S.P.Read Esq: Preston North End v Man U

Our daily columnist and pundit S.P. Read Esq. looks ahead to the FA Cup game on Monday (7.45pm, LIVE BBC1) between PRESTON NORTH END v MAN U and finds the best opportunities available on Star Spreads, the home of sports spread betting.

Preston North End attempt to repeat Bradford’s heroics and despatch a Premier League side from the FA Cup tonight.

The BBC1 cameras are at Deepdale for the visit of deep pocketed Manchester United in what might look a mismatch on paper but the way this season’s FA Cup is going, anything does really go.

Somewhat bizarrely, the quarter final draw will have taken place just before this match is played but it’s hardly like to impact either side.

United have had kind draws so far – but have made life difficult for themselves against the so called ‘minnows’. They struggled against Yeovil and needed a replay to get past Cambridge who held on for a 0-0 draw in their first match.

It’s sure to be a poignant match too with the first anniversary on Saturday of the passing of Preston’s greatest ever player and one of the England all-time greats, Sir Tom Finney.

Preston manager Simon Grayson has called upon his players to produce a performance tonight that would make Sir Tom proud.

He is relishing the Preston role of underdogs: “The one thing you have to say to them before they go out is have no regrets. We know the task that’s against us because of what they are and what they’re capable of doing but we’ve got nothing to lose and they’ve got everything to lose.”

The two sides haven’t met for 43 years and it’s the seventh time they have been paired in the FA Cup (Man U W4, Preston W2).

Preston North End v Man U
FA Cup 5th Round
7.45pm. LIVE ON BBC1

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches)
Feb 1972 FA Cup Preston 0-2 Man Utd
Mar 1966 FA Cup Man Utd 3-1 Preston
Mar 1966 FA Cup Preston 1-1 Man Utd
Mar 1962 FA Cup Man Utd 2-1 Preston
Mar 1962 FA Cup Preston 0-0 Man Utd
Apr 1961 Div 1 (old) Preston 2-4 Man Utd
Dec 1960 Div 1 (old) Man Utd 1-0 Preston
Feb 1960 Div 1 (old) Man Utd 1-1 Preston
Sep 1959 Div 1 (old) Preston 4-0 Man Utd
Dec 1958 Div 1 (old) Preston 3-4 Man Utd

Phil Dowd, tonight’s referee, is always a good man to have on your side when it comes to buying bookings markets and I’m tempted by the Star Spreads quote of a buy at 36 tonight.

CLICK FOR PRESTON NORTH END v MAN U ON STAR SPREADS

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale 1-100 points)

BUY BOOKINGS for 40 points at around 36 points with Star Spreads

(FEBRUARY RETURN: -750 points)

• Any spread prices quoted are indicative and as always prices are subject to fluctuation.
• Please note the opinion, views and forecasts above are of the author and not of Star Spreads.