays is unfavorable, as they have been knocked out in their last five replay matches.

Jonathan Rowe is their top scorer with twelve goals this campaign, with Ashley Barnes scoring the only goal in their 1-1 draw against Norwich.

Away team top scorer: – Jon Rowe anytime goal scorer 3/1 & first goal scorer 9/1.

Selected bets: Bristol Rovers 9/5, Draw 14/5, Norwich 7/5. Over 2.5 4/5, Under 2.5 29/20. BTTS: No 17/10, Yes 1/2.

FA Cup Betting – Everton vs Crystal Palace

Everton ended a festive rollercoaster of defeats where they lost four games in a row to record two consecutive goalless draws against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup and Aston Villa in the Premier League.

The Toffees are likely to be deeply disappointed with the recent announcement that they have been found guilty of violating the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules again, potentially leading to another points deduction. The fans feel a sense of injustice, particularly because they are the only team penalised for this infraction, while similar cases involving other top teams have been unresolved for years.

Sean Dyche has already recovered from a ten-point deduction and would have an intense psychological blow to reignite their season. They can build their confidence from their impressive record of four wins from four FA Cup replays to lead them to victory.

How important is Abdoulaye Doucouré for Everton? 🔷 pic.twitter.com/V9LjpxtGLS

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 14, 2024

Abdoulaye Doucoure saw his late winning goal ruled out for offside was on target in their previous head-to-head match in November.

Home team top scorer: – Abdoulaye Doucoure, anytime goal scorer 4/1 & first goal scorer 17/2.

Crystal Palace have had a two-week break since they faced Everton, which has been a blessing to have most of their players back from injury.

The Eagles would be gutted for failing to see off the game against ten men and the Palace side will have a battle in their hands to get a result at the noisy Goodison Park.

Roy Hodgson has to motivate the team that has recorded just one win from their previous ten competitive games (four draws, five defeats).

The Eagles haven’t participated in an FA Cup replay for seven years, and this stage has marked the conclusion of their journey in three out of their last four campaigns. They are facing a challenging match ahead with little to inspire them and a record of not winning at Goodison Park in their last eight tries.

Eberechi Eze scored the opening goal in this clash and scored in their previous league win against Brentford.

Away team top scorer: – Odsonne Édouard, anytime goal scorer 3/1 & first goal scorer 15/2.

Selected bets: Everton 1/1, Draw 13/5, Crystal Palace 16/5. Over 2.5 11/10, Under 2.5 10/13. BTTS: No 19/20, Yes 15/16.

FA Cup Betting – Blackpool vs Nottingham Forest

Blackpool and Nottingham Forest are facing each other in the FA Cup for the second year in a row. The hosts, Blackpool, previously secured a 4-1 victory over the Premier League team and aim to replicate this success at Bloomfield Road following a 2-2 draw at the City Ground. The Seasiders have a notable record against Premier League teams, having advanced in two out of their last four matchups after being eliminated eleven times before this commendable streak.

An impressive FA Cup reign sees them hoping to reach the fourth round in successive campaigns for the first time since the 1969-70/1970-71 heroics.

Blackpool is on an impressive run, unbeaten in four games (three wins, one draw), and having scored the first two goals; they would be inspired to try to win, especially playing at home.

“SHOOOOOOOT!” 🗣️

There’s something incredibly satisfying about the way Albie Morgan runs onto this and slaps it into the back of the net. 😮‍💨

(Credit – @BlackpoolFC) #AlternativeAngle #UTMP #EFL pic.twitter.com/eKCpnUCfJ6

— Not The Top 20 Pod (@NTT20Pod) January 14, 2024

Albie Morgan has scored three goals in his last two games, including a goal against Nottingham in the first leg.

Home team top scorer: – Jordan Rhodes, anytime goal scorer 5/2 & first goal scorer 15/2.

Following their notable 2-1 victory against Manchester United, Nottingham Forest could only secure a 2-2 draw against League One team Blackpool. Since that draw, they haven’t played any matches and now face the challenge of achieving a favourable outcome away from home to advance to the fourth round.

Nottingham Forest’s offense has consistently delivered against Blackpool, scoring in eleven encounters across all competitions. However, their defence has struggled, failing to keep a clean sheet in nine away games against Blackpool. This pattern suggests the likelihood of another high-scoring match.

The Foresters have lost two round three replays, with both playing away first against Birmingham (2009-10) and against Leicester City (2011-12). They also have serious trouble in the Premier League, with just four points cushioning them from the red zone. Like Everton, they have been charged by the Premier League over financial issues and could have a points deduction.

Morgan Gibbs-White is too cold with it 🥶#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/S38BIM338D

— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 11, 2024

Morgan Gibbs-White has scored in the last two consecutive games: the winning goal against Manchester United and the equalising goal in the tie.

Away team top scorer: – Chris Woods anytime goal scorer 9/5 & first goal scorer 11/2.

Selected bets: Blackpool 3/1, Draw 29/10, Nottingham Forest 19/20. Over 2.5 3/4, Under 2.5 23/20. BTTS: No 13/10, Yes 8/11.

FA Cup Betting – Bristol City vs West Ham

Bristol City held their own at the London Stadium, managing to equalize around the thirty-minute mark, which has led to a home fixture against the Premier League team. Their track record shows that they have advanced past top-tier opposition only once in fifteen attempts, which was during the 2018-19 season when they secured a 1-0 victory over Huddersfield Town.

The fans of the Championship team will be thrilled to fill up Ashton Gate, but their recent form, with a winless streak of four games (including two draws and two defeats), is a cause for concern. The Robins haven’t won against the Hammers in their last twelve encounters across all competitions (six draws, six losses) since their last victory in 1978. Despite the challenging odds, the occasion itself is a remarkable moment for the fans, irrespective of the outcome.

Tommy Conway is their best scorer with six goals in the league and four-goal involvement in the League Cup (three goals, one assist) in three games will hope to make a mark in the FA Cup.

Home team top scorer: – Tommy Conway anytime goal scorer 3/1 & first goal scorer 8/1 at bet365.

West Ham will likely be disappointed for not maintaining their lead and securing a win in their home match against the Championship team, resulting in an additional fixture added to their already packed schedule. However, they boast an impressive record of being unbeaten against their hosts in their last six games at Ashton Gate.

The game marks their first trip here since they beat them 1-0 in the fourth round of the 2014-15 edition.

The Hammers have been a regular figure at the FA Cup fourth round over the last six seasons, and David Moyes would be confident to take his team to a seventh to replicate their 2000-01 and 2006-07 season success.

A player who has been in great form, especially in the FA Cup, is Jarrod Bowen, who scored four goals in six starts in the competition.

James Ward-Prowse! 🏌️‍♂️⚒️ pic.twitter.com/aii0zMvkUX

— Uber West Ham (@UberWestHam) December 7, 2023

Away team top scorer: – James Ward-Prowse, anytime goal scorer 17/5 & first goal scorer 9/1.

Selected bets: Bristol City 7/2, Draw 11/4, West Ham 43/50. Over 2.5 1/1, Under 2.5 17/20. BTTS: No 1/1, Yes 10/11.

The upcoming replays are set to offer thrilling football action, particularly due to the intensity of the matches. For fans, the most eagerly awaited clashes will be those between teams from the lower divisions and their counterparts in the Premier League.

In the initial match, Blackpool nearly clinched the win with two early goals, giving Nottingham Forest a formidable challenge at their stronghold. Bristol City, remarkably, secured a draw at the London Stadium, earning a replay to the delight of their home crowd. The Premier League matchups, featuring Wolves versus Brentford and Everton against Crystal Palace, are well-balanced, with both sides capable of delivering high-quality football. This set of games, particularly the clashes between teams from varying leagues, promises to be highly exciting.

All stats are taken from SoccerSTATS.com and 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.