Tottenham v Manchester United - A Classic FA Cup Showdown

This weekend's value match-up is a contest that will have football fanatics excited the world over, with a Tottenham team high on confidence taking on Manchester United at Old Trafford in a classic FA cup show-stopper.

Tottenham put on an absolute show when they demolished an Arsenal side in the Carling Cup last Saturday, a match that will go down in Hotspurs folk lore as the ultimate revenge for a decade of woe. This weekend will sort the contender from the pretender as they take on the best team in English football away from home. They will have to do so without striker Darren Bent, who is again injured alongside Anthony Gardner and Gareth Bale who are both expected to miss. While first team fullback Pascal Chimbonda will also miss with a suspension. To stand a chance against the Red Devils, Tottenham's defense will need to play out of their skins to ensure at least a competitive game, and if the Hotspurs midfield and attack combine like they did against Arsenal, then this could go down as a FA Cup Classic.

Manchester United is the undisputed kings of the FA Cup competition, but they will have their work cut out for them against a highly spirited Tottenham team. Veteran midfielder Paul Scholes will return to the squad after recovering from the effects of knee surgery and pint-sized livewire Anderson will be available after missing the match against Reading because of a domestic matter. The forward trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez hold the key to United's striking power, with the threesome having scored 45 goals for the Manchester Club. If they can be stopped Tottenham will go a long way to winning this match.

Manchester United have been in fine form and are leading the league, while Tottenham are finally producing the form they are capable of. The Red Devils hold the upper hand, but with Tottenham hitting good form, the draw at odds of $4.00 at PartyBets is really good value.

Manchester City takes on Sheffield United away from home in the other value match of the week. Sheffield United will have nothing to lose and could rise to the occasion and provide a contest.

Manchester City's striker woes have only got worse this week, with Italian forward Rolando Bianchi leaving for the lights of Lazio, with no-one as of yet to replace the hit man. They are left with little options up forward, but with Emile Mpenza finally returning and teenage sensation Daniel Sturbridge joining the squad on the sidelines, they should have enough firepower to be a scoring threat against the Blades. The list of absentee's for this vital match is growing with Valeri Bojinov and Michael Johnson returning to training, but not available for the match, and Micah Richards being rested after forgoing knee surgery. The Citizens have been tough to beat recently but have been toothless up front, only having one defeat in the last eight weeks, but with only two wins in their last nine performances. The City faithful are yearning for the attacking panache that was showed earlier in the season.

Sheffield United finds themselves labeled FA Cup specialists, with little to show in their league performances to back up their accomplishments in the FA Cup the last few years. They once again find themselves against highly rated opponents, but they will be without long term absentees Jamie Beattie, Danny Webber and Chris Morgan in a match that could already be tagged as injury afflicted. The integral duo of Lee Hendrie and Gary Naysmith look like returning to add some grunt to the United midfield. They will need to work themselves out of the rut they have found themselves in the league, with only two wins in their last seven matches leaving them languishing in relegation zone territory.

Both teams have not shown their best form, but City is still in European contention, whilst Sheffield United lies in risk of further demotion from the Championship. With this in mind, I would take the $2.00 available for the Manchester City at PartyBets

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