IT COULD BE EL FOR ERIK
Simms can cause huge shock at Wembley
STEVE Anderson last week tipped 7-4 Newcastle to beat Spurs, 9-2 Alexander Isak to hit the opening goal, Anthony Gordon at 5-2 to score, plus a 15-2 tip for a bet involving goals, corners and bookings also paid off.
ERIK TEN HAG will approach tomorrow’s FA Cup semi-final against Coventry with some trepidation as it’s a game that could make or break his Old Trafford future.
The Manchester United boss is already under severe scrutiny but defeat to a Championship side could signal the end of his tenure as manager.
With Newcastle and Chelsea both showing better form in the Premier League than United, there’s every chance Ten Hag’s men could fail to make the top seven to qualify for Europe – they’re currently 11-8 to reach the top six.
Defeat at Wembley tomorrow and missing out on Europe would surely see new United chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe pulling the plug on the Dutchman.
Sky Bet offer 9-2 on Ten Hag to be sacked before May 19 although it’s unlikely he would go before the summer break.
And while United are hot favourites tomorrow at 9-20 with bet365, I reckon Coventry boss Mark Robins – who lifted the trophy with the Red Devils back in 1990 – could upset his old club.
William Hill are offering 4-1 that it’s a draw after 90 minutes and that’s the way I would go – or for even better odds, take Betfred’s 9-2 that it’s a scoring draw. I fancy the 1-1 stalemate here, at best odds of 9-1 with bet365.
With an injury-ravaged and shaky defence that has leaked eight goals in the last three games, United’s fragile confidence could be exploited by Coventry.
The FA Cup has already thrown up some great stories this term and this could be another. I’d certainly consider the 22-1 on offer from Sky Bet that the Sky Blues win in extratime, while 18-1 for Robins’ men to do the job on penalties is worth a punt as a back-up plan.
The player who could stick the knife in Ten Hag is Coventry’s Ellis Simms, who has really come of age in the last couple of months.
After failing to make much impact in front of goal in the first half of the season, he has hit 14 goals in his last 13 games, including five in the FA Cup – two of them against Wolves in their quarterfinal win at Molineux.
Simms is a tempting 3-1 to score at any time but is certainly worth taking at 10-1 to get the opening goal. He’s also 2-1 just to get two shots on target.
United have not won any of their last five games in 90 minutes but they’re always a threat – they’ve scored seven in the last three games – so I’d back Rasmus Hojlund to get back among the goals. He’s 11-8 to net at any time and 5-1 to get the last goal.
In today’s other semi-final, Manchester City could feel the effects of extra-time in their Champions League exit in midweek, so I’d back them to draw against Chelsea in 90 minutes at 17-5 with Coral and BetMGM.
Taking both ties to draw as a double could pay around 20-1.
It’s also semi-final weekend in the Scottish Cup, where the Old Firm – both 1-3 favourites – must be backed to reach the final.
But for a 13-2 handicap double, combine Celtic at evens today giving up a goal of a start to Aberdeen, with Rangers at 11-4 to beat Hearts by a one-goal advantage tomorrow. The double pays 13-2.