Man City v Leeds Betting Preview
The final chance for Man City to get their hands on some silverware this season, and the pressure and weight of expectation at the Etihad is starting to tear things apart perhaps. There have been rumours that Roberto Mancini may well get the sack after failing far behind in the defence of their Premier League title and having exited Europe at the first hurdle. Will they be able to put some shine on their season by making a strong FA Cup run? Leeds have already shot down on Premier League club in the FA Cup this term, can they double it up?
Man City v Leeds Betting Odds at online bookmaker Ladbrokes
Man City 1/6, Draw 6/1, Leeds 14/1
Man City v Leeds Recommended Bet:
Another big outing for City who have been struggling for form lately. They are without a win in their last three matches in the Premier League, slumping to a bad away defeat at Southampton last weekend, which probably cost them the league title. So they can turn their attention to the FA Cup, where Mancini has said that he may have no hesitations in dropping certain players who are not working hard for the team. So who knows what kind of City side we will see on Sunday, there could well be a shake up. They have been in pretty decent Cup form though, as they have won seven of their last eight FA Cup ties to nil, so that could be a good trend which is worth riding. This does look a fairly comfortable tie in the last sixteen for them, but then Spurs would have been thinking that, only to fall to Leeds. But at least City have home advantage in this one.
This will be the sixth time that City have met Leeds in the FA Cup, and it is Leeds who are 3-2 up in the head to head. City’s defence has been pretty strong at home, and they have let just two in from their last five matches at the Etihad in all competitions. Four of those five matches have come with a clean sheet in tow. It was back in the 2003/04 Premier League that they last met at City, and the sides drew 1-1 on that occasion, with Leeds then following up with a win on home soil later in the season. It means that City have won just one of the last four against Leeds. The last time they met in the FA Cup was in the 1999/2000, a game which Leeds won 5-2 at Manchester City. Championship side Leeds, to their credit, saw off Tottenham in the previous round, but that was at Elland Road and this will be a bigger test for them away from home, as City don’t give much away at the Etihad.
Leeds haven’t been great travellers this season either, picking up just three away wins in the Championship from sixteen matches. None of the last four matches between the two sides have ended in an away win, so not great signs for Leeds here. Neil Warnock’s men have also lost five of their last seven away matches, so they certainly don’t take away form with them in this tie. They have also not managed to keep a clean sheet on the road in the entire season, so you fancy that Man City will certainly get their chances. Ross McCormack is in form for the Championship side though, having netted four in his last six for them. Did Leeds have their big moment in the previous round when they beat Spurs 2-1? Or do they have another ace up their sleeve.
Unfortunately the away form of Leeds makes them highly susceptible in this tie. Would look for a good Man City to win to nil for a price of Evens at online bookmaker Ladbrokes.
Form
Man City WWWDDL, Leeds WWWLDL
Stat Attack
City have won seven of their last eight FA Cup ties to nil
Leeds haven’t kept an away clean sheet all season
The last FA Cup tie meeting saw Leeds win away at City 5-2
City are without a win in their last three matches
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