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Cardiff City will take on Colchester United in an attempt to stop a really bad run of results. Not many fans are expected for this FA Cup match, but surely the hosts will be keen to get a morale boosting win against a clearly inferior opponent.
Cardiff did not win a single game in the last 5 rounds and the Welsh side has dropped to the 12th place in the standings, badly hurting their playoff chances. After the 2-4 home defeat to Watford last round, the manager announced he will mix up the squad for this FA Cup clash, resting and/or punishing some of the first team players and giving the substitutes a chance to show that they are better.
Colchester is second to last in League One and relegation is a real possibility for the visiting side. Looking at Colchester’s form in the last 5 games you might say their in a good spot (2 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses), but those are some really misleading statistics. Colchester avoided defeat only against 2 of the worst 4 sides in League One and won against a disinterested Peterborough side at home in the previous FA Cup round.
Bet on Cardiff City vs. Colchester with the best FA Cup odds at Pinnacle Sports.
Team news: Cardiff is healthy ahead of this game, but David Marshall, Peter Whittingham, Sean Morrison, Adam Le Fondre and Craig Noone might be rested. Pilkington is back from injury. Colchester will have to do without Magnus Okuonghae, Drey Wright, Rhys Healey and probably Ben Gordon as well.
Listen, Cardiff clearly has some things going against them today, I`m talking about form, the fact that they will be resting players and the fact that not too many fans will be at the game. These facts determined the odds for a Cardiff win to move from 1.40 to 1.55 and I think that`s just too much. I am pretty confident Cardiff will win this, and could do it in style as well. They badly need a victory for confidence and the shuffling of the squad could actually work in their favour. But most of all it`s the fact that Colchester is really poor – their recent statistics are misleading, they were not even to challenge a top League One side in ages and I really can’t see them stepping up to frustrate a team of Cardiff’s quality. Team news say the visitors also have some injury issues and I doubt they are putting too much focus in this game, considering all the problems they have with relegation.
My tip is Cardiff to win and cover the 1 goal asian handicap, even though they have some things going against them. The odds are well worth it, especially if we think that Colchester is a team that allows a lot of goals and regularly loses by big margins. Over 2,5 goals might also be a good try, but I`m going with high confidence on the handicap tip. Prediction: Cardiff City – Colchester United 3-1.
Pick: Cardiff (-1 Asian Handicap)
Odds: 1.98 @ Pinnacle
Stake: 9
Possible profit: 8.82
Event date: 2 January
