ALEX CROOK PREVIEW: FA Cup Semi-Finals

Star Sports football ambassador Alex Crook previews the FA Cup semi-finals this weekend…

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🔵 CHELSEA v MANCHESTER CITY 🔵

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Manchester City’s hopes of completing back-to-back trebles were dashed in dramatic circumstances in mid-week as they were sent crashing out of the Champions League on penalties by Real Madrid, but Pep Guardiola’s side have little time to feel sorry for themselves and focus turns quickly to defending their FA Cup crown.

Chelsea could be forgiven for thinking this is the perfect time to face the Premier League champions, having had an extra two days to recover following their 6-0 demolition of Everton on Monday night.

They are also undefeated in their two league meetings with City, playing out a scintillating 4-4 draw at home before also coming away from the Etihad with a point, and there is evidently enough quality in Mauricio Pochettino’s side to turn it on against the big boys despite their glaring inconsistency over the course of the season.

One player who has certainly not been inconsistent is the Blues’ player of the season and ex-City academy ace Cole Palmer, who is now a shock joint-leader of the race for the Premier League Golden boot after banging in back-to-back hat-tricks at Stamford Bridge.

Palmer has a lovely confidence without coming across as arrogant and will still be feeling sore about the way he was shipped out by Guardiola.

The England midfielder scored a crucial late equaliser in the 4-4 thriller and Palmer to score at any time is a tempting 12/5 with starsports.bet

City’s teamsheet will make interesting reading after having to play extra-time on Wednesday night and it would not surprise me if Kevin de Bruyne started on the bench. There is also a question mark over Erling Haaland who once again failed to fire against Real and asked to be substituted long before the penalties.

The striking Viking’s record of scoring in semi-finals and finals is also paltry compared to his staggering all-round stats.

It is inevitable after such a disappointing defeat that Guardiola’s side may take a while to hit their stride so Pochettino will be aware of the importance of his side making a fast start to take full advantage.

I think the draw after 90 minutes at 16/5 with starsports.bet looks really good value and if you fancy doubling up my two selections a build-a-bet on the draw and Palmer to score at any time returns a decent 11.5/1 with starsports.bet.

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🔵 COVENTRY v MANCHESTER UNITED 🔴

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In their glorious past a Wembley semi-final against a mid-table Championship side would hold few fears for Manchester United but the fact the Sky Blues are as short as 9/2 with starsports.bet to progress to their first final since lifting the cup in 1987 is another stark reminder of just how far the Red Devils have fallen.

Coventry boss Mark Robins famously saved Alex Ferguson’s job by scoring a crucial third round win over Nottingham Forest en route to United winning the Scot’s first trophy in 1990 and the embattled Erik ten Hag is in need to his own ‘Mark Robins moment’ to silence his growing army of detractors.

The fact minority owner Sir Jim Ractliffe will once again be watching from the stands, assuming the 71-year-old completes the London Marathon on time, adds even more pressure on the Dutchman, whose only chance of salvaging a desperate season is in this competition.

United were poor again in being held to a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth last weekend as their worrying trend of affording their opponents numerous chances to score once again came to the fore, and it is now four games without a win since beating arch-rivals Liverpool in an epic clash in the last round.

If they adopt the same front-foot approach they did in coming from behind to snatch a dramatic stoppage time win in their quarter final clash with Wolves then Coventry will get opportunities to score and in the bang in-form Ellis Simms they have a striker well equipped to take advantage.

Simms has already netted five times during Coventry’s run to the semi-final and is 5/2 with starsports.bet to net at any time.

Coventry’s recent form of three defeats in their last four games including a 3-0 loss by relegation-threatened Birmingham last time out offers nervous United fans hope and one of the few positives for ten Hag in recent weeks has been the return to form of Bruno Fernandes and the much-maligned captain followed up his halfway line stunner against Liverpool with a double at Bournemouth.

The tempestuous Portuguese international also netted in last season’s FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City and I like the look of a build-a-bet on Manchester United to win, Fernandes and Simms to score at any time at 13/1 with starsports.bet.

Good luck,

ALEX CROOK

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