Fulham v Norwich: Side with Canaries in iffy FA Cup replay

Both Fulham and Norwich could do with a midweek FA Cup third-round replay like a fish needs a bicycle and given the erratic form of both sides in combination with a probable swathe of personnel changes, taking Norwich to progress at Craven Cottage is punters’ most value-seeking option.

These sides played out a rather forgettable 1-1 draw at Carrow Road to set up this headline offering from BT Sport and punters looking to make an armchair buck should certainly swerve Fulham’s skinny 11/10 on a home win, especially after that 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Sunderland in their last Cottage outing.

In fact, Rene Meulensteen’s appointment has done little to stop Fulham haemorrhaging Premier League points and with only three teams harbouring worse home top-flight records, the setting will have little fear factor for Norwich.

Sitting just a place and one point above their hosts in the league, 15th-place Norwich have enough problems of their own in the race to avoid relegation, though they can play out this replay with far greater freedom in west London.

Chris Hughton’s side have only succumbed to defeat in their last four away fixtures to boot and that was at fortress Goodison, so 12/5 on an away win is certainly a decent offering from Ladbrokes.

However, those wishing to proceed with more caution could easily ignore the 90-minute win and instead find security in backing Norwich at 11/8 in the draw no bet market.

With Norwich’s propensity for a draw – as parity has been reached in four of their last seven outings in all competitions – the prospect of extra time and penalties comes into the reckoning.

In this respect, grabbing a piece of the visitors to simply qualify at a chunky enough 6/5, compared to 8/13 on the Cottage dwellers is appealing also.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

Fancy a flutter? Sign up today to claim up to £50 in free bets.