Our betting expert has three Brighton & Hove Albion vs Grimsby Town tips for Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final (2.15pm kick-off). Scroll down to see the expert analysis behind his selections.
Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
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Brighton go into Sunday’s FA Cup tie looking for a first trip to Wembley for 19 years. Recent form suggests they should cruise into the semi-finals.
The Seagulls last played at the national stadium in 2004, beating Bristol City in the League One play-off final, but you have to go back to 1983 for the last time they played in an FA Cup final.
As for Grimsby, they have not been in the quarter-finals since 1939, when they went on to a last-four 5-0 defeat to Wolves at Old Trafford. In the current Mariners campaign, Paul Hurst’s men have beaten Plymouth, Cambridge, Burton, Luton and Southampton to get to this stage.
Brighton pose a much tougher test though, with the Seagulls going into this clash unbeaten in their previous four matches – including a midweek “M23/A23 derby” win over Crystal Palace that cost visiting boss Patrick Vieira his job.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side have won five of their past six games at the Amex Stadium and four of those victories have been to nil. The Seagulls have also been among the goals of late, scoring seven in their previous three matches.
That highlights the size of the task facing Grimsby, who have won eight of their 17 games on the road in League Two this season.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Grimsby Town tip 1: Brighton to win and over 3.5 goals @ 21/20 with BoyleSports
The stats show that Brighton would be as high as fifth in the Premier League standings if you only took into account the first-half scorelines.
De Zerbi’s squad have got goals before the interval in each of their past four matches in all competitions, while they have scored in the first 45 minutes of all three FA Cup ties this season.
The top-flight outfit have only conceded six first-half goals in their 13 home league matches, with four clean sheets in their previous five Premier League home matches.
Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Palace lifted Brighton to seventh in the table and it was thanks to another early goal – a 15th-minute strike from Solly March.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Grimsby Town tip 2: Half-time correct score – Brighton 1-0 Grimsby @ 23/10 with BoyleSports
De Zerbi is expected to make changes to his side, particularly with an international break coming up and the Seagulls still looking to qualify for Europe via a good Premier League finish.
One player who is likely to feature is striker Evan Ferguson, who has started all the FA Cup ties so far this season.
The teenager scored the winner at Stoke in the previous round and has three goals in 10 first-team appearances during this campaign.
With Ferguson almost certain to get the nod up front, the Irishman looks like a solid option to break the deadlock and score the opening goal of the tie.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Grimsby Town tip 3: First goalscorer – Evan Ferguson @ 4/1 with BoyleSports
Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change
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