FA Cup Weekend: Who to look out for in the first round…
It’s that time again – the first round proper of the FA Cup gets underway this weekend, with 40 classic matches to get your teeth into. Ahead of tonight’s opening game, CaughtOffside picks out five potential shocks to keep an eye on:
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Warrington Town v Exeter (Friday, 19:55)
The FA Cup first round kicks-off with Warrington, of the Northern Premier League Division One North, hosting football league Exeter City. The minnows finished third in the division last season, but sit 17th so far this year, albeit with several games in hand. They have won four, drawn two, and lost five of their 11 league games thus far. Exeter sit 11th in League Two, and are unbeaten in four.
Chance of an upset: 3/10
Barnet v Wycombe (Saturday, 15:00)
This has all the makings of a high quality clash between two high flying teams. Barnet sit top of the Conference table with 42 points from 19 games, already nine points clear of their nearest rivals. They are unbeaten in four league games, and have won their last three. Wycombe are top of League Two, a point above Luton with 32 points from 16 matches. They’ve only lost one in ten, and will be confident of progressing. This could come down to who is more distracted by their promotion chase.
Chance of an upset: 6/10
Halifax v Bradford City (Sunday, 12:00)
Bradford made their name as giantkillers in the League Cup a couple of years ago, when they made it all the way to the final before being beaten by Swansea City. This weekend, they will be trying to avoid a similar shock when they travel to Conference high-flyers Halifax, who are renowned for their excellent home record at the Shay. Bradford are 14th in League One and without a win in five while, in contrast, Halifax are fourth in the Conference, and have picked up four points from their last two games.
Chance of an upset: 7/10
Portsmouth v Aldershot (Sunday, 14:00)
Two clubs with similar tales of financial woes over the last few years. The 2008 winners are a shadow of the side that graced the final of the competition a little over four years ago. However, they are hopeful of revival this season as they find themselves in ninth place in League Two, just a couple of points off the play-offs. They’ve lost just three of their last ten league matches, and should be too strong for the Shots at Fratton Park. Aldershot sit 16th in the Conference, and have won just two of their last ten.
Chance of an upset: 4/10
Havant & Waterlooville v Preston (Monday, 20:00)
They’re back! And while the likes of Richard Paquette (now with Eastbourne Borough) and Alfie Potter (Oxford United), might be gone, the Hawks will still be hopeful of repeating their famous FA Cup heroics of 2008, when they beat Swansea City and led Liverpool twice at Anfield before going down 5-2. They face a first round tie with League One Preston this time around, a formidable opposition who currently sit second in League One, albeit having lost their last two games. Havant are fifth in Conference South.
Chance of an upset: 5/10
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