Weekend Review: Premier League sides feel the pressure as bookies bask in glow of FA Cup magic
Manchester United and holders Leicester City dumped out as West Ham and Chelsea forced to extra-time by lower league opposition
The FA Cup continued to deliver its famed magic as the fourth round brought about more giant killings and near-misses for Premier League sides much to the delight of the bookies.
In the results of the round, non-league Boreham Wood (6/1) beat Championship high-flyers Bournemouth (9/25) 1-0 thanks to 37-year-old captain Mark Ricketts while Nottingham Forest (16/5) took a second Premier League scalp by trouncing holders Leicester City (17/20) 4-1 in a feisty East Midlands derby.
West Ham (9/50) almost became the biggest giant-killing victim since 1972 (Hereford 2-1 Newcastle) in the competition’s history trailing 1-0 to National League North side Kidderminster Harriers (15/1) before Declan Rice drove home a stoppage-time equaliser to force extra time.
✨𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧…
We can’t believe it either, Stevo!
📸 @ejacobsphotos #WeAreTheWood pic.twitter.com/NXcsIUKb1z
— Boreham Wood FC (@BOREHAM_WOODFC) February 7, 2022
Penalties appeared to loom before Jarrod Bowen tapped home in the 120th minute to save the Hammers’ blushes and break Kiddy hearts.
Chelsea (1/20) were also run close and needed extra-time to see off a spirited Plymouth Argyle (22/1) at Stamford Bridge 2-1.
In another shock, Manchester United (1/4) were dumped out on penalties by Middlesbrough (9/1) following a controversial equaliser for the Championship outfit.
Kindred Group’s Ali Gill said: “A fourth round of the FA Cup with more than enough shocks to keep the trading team happy over the weekend. Manchester United losing out on penalties to Boro was a great start, followed by Southampton, West Ham and Chelsea all needing extra-time to get past lower league opposition.
“The shock of the round came at the Vitality as Bournemouth lost to Boreham Wood, another very good result for the book and one that perhaps took the most accas with it,” he added.
Betway’s Chad Yeomans said: “The magic of the Cup was in the air this weekend, certainly on Sunday as Boreham Wood knocked out Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest thrashed Leicester, both of whom were seen as massive underdogs.
“Friday night was a good start as Manchester United could only manage a draw in 90 minutes before being beaten on penalties to Middlesbrough. It’s safe to say, although a few favourites went in on Saturday, there was a largely satisfied feeling in Betway’s football trading room on Sunday,” he added.
In Cameroon, Liverpool stars Mo Salah and Sadio Mane faced off in the AFCON final as Senegal (6/5) secured its first ever AFCON title after beating Egypt (17/5) on penalties.
After a tight 120 minutes with neither team finding the back of the net, Senegal ran out 4-2 winners to give Mane the bragging rights over his Anfield teammate.
🏆 #AFCON2021 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 🏆
Congratulations Sadio Mane and #TeamSenegal 👏 pic.twitter.com/kriocxmwgK
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 6, 2022
Mane scored the winning spot kick, redeeming himself after seeing his 7th minute penalty saved by Egypt goalkeeper Gabaski, while Salah who was scheduled to take Egypt’s fifth penalty, didn’t even get the chance to make his mark on the shootout.
Virgin Bet head of trading Janis Strauts said: “Senegal overcoming Egypt on penalties following a scoreless 120-minutes in the AFCON final was almost the ideal scenario for us, with punters preferring the Egyptians both on fixture and tournament outright.”
Gill added: “Liverpool’s Mo Salah and Sadio Mane took each other on in the African Cup of Nations Final, with Mane coming out on top as Senegal took the trophy. As always, the 0-0 was a great result for the book, with the match topping both the turnover and results table for us over the weekend.”
Elsewhere, in horseracing, a devastating Sunday at the Dublin Racing Festival blew operator’s early weekend gains out of the water as six favourites duly delivered over in Ireland.
Betfred’s Alan Firkins said: “More of a swings and roundabouts job on the racing front, with a super Saturday followed by slaughter on Sunday. A procession of well-backed Leopardstown aeroplanes on the Sabbath helped confirm what a challenge the home team faces from the Irish battalions, at Prestbury Park in March.”
However, Strauts said there was some positives to take from the weekend despite the Sunday woes, with results at Musselburgh and an 18/1 winner in the Irish Gold Cup in the shape of Conflated.
🚨 A huge upset in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup – Conflated runs out a brilliant winner of the Grade One event for @gelliott_racing, @_Davy_Russel_ & Gigginstown House Stud#DublinRacingFestival | @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/xRQYdKuSSk
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 5, 2022
Strauts: “The Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown was the highlight of our weekend. Not only was there some terrific racing on show, but there was also a good a good level of turnover for both days. Saturday’s best result came in the form of Conflated’s Irish Gold Cup win at 18/1.
“Kempton and Linfield produced profitable results for us, while we took the rough with the smooth at Sandown, with four winning favourites on the card.
“On Sunday, we were fortunate to see Pink In The Park unable to find the win for the bumper at Leopardstown, following six favourites already coming in on the earlier card. While we took a slight loss on Sunday at Leopardstown, results were better at Musselburgh with Kihavah’s win in the Scottish Supreme Novices’ Hurdle a friendly result for us,” he added.