FA Cup: Leeds Head to London in Search of a Cup of Cheer

West Ham United vs Leeds United

The oldest cup competition in the world reaches the third round this weekend and FA Cup: West Ham vs Leeds is one of the ties of the round.

This all Premier League clash pits together two famous old clubs, both winners of the famous competition and participating in some of the most iconic finals in history. Both managers, David Moyes and Marcelo Bielsa come into the game in a good mood with league wins last week, and each team has an attacking ethos, so we can expect some great entertainment.

The Hammers, currently fifth in the league table after back to back wins, are clear favourites; but with league pressures starting to ease on Leeds, the visitors might well throw all they have at this tie and, if they do, it will be well worth a watch!     

Talking Points

West Ham the entertainers

The East London Claret and Blues won a reputation, during the 1970s and 1980s, as a swashbuckling football team which is easy on the eye. And Moyes’ side is in that image, but the canny Scot is well aware that his team needs to be at its best at both ends of the pitch. The Hammers’ New Year date with Crystal Palace handed him with a welcome three points but not before the Eagles gave his side an almighty scare.

On the back of a 4-1 win over Watford, West Ham raced into a three goal lead against Palace as Michail Antonio scored an early goal and Manuel Lanzini added two more before the break. But goals from Odsonne Edouard and Micheal Olise, on 83 and 90 minutes, gave the boss and unwelcome nerve-jangling injury time.

Seven goals in two games is all very well but Moyes wants things to tighten up at the back, saying: “We’re back to scoring goals, but we need to be better at the other end too. I want to build a team who scores goals, I really do. I want to attack, but what I don’t want is what happened in the second half when we conceded two goals.

The Hammers came out of the last international break struggling to score, with two blanks, and Moyes won’t want a return to shyness in front of goal. Though with his top scorer Antonio back on the score sheet he shouldn’t be disappointed.     

At SBOTOP odds of 23.00 to win the 2022 FA Cup the Hammers are a decent outside bet while Leeds, at a price of 36.00, will drop in price if they can navigate this tie. And the Yorkshire club might just be willing to throw their resources at this competition.

Leeds looking up

After struggling to shake off the bottom group of clubs in the Premier League Marcelo Bielsa’s team had a great result against another set of Clarets last week, beating rivals Burnley 3-1 to lift themselves clear of the relegation fight. It was a crucial win, as Stuart Dallas scored the vital second goal with the score at 1-1 and the match poised; a defeat would have left Leeds just three points clear of the drop zone. 

It was a huge game and, while Leeds’ problems aren’t entirely over, Bielsa and his men can afford to look upwards now.   

History

West Ham have won the FA Cup three times, the last occasion in 1980 when, as a second tier club, they beat Arsenal 1-0 when England midfielder Trevor Brooking scored the winner with a rare header.

Leeds had their only FA Cup triumph in 1972 when they too beat Arsenal by the only goal of the game, but they also participated in the famously bloodthirsty battle with Chelsea in 1970. The Blues won the Cup in a replay at Old Trafford but when Premier League referee David Elleray looked at the game thirty years later he said there would have been six red cards and 20 yellows in modern times! 

In terms of head to head West Ham vs Leeds results, the Whites have had much the better, with 15 wins to West Ham’s five while there have been seven draws in all the meetings since 1993. Last time they encountered each other, Michail Antonio scored a 90^th minute winner in a cracking September clash which saw 35 attempts on target. In fact West Ham have won the last three clashes between these two sides.            

They come into the game in identical form over the last six games, with two wins, three defeats and a draw; so let’s take a look at the latest West Ham vs Leeds betting odds and find the best value.  

Betting Tip

	West Ham United vs Leeds United	Over 2.50 @ 1.82
	January 09, 22:00 (GMT+8)

At odds of 1.85 the Hammers are favourites to win this tie with the draw at 3.25 and Leeds at 3.35 to win in 90 minutes. 

The last four of West Ham’s games have yielded over three goals, totalling 18, while Leeds have gone five games with four goals or more, with a box office total of 25. So I’m sitting on the fence when it comes to the winner but I’ll be surprised, and disappointed, if we don’t see at least three goals… and hopefully more.  

 

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