The Heed’s biggest match of the season is fast approaching with Friday evening bringing us the second round Emirates FA Cup clash with Charlton Athletic at Gateshead International Stadium.
Premier League and Championship teams enter the competition at the next stage of the tournament and so this is a huge chance for both teams to line up another exciting fixture in the third round.
Gateshead FC’s Official Betting Partner, WhichBookie.co.uk, have provided the following betting preview for the upcoming Emirates FA Cup match.
Before we get into the predictions, WhichBookie are running a competition that starts at 9am on Friday and will run through to kick-off at 19:45. It’s free to enter and if you correctly predict the score of Friday’s Cup clash, you’ll go into a draw to win £50 cash. You can enter the competition here.
Betting Preview
In terms of betting, this is a cup game and so anything can happen. Three leagues separate the two sides but bigger upsets have happened in the history of the Emirates FA Cup and many will believe Gateshead, with the home advantage, have a chance of progressing through to the next round on Friday evening.
Here are the current Match Winner odds:
- Gateshead: 11/2
- Draw: 18/5
- Charlton Athletic: 1/2
As you’d expect, Gateshead are the underdogs heading into the match, priced at best odds of 11/2 with Unibet at the time of writing.
Those odds are probably not as big as some will have been expecting but the hosts have been in excellent form in the National League North having picked up 26 points from a possible 36 this season.
The Heed’s record on home turf is even more impressive, picking up maximum points from their first five league matches at Gateshead Stadium, scoring 13 goals in the process and conceding just four. No other team has maximum points home or away in the league which may concern Charlton on their travels.
Charlton on the other hand have won just three of their 10 matches away from home in League One. The South-East London side currently sit 15th in their league having had a disappointing season so far considering they missed out on a playoff spot last term only on goal difference.
Team Statistics
Although three leagues separate these two sides, it’s worth taking a look at some season stats on the two which can help lead us to some probable outcomes in various betting markets.
An interesting stat is that Gateshead have won 75% of their matches played at home when they have led 1-0. Also, Charlton have won none of their matches away when they have been down 1-0. Therefore, the first goal in Friday’s match could be crucial for both sides.
In Gateshead’s 19 matches in all competitions this season, they have kept a clean sheet in just three of them. Therefore, if you’re planning on backing the hosts for the win @11/2, it may be worth considering the Match Result & BTTS market which is priced at 9/1.
14 of Gateshead’s 19 games have resulted in Over 2.5 Goals. However, that to happen on Friday is priced at just 4/7 with William Hill and won’t be hugely appealing to most. A single on Both Teams To Score has greater odds of 7/10 and a better bet of the two in our opinion.
Predictions
It’s hard to ignore the gap between the two sides but with the home advantage, their current form and proven ability to score goals, we wouldn’t be surprised to see Gateshead get on the scoresheet and give the League One side a run for their money.
We’re hoping the Heed get off to a good start which could be the deciding factor in the match and we like 9/4 on Gateshead to score first. However, we think the two teams may go into the tunnel at half time all square and odds of 15/2 for a 1-1 score at half time looks appealing.
Lastly, 4/1 on Gateshead Draw No Bet seems good value from which you’ll receive your stake back if the match ends all square after 90 minutes..
- Gateshead to Score First: 9/4
- Half Time Correct Score 1-1: 15/2
- Gateshead Draw No Bet: 4/1
WhichBookie football analyst Liam Johnson will be providing more betting tips for the clash on the day of the match. Be sure to check out the WhichBookie Today’s Football Tips page for daily predictions.
How To Watch The Game
Friday’s match will take place at Gateshead Stadium with kick-off scheduled for 19:45. The game will be televised live on ITV4 for all those viewing from home or if you wish to attend the game, tickets are on sale via the ticket office and online. Tickets for the Tyne and Wear stand have sold out but there is currently availability in the uncovered South Terrace.
- Adult: £15
- Concession: £10
- Under 16: £5
When Is The Third Round Draw Of The FA Cup?
Without getting ahead of ourselves, many will be wondering when the draw takes place for the next round of the Emirates FA Cup.
Third round fixtures will be drawn on Monday 6th December and will be included in part of the coverage of the 2nd Round fixture between Boreham Wood and St Albans City.
The draw will be televised live on ITV4 from Meadow Park with coverage starting from 18:45 and kick-off at 19:45. Although, the exact time of the draw and whether it will be before or after the game hasn’t been confirmed yet.
Who Is In The Draw For The Third Round?
The draw for the third round of the Emirates FA Cup will include 64 teams with 20 of them being winners of the second round ties. Premier League and Championship clubs enter the tournament at this stage with 20 teams from the top-flight and 24 from the Championship being included.
Third round ties will get underway from Friday 7th January and run over the weekend to Monday 10th.
