S.P.Read Esq: Crystal Palace v Watford

Our daily columnist and pundit S.P. Read Esq. looks ahead to Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final from Wembley at 4pm between CRYSTAL PALACE v WATFORD and finds the best opportunities available on Star Spreads, the home of sports spread betting.

A profit with the Star Spreads sell of the first Man U goal yesterday in the first FA Cup semi-final.

There’s some frankly ludicrous scheduling going on this afternoon with the second FA Cup Final between Crystal Palace v Watford kicking off at 4pm followed swiftly and concurrently by Leicester v Swansea at 4.15pm – a match which could well seal the fate of the Premier League title.

So much has been made of the FA Cup losing it’s lustre in recent years but this move hardly does much to counter that and is frankly disrespectful to both Palace and Watford for their afternoon of glory at Wembley.

I’m going to stick with the FA Cup and I would love to see it’s out of unfailing loyalty and tradition but it’s actually much more that I really like the chances of Watford!

Crystal Palace v Watford
FA Cup Semi-Final
16:00 BT Sport 2 / BT Sport 2 HD / BT Sport Ultra HD

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches)
Feb 2016 PREMIER LEAGUE C Palace 1 – 2 Watford
Sep 2015 PREMIER LEAGUE Watford 0 – 1 C Palace
May 2013 CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF C Palace 1 – 0 Watford
Feb 2013 CHAMPIONSHIP Watford 2 – 2 C Palace
Aug 2012 CHAMPIONSHIP C Palace 2 – 3 Watford
Feb 2012 CHAMPIONSHIP C Palace 4 – 0 Watford
Oct 2011 CHAMPIONSHIP Watford 0 – 2 C Palace
Feb 2011 CHAMPIONSHIP Watford 1 – 1 C Palace
Nov 2010 CHAMPIONSHIP C Palace 3 – 2 Watford
Mar 2010 CHAMPIONSHIP Watford 1 – 3 C Palace

STARTING XI

Crystal Palace

13 Hennessey
2 Ward
6 Dann
27 Delaney
23 Souaré
7 Cabaye
15 Jedinak
11 Zaha
42 Puncheon
10 Bolasie
21 Wickham

Watford

18 Pantilimon
2 Nyom
15 Cathcart
3 Britos
16 Aké
22 Abdi
29 Capoue
23 Watson
7 Jurado
24 Ighalo
9 Deeney

Both sides met in the top flight for the first time this season and it was away wins on both occasions with an aggregate score of 2-2. Over the season as a whole there is little to split them with Watford in 12th (41 points) and Crystal Palace in 16th (39 points).

The factor that sways me though is current form. After a great start to the season Crystal Palace’s form has really tapered off and Alan Pardew’s men have only avoided getting involved in the relegation battle by the skin of their teeth. They have only won one of their last 18 league games and it has been in complete contrast to their FA Cup form.

Pardew said: “We’re squeezing games in; the run we’ve had, this is our fourth game in 12 days. That’s a tough run, when you’ve got a semi-final, the biggest game in this club’s history for a while, since the play-off final.”

Watford are also off the boil a little but might have the psychological edge having beaten Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park in February.

Trading the time of the first Watford goal and I’m a Star Spreads seller.

CLICK FOR CRYSTAL PALACE v WATFORD MARKETS ON STAR SPREADS

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale 1-100 points)

SELL TIME OF 1st WATFORD goal for 50 points at 57 minutes with Star Spreads

BETS RECORD FROM FEBRUARY
2 Feb -275.00 (SELL 1st WEST HAM MATCH GOAL 25 points at 47)
3 Feb +116.25 (SELL CHELSEA SUPREMACY 75 points at 0.55)
6 Feb -100.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 25 points at 44)
7 Feb -735.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 35 points at 51)
8 Feb -1260.00 (BUY 1st MATCH GOAL 35 points at 41)
9 Feb +245.00 (SELL 1st WEST HAM MATCH GOAL 35 points at 52)
9 Feb -455.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 35 points at 77)
10 Feb -490.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 35 points at 76)
13 Feb -1295.00 (SELL 1st MATCH GOAL 35 points at 40)
14 Feb +315.00 (BUY 1st MATCH GOAL 35 points at 36)
15 Feb -350.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 35 points at 80)
16 Feb +175.00 (SELL 1st PSG MATCH GOAL 25 points at 46)
17 Feb -1050.00 (SELL 1st ROMA MATCH GOAL 30 points at 55)
18 Feb +0.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 50 points at 77)
19 Feb -150.00 (SELL 1st EVERTON MATCH GOAL 25 points at 49)
19 Feb -750.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 50 points at 75)
20 Feb +275.00 (SELL 1st CHELSEA MATCH GOAL 25 points at 46)
20 Feb +1400.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 50 points at 76)
21 Feb +0.00 (SELL 1st MAN U MATCH GOAL 45 points at 37)
21 Feb +840.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 70 points at 73)
23 Feb -1270.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 70 points at 72)
25 Feb +210.00 (SELL 1st MAN U MATCH GOAL 70 points at 32)
27 Feb -1500.00 (BUY 1st MATCH GOAL 50 points at 42)
28 Feb +1200.00 (BUY 3rd MATCH GOAL 80 points at 75)
28 Feb -68.00 (BUY TOTAL MATCH GOALS 80 points at 2.85)
29 Feb +4000.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 80 points at 78)
3 Mar NO BET
4 Mar -108.00 (BUY CORNERS 40 points at 10.7)
5 Mar +570.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 30 points at 56)
6 Mar -1200 (SELL 1st MAN U MATCH GOAL 30 points at 50)
8 Mar +90.00 (SELL 1st ARSENAL MATCH GOAL 30 points at 44)
9 Mar -240.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 30 points at 68)
10 Mar +150.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 30 points at 55)
12 Mar -470.00 (BUY CORNERS 100 points at 11.7)
13 Mar -320.00 (SELL 1st WEST HAM MATCH GOAL 40 points at 60)
15 Mar +840.00 (assorted Cheltenham Festival trades)
16 Mar -65.00 (assorted Cheltenham Festival trades)
17 Mar +148.00 (assorted Cheltenham Festival trades)
18 Mar -250.00 (assorted Cheltenham Festival trades)
19 Mar -420.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 35 points at 78)
20 Mar +446.25 (BUY CORNERS 85 points at 10.75)
24 Mar -35.00 (BUY NORTHERN IRELAND 35 points at 11)
26 Mar +175.00 (BUY CORNERS 100 points at 10.25)
29 Mar +0.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 25 points at 77)
30 Mar -450.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 25 points at 38)
2 Apr -840.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 35 points at 44)
3 Apr -37.50 (BUY CORNERS 75 points at 10.5)
5 Apr +2805.00 (BUY BOOKINGS TWO MATCHES)
6 Apr +720.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 45 points at 75)
7 Apr +1665.00 (BUY AINTREE DISTANCES 45 points at 37)
8 Apr -775.25 (BUY AINTREE DISTANCES 35 points at 38)
9 Apr -310.00 (ASSORTED GRAND NATIONAL TRADES)
10 Apr +455.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 35 points at 47)
11 Apr +525.00 (SELL 2nd MATCH GOAL 35 points at 65)
12 Apr -455.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 35 points at 64)
13 Apr -625.00 (BUY WEST HAM WIN INDEX 50 points at 12.5)
14 Apr +1320.00 (SELL TIME OF 1st DORTMUND GOAL 30 points at 49)
16 Apr -120.00 (SELL TIME OF 1st MATCH GOAL 30 points at 37)
17 Apr -570.00 (SELL TIME OF 1st MATCH GOAL 30 points at 71)
18 Apr +120.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 30 points at 75)
19 Apr -540.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 30 points at 72)
21 Apr -900.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 50 points at 72)
23 Apr +650.00 (SELL 1st MAN U GOAL 50 points at 47)

• 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.