Sportingways.com Blog – All our latest betting news

Third round betting preview and latest odds Woking, Oldham Athletic and Newport County are just three of the teams hoping that the magic of the cup is alive and well on another busy day of third round action. The trio all face Premier League opposition, with the Exiles taking on Leicester City in front of the BBC cameras at 4:30pm. We’ve tipped up that…

Manchester United Sergio Romero 7/10 The busiest of the two goalkeepers in the first half. Made a good save with his leg to deny Harriott early in the second half, and was alert to several decent efforts from the away side to help his side keep a clean sheet. Ashley Young 6.5/10 Kept an eye on Harriott and looked to make good runs beyond…

On one freezing Saturday afternoon 28 years ago, Tim Buzaglo was responsible for one of the greatest upsets in FA Cup history. A pacy, left-footed striker for non-league Woking, Buzaglo’s hat-trick helped his side to a 4-2 win at the Hawthorns, stunning hosts West Bromwich Albion and thrusting the shy semi-pro into the limelight. Back page headlines, radio interviews and even an appearance on…

Blackpool Mark Howard 5.5/10 Made a good save to deny Nketiah on the stroke of half time to ensure Blackpool went into the break with half a chance. Forced off due to injury with around 20 minutes of normal time left to play. Michael Nottingham 6/10 Had the pace to try and keep stride with the likes of Nketiah and Iwobi. Spurned a great…

With the Premier League at the halfway point, January brings with it the chance for reinforcements. Whether a team is challenging for European football or the opportunity to stay in the division, a few extra bodies could be crucial in pulling a group towards their respective objectives. Some clubs will be busier than others, while some will boast huge budgets in comparison to their…

Odds and preview ahead of cup clashes The third round really kicks in to gear this afternoon as the bulk of the fixtures take place. There is always an air of optimism for all the teams involved on third round weekend – the magic of the cup tends to produce some real upsets. Dreams of a fantasy cup run are either bolstered, or dashed…

Weekend racing odds and preview All eyes will be on Laurina ahead of her return to action at Sandown today. The Champion Hurdle second-favourite is odds-on for victory in the Mares’ Hurdle, although our interest is elsewhere. There are six further contests from the Esher course and Wincanton to enjoy after the star makes her bow in the opening race of the day. And…

Whatever wins, or goes close to winning, the Tolworth Hurdle (2.25) at Sandown on Saturday will immediately go on every shortlist for top novice honours in the spring. The Grade One has proved a most informative trial in recent times: Yorkhill won it in 2016 en route to his victory in the Neptune Hurdle at Cheltenham. Finian’s Oscar, the 2017 winner, missed the Festival…

There are different types of legacy in rugby, says Charles Piutau, the man who carries the tag of the highest-paid player in the English Premiership. Not everyone can be a Jonah Lomu or a Richie McCaw, framed forever in the public consciousness as colossi clad in the all black of New Zealand and, in McCaw’s case, twice lifting the World Cup. If it all…

Paul Pogba has been the standout player since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took the reigns at Old Trafford, scoring back-to-back braces against Bournemouth and Huddersfield. Alongside his impressive goal tally, the Frenchman has racked up four assists, reminding the Manchester United faithful of his world class talent. But ahead of this weekend's FA Cup fixture the towering midfielder has picked up a thigh injury which…

Stephen Addison will not have far to travel when he collects the British Empire Medal that he was awarded in the new year honours list in a ceremony at the Tower of London. From the house that he shares in east London with his parents and siblings, it’s a short walk to the Tube station, then a 30-minute ride on a District Line train…

What are the purpose of youth academies in the modern game? When Manchester City opened their £200 million Etihad Campus, which included state-of-the-art facilities for the club’s young players, they made clear just how significant they believed the development to be. On the wall of the City Football Academy reads a quote from Man City owner Sheikh Mansour: “We are building a structure for…

The Great British public love an underdog and if there’s one football competition where many an applecart has been upset over the years, it’s the Emirates FA Cup. Although Nottingham Forest have a wealth of history and tradition to match the oldest football tournament in the world, they travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Saturday afternoon, where they will no doubt use…

Arsenal, 1-0 up at half-time, thought they had won it. They were comfortable: the champions of England leading against Wrexham, a club struggling in the fourth division with issues on and off the pitch. But they did not account for Mickey Thomas. On the cusp of half-time, Alan Smith had put Arsenal in front and on course for a place in the fourth round…

Sandown 1.20 – Lithic Lithic has crashed and burned a couple of times at Sandown, but has also run a couple of stormers here. This looks an easier race than the one in which he would have been placed in last time & the rider takes seven off an already fairly handicapped horse. Big chance. Sandown 1.50 – Laurina Seeing as though I like…