Football betting: Crystal Palace v Watford FA Cup semi-final looks a cagey clash
A pair of clubs who have never won the FA Cup meet in the second semi-final on Sunday, when Watford and Crystal Palace face off at Wembley.
Both sides will be hoping for a win to boost their floundering seasons, and give their fans something to cheer about.
Palace boss Alan Pardew played in the Eagles’ famous run to the final in 1990, scoring the winner in their dramatic extra-time win over Liverpool in the semi.
His status as a Palace legend is secure, but leading them to their first major silverware would confirm him as a south London deity.
The cup has proved a real respite for the Eagles in 2016.
In the league, they were level on points with Tottenham on Boxing Day before going 14 games without a win.
Their 2-0 defeat to United on Wednesday ended a slight improvement in their form, but they still have only recorded five wins out of 20 since the turn of the year.
Similarly, Watford have struggled since their season’s high water mark – beating Liverpool 3-0 in December to take them to seventh in the table.
They’ve since slipped to 12th with only three wins in 17 since.
Neither team seem able to win at the moment, so I am tempted by 11/5 for the draw in 90 minutes with Betway.
With Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo out of form, the goals have dried up for Watford, and Palace have hardly found the net with any regularity either.
When these two sides met in the 2013 Championship play-off final, it took a late Kevin Phillips penalty to separate the teams, in a tense 1-0 extra time win for Palace.
I see a similar game again. Sell total goals at 2.3 with Sporting Index.
Pointers
Draw (after 90 mins) 11/5 (Betway)
Sell total goals 2.3 (Sporting Index)