Our best bets for the latest FA Cup round
Our best bets for the latest FA Cup round

Free betting tips: FA Cup third round action including QPR v Leeds, Manchester City v Rotherham


The FA Cup continues on Sunday and with changes expected from most teams, Tom Carnduff has found value in goalscorers.


Recommended bets

1pt Jack Harrison to score two or more goals in QPR v Leeds at 40/1

1pt Jack Harrison to score anytime in QPR v Leeds at 9/2

1pt Phil Foden to score anytime in Manchester City v Rotherham at 9/4

1pt Kevin De Bruyne to score anytime in Manchester City v Rotherham at 21/10

For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record


QPR v Leeds

Loftus Road, 1400 GMT

Jack Harrison scores a late equaliser for Leeds against Millwall
Jack Harrison scores a late equaliser for Leeds against Millwall

It's an all-Championship encounter at Loftus Road as QPR welcome Leeds for their second meeting of the season.

The Whites were victorious when the two sides met at Elland Road last month, although both sides are expected to make changes here.

Steve McClaren has stated that he will be putting out 'as strong of a team as possible' - which suggests that there will be changes despite giving the impression of a normal league XI.

After making that statement, the R's boss would say that "I do need to assess the squad in terms of where we are with some of them."

Joe Lumley, Darnell Furlong and Nahki Wells are among those who are set to miss out for this one.

On the flip side, Marcelo Bielsa gave his starting XI in Friday's press conference, confirming the absence of a number of key first-team players.

We know that Leeds' starting line-up will be: Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Jamie Shackleton, Luke Ayling, Aapo Halme, Leif Davis, Adam Forshaw, Lewis Baker, Tyler Roberts, Jack Clarke, Gjanni Alioski and Jack Harrison.

What is interesting in this team is that Harrison gets the nod as the striker, with Bielsa giving the reason that he scored the last time he featured in that position (the 1-1 draw away at Millwall).

Given the fact he is normally a winger, there was as big as 60/1 available on Harrison scoring two or more goals, with that price going down to around the 7s mark.

Despite that, there is value still to be had with Ladbrokes offering the brace at 40/1.

He is a player who has been a bit hit-and-miss during his loan spell at Elland Road, but operating him in a more central position could be the change that is needed for him as he looks to make a case for his involvement in the second-half of the season.

He is a player who does also have an eye for goal, as demonstrated by the ten he scored during the 2017 MLS season - all of those coming from his position on the right-wing.

Against a changed QPR side, with a weakened defence, his pace could create a lot of problems - and a price of 40/1 for two or more goals in a game such as this is definitely worth a small stake.

Best bet: Jack Harrison to score two or more goals at 40/1

Best bet: Jack Harrison to score anytime at 9/2

Opta facts

  • Queens Park Rangers will face Leeds United in the FA Cup for the first time since February 1987, with the Whites running out 2-1 winners thanks to goals from Ian Baird and Brendan Ormsby.
  • Leeds United won 3-1 on their last visit to Loftus Road thanks to a Kemar Roofe second half hat-trick in a Championship match in December 2017.
  • QPR have lost each of their last five FA Cup third round matches, last reaching round four during the 2012-13 campaign.
  • Away from home, Leeds United have lost three of their last four FA Cup third round encounters, last beating Cambridge United at this stage back in January 2017.

Manchester City v Rotherham

Etihad Stadium, 1400 GMT

Phil Foden goes for goal in Manchester City's Champions League clash against Hoffenheim
Phil Foden goes for goal in Manchester City's Champions League clash against Hoffenheim

Pep Guardiola would have been happy when he saw Rotherham drawn out after Manchester City, with the Millers struggling on the road in the Sky Bet Championship.

This should be a fairly straightforward victory for the hosts with 1/14 available on them securing passage to the fourth round in 90 minutes on Sunday.

Even more so, the odds of 1/100 on City to qualify for the next round tells you all you need to know.

It'll be interesting to see how the hosts line-up here with a number of changes expected. One player who won't feature is Braham Diaz, he is off to Real Madrid.

The young forward scored twice in their Carabao Cup victory over Fulham earlier this season, but he won't be available for Guardiola in this competition.

Two players who we can expect to see are Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne, with the latter looks continuing his return to full fitness.

They will be a handful for the Rotherham defence and will eye this up as a game where they can add to their tallies.

Both players are available at the best side of 2/1 to grab a goal in this encounter, which means that it is worth backing both to score against a struggling Rotherham outfit.

Rotherham find themselves with the worst away record in England's second tier. They have managed to pick up just four points from a possible 39, conceding 24 goals and scoring eight.

That will be music to the ears of the likes of Foden and De Bruyne. It's set to be a game which they can enjoy.

Best bet: Phil Foden to score anytime at 9/4

Best bet: Kevin De Bruyne to score anytime at 21/10

Opta facts

  • Manchester City have been drawn against Rotherham for just the second time in the FA Cup, beating them in a third round replay in 1978-79 the other time.
  • The last time Manchester City faced Rotherham came in the second tier of English football back in March 2002 – a 1-1 draw.
  • Manchester City have won just three of their last seven FA Cup games against sides from a lower division (D1 L3) with two of those defeats coming against Wigan.
  • Rotherham have lost each of their last five FA Cup games, conceding two or more goals in each of those matches (14 in total) – their last victory in the competition came in round one of the 2013/14 season, beating Bradford 3-0.

Woking v Watford

Laithwaite Community Stadium, 1400 GMT, BT Sport 2

Watford boss Javi Gracia
Watford boss Javi Gracia

Watford boss Javi Gracia is set to make an number of changes as he takes his Premier League side to National League South club Woking on Sunday.

Woking sit second in the standings after enjoying a positive season so far, and their reward for progression in this competition is a test against one of the best.

We should expect to see a Watford victory with goals as they face weaker opposition, even without a number of their star players featuring.

One player who should get game time is Domingos Quina, with the midfielder limited to just five Premier League appearances so far. He did net in their 3-2 victory over Cardiff in mid-December though.

He also scored in their 2-0 win over Reading in the first round of the Carabao Cup - and would play the full 90 minutes as the Hornets were beaten on penalties by Tottenham in the following round.

Using the teams from those Cup games, Quina should play near the full game in this one and will have plenty of opportunities to find goal.

Betway have him at 13/5 to find the net anytime. That price looks generous given his position on the pitch and the fact that the visitors are likely to see the majority of the attacking chances.

Best bet: Domingos Quina to score anytime at 13/5

Opta facts

  • This will be the first competitive meeting between Woking and Watford.
  • Woking are playing in the FA Cup third round for the first time since the 1996-97 campaign – they’ve only progressed to round four once before (1990-91).
  • Woking have never won in four previous FA Cup matches against top-flight opposition, losing against Bolton in 1907-08, Everton in 1990-91 and Coventry in a replay in 1996-97.
  • This is Watford’s first FA Cup match against non-league opponents since December 1996 (5-0 vs Ashford Town). They’ve won 18 of their last 19 such ties in the competition, losing only against Northwich Victoria in 1976-77.

We take a look at some of the potential FA Cup shocks this weekend...

Vote in our interactive FA Cup Shockometer
Vote in our interactive FA Cup Shockometer

I've also taken a look at the FA Cup outright betting and have four bets at great prices to back...

Our best bets for the 2018/19 FA Cup
Our best bets for the 2018/19 FA Cup

Follow all the latest stories from the transfer market...

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Odds correct as of 1800 GMT on 04/01/19

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