Crystal Palace vs Hartlepool United
5th February 1500hrs
Football – England – FA Cup
Pick Home Win Both Halves
Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: Evens odds taken 1011 GMT, Friday 4 February
At Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon, Crystal Palace and Hartlepool United go head-to-head in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Patrick Vieira’s Eagles are currently in 13th position in the Premier League table, while Graeme Lee’s Pools are 16th in EFL League Two. Palace are the strong favourites in this one, but can Hartlepool cause an almighty cup upset in the capital? Check out the latest odds and best predictions.
Table of Contents
Crystal Palace Preview – Easy home win for the Eagles?
Patrick Vieira is having a decent first season at Selhurst Park. Before a ball was kicked, many had the Eagles down for a relegation scrap, but the London side have taken a respectable 24 points from 22 fixtures and sit 13th.
Palace are without a win in three in the league, though they did manage to beat London rivals Millwall away from home in the third round of the FA Cup in early January. The Eagles came from behind at The Den to leave with a 2-1 win.
Palace have lost to West Ham United and Liverpool in their last two at home, but Vieira’s boys should have too much quality for the fourth-tier outfit at Selhurst Park this weekend. The bookies are offering just 1/8 for an Eagles victory.
Hartlepool United Preview – Can the Pools upset the Premier League side?
Hartlepool United are back in the Football League after winning the National League play-offs last term. The Pools are having a solid season in League Two, winning eight, drawing seven and losing 12 of their 27 league fixtures.
Hartlepool are on a decent run at present, losing just one of their past eight league and cup matches. In fact, they have suffered only two defeats in all competitions since November. After seeing off Wycombe Wanderers and Lincoln City, United beat EFL Championship side Blackpool in round three of the FA Cup.
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Hartlepool have picked up some eye-catching results in the FA Cup this season, and Graeme Lee has done a fine job at Victoria Park since taking over. However, Saturday’s cup tie at Selhurst Park will be an arduous task for the League Two outfit.
Crystal Palace vs Hartlepool United Betting Advice
This will be the first meeting between the pair since they locked horns in an EFL Cup match back in September 2004 – goals from Dougie Freeman and Tom Soares gave Palace a 2-1 win at Selhurst.
The duo clashed in the FA Cup in the 1992-92 season, with United winning 1-0. Hartlepool also won the other FA Cup meeting back in 1978.
Key Facts – Crystal Palace vs Hartlepool United Betting Tip
- Palace have lost their two home games
- United have been beaten on just two occasions since November
- Hartlepool have won the previous two FA Cup meetings
Hartlepool have already beaten two EFL League One clubs and a Championship side in this season’s FA Cup, but we fancy Palace to be too strong for them at Selhurst on Saturday. We like the look of evens for the home team to win both halves.
Jean-Philippe Mateta netted the winner at The Den last month. The Frenchman was also on target in Palace’s 3-0 Premier League success over Norwich City in December. Mateta is priced at 20/21 to score anytime in this one.
The best betting odds for Crystal Palace vs Hartlepool United
Crystal Palace to win: 1/8 at Bet365
Draw: 13/2 at Bet365
Hartlepool United to win: 20/1 at Bet365
