Manchester City a good bet in FA Cup semi-final
Manchester City are the handicap pick against Chelsea in FA Cup, and are likely to meet Wigan
Chelsea and Manchester City, the best two cup teams of recent years in England, go head to head tomorrow in an FA Cup semi-final that will decide which team will start hot favourites for the final on May 11.
Only one of the past six finals has been won by a team other than Chelsea or City, with Chelsea having taken four and City ending their long trophy drought when they triumphed two years ago.
Tomorrow's match is hard to call. Chelsea's excellent FA Cup record has been well documented [23 wins and six draws since their last defeat in 90-minute play] but City's is equally impressive under Roberto Mancini with 12 wins and only one defeat from 17 in 90-minute play. That sole defeat came against Manchester United last season after they had been seriously weakened by Vincent Kompany's 12th-minute dismissal.
City have been at least the equal of Chelsea in the Premier League in each of Mancini's full seasons and are ahead of them again this season, which entitles them to favouritism. In addition, Mancini's City have won five and lost only two in eight meetings with Chelsea. City are the handicap pick.
The other semi-final is less glamorous but Wigan are an appealing bet against Millwall, who are 18 places below them in the league rankings. Wigan have won four of their past six Premier League games, which is much stronger form than Millwall's.
The relegation battle will be the main focus in the Premier League and the prospects are bleak for Stoke and Sunderland, two of the teams that are being sucked into the mire.