S.P.Read Esq: FA Cup Final

Our daily columnist and pundit S.P. Read Esq. looks ahead to Saturday’s FA Cup Final between CRYSTAL PALACE v MAN U and finds the best opportunities available on Star Spreads, the home of sports spread betting.

FA Cup Final Saturday and how times have changed. Literally – please can we have the final back at 3pm?

And, while you’re at it, a Champions League place for the winner?

It’s never going to happen but that would rekindle the stature of the FA Cup at a stroke.

I remember EVERYTHING coming to a standstill for the FA Cup Final, even Beverley starting their race meetings early so punters could be home in plenty of time for the big kick off.

It’s partly due to over-saturation of televised football – and, for me, the semi-finals also being played at Wembley that the final itself has lost so much of it’s X-Factor. And, just like X-Factor, the winners will soon become ancient history.

The head to head records below tell you why Man U are the odds-on favourites – although they have drifted slightly as we approach kick off.

Man U hold a 2-0 aggregate victory over Palace across the two league games this season.

Palace have already knocked out Southampton, Tottenham, Stoke and Watford having given the competition plenty of priority since their league form tailed off dramatically after Christmas.

Palace are expected to be re-united with Wilfried Zaha after his hamstring injury and Bakary Sako has also been passed fit.

Man U also welcome back Matteo Darmian, Morgan Schneiderlin and Marcos Rojo after injury and Marouane Fellaini is back after a ban.

Louis Van Gaal said: “Always your starting point is to impress and perform well. That depends on a lot of factors, including your opponent. Then you get a fantastic match. Our starting point is to win well and score beautiful goals. But if we win 1-0 that is also enough. Winning is the most important thing in a final, otherwise you have nothing.”

Crystal Palace v Man Utd
FA Cup Final
17:30 BBC One / BBC One HD / BT Sport 2 / BT Sport 2 HD / BT Sport Ultra HD

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches)
Apr 2016 PREMIER Man Utd 2 – 0 C Palace
Oct 2015 PREMIER C Palace 0 – 0 Man Utd
May 2015 PREMIER C Palace 1 – 2 Man Utd
Nov 2014 PREMIER Man Utd 1 – 0 C Palace
Feb 2014 PREMIER C Palace 0 – 2 Man Utd
Sep 2013 PREMIER Man Utd 2 – 0 C Palace
Nov 2011 CARLING CUP Man Utd 1 – 2 C Palace
Mar 2005 PREMIERSHIP C Palace 0 – 0 Man Utd
Dec 2004 PREMIERSHIP Man Utd 5 – 2 C Palace
Nov 2004 CARLING CUP Man Utd 2 – 0 C Palace

It’s clearly a one-off match and ‘anything’ could happen but you really, as a punter, have to come back to the formbook and Man U are not only playing better football this season but they come here with the best recent form too.

I’m selling the third match goal on Star Spreads at 78 minutes.

CLICK FOR CRYSTAL PALACE v MAN U MARKETS ON STAR SPREADS

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale 1-100 points)

SELL TIME OF 3rd MATCH GOAL for 45 points at 78 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)
24 Apr +100.00 (SELL 1st WATFORD GOAL 50 points at 57)
25 Apr +0.00 (SELL 1st SPURS GOAL 50 points at 33)
26 Apr -760.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 40 points at 49)
27 Apr +0.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 50 points at 50)
28 Apr -990.00 (SELL 1st LIVERPOOL GOAL 30 points at 57)
30 Apr -1260.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 60 points at 69)
1 May +2700.00 (SELL 2nd MATCH GOAL 60 points at 62)
2 May +3700.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 50 points at 46)
3 May +105.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 35 points at 77)
4 May -630.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 35 points at 72)
5 May +455.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 35 points at 52)
7 May -35.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 35 points at 46)
8 May -700.00 (BUY 1st MATCH GOAL 25 points at 36)
10 May +220.00 (BUY MATCH GOALS 100 points at 2.8)
11 May -700.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 25 points at 38)
16 May +1225.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 35 points at 45)
17 May -490.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 35 points at 73)
18 May +350.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 35 points at 74)