FA Cup madness is once again upon us with an almost guaranteed command from the narcissistic midget to throw our tie. More of that later. Best I can offer is a stats' based assessment on the games, but, what the heck?
Friday, 9 January 2026 19:30
Milton Keynes Dons v Oxford United
Venue: Stadium mk
League Positions: 73 v 43
Current Forms: 17 v 13
Home team has the better form, but not better enough to conquer their hosts.
Prediction: Away Win
Friday, 9 January 2026 19:30
Port Vale v Fleetwood Town
Venue: Vale Park
League Positions: 68 v 81
Current Forms: 16 v 13
Home team have home advantage, league position & current form (just) in their favour.
Prediction: Home Win
Friday, 9 January 2026 19:30
Preston North End v Wigan Athletic
Venue: Deepdale
League Positions: 24 v 59
Current Forms: 23 v 13
Again the 3 main drivers/hints suggest that Wigan won't be in the draw for the next round.
Prediction: Home Win
Friday, 9 January 2026 19:30
Wrexham v Nottingham Forest
Venue: Racecourse Ground
League Positions: 29 v 17
Current Forms: 37 v 15
The first dilemma (for me, at least). Wrexham are storming it, Forest are just about holding their own. This could be the first "upset" of the weekend.
Prediction: Home Win
Saturday, 10 January 2026 12:15
Cheltenham Town v Leicester City
Venue: Whaddon Road
League Positions: 86 v 32
Current Forms: 24 v 15
I don't think current form or home advantage will play a part here: the divisional gulf will be enough.
Prediction: Away Win
Saturday, 10 January 2026 12:15
Everton v Sunderland
Venue: Goodison Park
League Positions: 12 v 10
Current Forms: 16 v 10
Now, now, now. An all-Premiership tie where the stats may well play a part. But then they may not. I think that Everton are stuttering somewhat and Sunderland are showing more fight. On that assumption:
Prediction: Away Win
Saturday, 10 January 2026 12:15
Macclesfield v Crystal Palace
Venue: Moss Rose
League Positions: 130 v 13
Current Forms: 12 v 8
You know this is going only one way; no sniff of a giant killing here - this is not the game you're looking for.
Prediction: Away Win
Saturday, 10 January 2026 12:15
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Shrewsbury Town
Venue: Molineux
League Positions: 20 v 90
Current Forms: 20 v 1
Wolves seem to be on a spark of revival at the moment, and Shrewsbury can't buy a victory. All points to a:
Prediction: Home Win
Saturday, 10 January 2026 15:00
Boreham Wood v Burton Albion
Venue: Meadow Park
League Positions: 94 v 65
Current Forms: 45 v 6
When two sprats fight. Wood are steaming at the moment and should will be far too strong for their guests.
Prediction: Home Win
Saturday, 10 January 2026 15:00
Burnley v Millwall
Venue: Turf Moor
League Positions: 19 v 25
Current Forms: 8 v 20
You'd have put your house on a Premier League team coming out on top, at home, against a visiting Championship team. Luckily I no longer have a house to put, which is probably just as well. If there are no other upsets in this round of games, this could be the headline grabber.
Prediction: Away Win
Saturday, 10 January 2026 15:00
Charlton Athletic v Chelsea
Venue: The Valley
League Positions: 39 v 8
Current Forms: 12 v 8
This is another of those games that I can see going only one way. Both teams are pretty "meh!" when it comes to current form, but I believe Chelsea will have far too much about them to prevent them strolling into the next round.
Prediction: Away Win
Saturday, 10 January 2026 15:00
Doncaster Rovers v Southampton
Venue: Keepmoat Stadium
League Positions: 67 v 35
Current Forms: 0 v 11
One look at the stats will tell you all you need to know.
Prediction: Away Win
Saturday, 10 January 2026 15:00
Fulham v Middlesbrough
Venue: Craven Cottage
League Positions: 9 v 22
Current Forms: 31 v 6
'borough are not firing on all cylinders at the moment, Fulham are ratching up more wins, so:
Prediction: Home Win
Saturday, 10 January 2026 15:00
Ipswich Town v Blackpool
Venue: Portman Road
League Positions: 23 v 62
Current Forms: 31 v 18
I made 90 quid when Ipswich lost to Maidstone in the cup a while back (crazy bet). Can't see a repeat here though, League difference, home advantage & current form all say (not scream, but say):
Prediction: Home Win
Saturday, 10 January 2026 15:00
Manchester City v Exeter City
Venue: The Etihad Stadium
League Positions: 2 v 58
Current Forms: 21 v 20
This ain't going any other way than a:
Prediction: Home Win
Saturday, 10 January 2026 15:00
Newcastle United v A. F. C. Bournemouth
Venue: St James' Park
League Positions: 7 v 15
Current Forms: 37 v 19
Another all-Premier league tie. It should be Newcastle's to lose but I don't think that they will:
Prediction: Home Win
Saturday, 10 January 2026 15:00
Salford City v Swindon Town
Venue: Moor Lane
League Positions: 72 v 70
Current Forms: 37 v 36
Do you care? Do I care? Whatever the result ,waves won't be created, headlines won't be generated. I suspect penalties may play a part in a:
Prediction: Home Win
Saturday, 10 January 2026 15:00
Sheffield Wednesday v Brentford
Venue: Hillsborough Stadium
League Positions: 44 v 5
Current Forms: 7 v 39
Brentford are on fire. Wednesday look like they're about to do a "Titanic". One way, and one way only:
Prediction: Away Win
Saturday, 10 January 2026 15:00
Stoke City v Coventry City
Venue: Britannia Stadium
League Positions: 28 v 21
Current Forms: 21 v 17
Anyone fancy a portion of midlands mediocrity? Well, step right up! this is the game for you! Let's be frank, Coventry won't be in the next round.
Prediction: Home Win
Saturday, 10 January 2026 17:45
Bristol City v Watford
Venue: Ashton Gate
League Positions: 30 v 26
Current Forms: 30 v 39
Now. This is a tie to call. Really. I can't work out how this will go. Home advantage, probably, but that's all I can say.
Prediction: Home Win
Saturday, 10 January 2026 17:45
Cambridge United v Birmingham City
Venue: Abbey Stadium
League Positions: 74 v 34
Current Forms: 37 v 8
Cambridge are cooking on gas at the moment, but I can't see that or home advantage helping much.
Prediction: Away Win
Saturday, 10 January 2026 17:45
Grimsby Town v Weston-super-Mare
Venue: Blundell Park
League Positions: 80 v 142
Current Forms: 30 v 33
Well, the "glamour" of the FA Cup gave this tie a miss. How much better would it have been for either team to have drawn one of the "big boys" at home?
Prediction: Home Win
Saturday, 10 January 2026 17:45
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
League Positions: 14 v 3
Current Forms: 13 v 26
Aha! Another all Prem. tie. I smell the scent of a Villa victory here. So it is written, so it shall be.
Prediction: Away Win
Sunday, 11 January 2026 12:00
Derby County v Leeds United
Venue: Pride Park Stadium
League Positions: 33 v 16
Current Forms: 23 v 12
Derby are a bit "hot & cold" at the moment. Leeds are fighting. I thing the thermometer loses.
Prediction: Away Win
Sunday, 11 January 2026 14:00
Portsmouth v Arsenal
Venue: Fratton Park
League Positions: 41 v 1
Current Forms: 28 v 35
Arsenal are going to be livid at not putting Liverpool to the sword; Portsmouth may well get right into their faces, but whatever happens, the Gunners will prevail.
Prediction: Away Win
Sunday, 11 January 2026 14:30
Hull City v Blackburn Rovers
Venue: KC Stadium
League Positions: 27 v 40
Current Forms: 37 v 13
Hmmm. Not much to say about this one. Think home advantage will tell.
Prediction: Home Win
Sunday, 11 January 2026 14:30
Norwich City v Walsall
Venue: Carrow Road
League Positions: 42 v 71
Current Forms: 29 v 20
Again, two teams that I've not followed. The hosts seem to be holding all the stats cards.
Prediction: Home Win
Sunday, 11 January 2026 14:30
Sheffield United v Mansfield Town
Venue: Bramall Lane
League Positions: 36 v 55
Current Forms: 25 v 38
Got a not-so-irrational dislike for The Blades, but, sadly, cannot see them being blunted in this game.
Prediction: Home Win
Sunday, 11 January 2026 14:30
Swansea City v West Bromwich Albion
Venue: Liberty Stadium
League Positions: 37 v 38
Current Forms: 33 v 15
An All Championship tie, I believe. Don't really care but suspect Albion will go home as losers.
Prediction: Home Win
Sunday, 11 January 2026 14:30
West Ham United v Queens Park Rangers
Venue: The London Stadium
League Positions: 18 v 31
Current Forms: 3 v 9
Now, THIS is the tie that matters. We're on an absolute shit run, but QPR are not that much better in that respect. We're a PL scalp ready to make the headlines. I think ...OK, hope... that we'll get our act together and make a game of it. Will we win? I think so, but it won't be easy or a pleasant watch Still, in full-on West Ham optimism (and with our chairman spitting blood):
Prediction: Home Win
Thursday, 8 January 2026 15:00
Manchester United v Brighton & Hove Albion
Venue: Old Trafford
League Positions: 6 v 11
Current Forms: 18 v 21
Now. My personal view is that Man U are only where they are in the league due to a run of fortuitous games; they're really not that good at all. The Seagulls are only slightly better than their hosts, but they're playing a team who's home advantage is not much better than ours. Sneaky:
Prediction: Away Win
Monday, 12 January 2026 19:45
Liverpool v Barnsley
Venue: Anfield
League Positions: 4 v 61
Current Forms: 21 v 8
You know where this is going: Probably the first tie out of the draw behind the scenes, whatever they showed on tele. A tie that helps the "authorities" guarantee Liverpool are in Europe next season. Watch this space - and the draw for the next round.
Prediction: Home Win
As for an acca? Caution? May I introduce Wind. Wind? May I introduce Caution. Catch and treat it as you will.
Exeter (Away @ Manchester City)
Macclesfield (@ home to Crystal Palace)
Barnsley (Away @ Liverpool)
Portsmouth (@ Home to Arsenal)
Shrewsbury (Away @ Wolves)
Total stake: £11.00
Potential returns: £926,020.50
