Friday 19 February 2016

Everton are big favourites to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals

No one should be fooled by Everton's league recent slip up against WBA. They are a side that can open up teams and play some sparkling football. As a cup side they are used to reaching the latter stages of competitions and playing away from home probably sits easier with Roberto Martinez' side than if they had been drawn at Goodison Park where the crowd can get on their backs.
Everton will see this draw as a good one to progress in the competition.
Everton reached the Fifth round of the FA Cup having beaten Dagenham & Redbridge 2-0 at hime and Carlise 0-3 away from home. Martinez has experimented with his line ups in the cup with Arouna Kone and Pienaar more often getting starts. Aaron Lennon has used the cup games to force his way into the main side and the speedy England winger could feature again against the Cherries. 
Everton will know what to expect when they visit
Dean Court for the second time this season.
AFCB have to be mindful of the attacking strength of Everton as they could play virtually a first team side for this game with Romelo Lukaku and Ross Barkley on show. They managed 35 shots against WBA in their last league game and will not be shy coming forward at Dean Court. Lukaku is actually having a quiet spell having not added to his penalty kick against Stoke a couple of weeks ago. But the striker has 20 goals in league and cup this season and will be the chief danger for the Cherries if he plays. While new signing Oumar Niasse has a wrist injury he will be assessed and could make the team playing with a soft cast.

Everton will be keen to do well in the FA Cup having got so close to Wembley in the Capital One Cup. But Everton are the draw specialists and that has hindered their season. They do concede goals and usually after they have been ahead. It is a competition that the Toffees know they can win and it is a last chance saloon for them to pick up silverware just like it is for AFCB so I expect a very brisk game with both sides going all out for early goals.

Possible Everton team
Robles, Galloway, Jagielka, Funes Mori, Coleman, Duelofeu, Cleverly, McCarthy, Lennon, Barkley, 
Lukaku

Everton Subs: Howard, Baines, Pienaar, Mirallas, Barry, Kone, Niasse

Possible AFCB team
Federici, Francis, Elphick, Distin, Daniels, Surman, Iturbe, Arter, Gosling, Stanislas, King

AFCB Subs: Boruc, Cook, Smith, Ritchie, O'Kane, Grabban, Afobe 


Give me the Minute of the First Goal Scored!
This week we are having a slight change to the usual score prediction challenge. Now we are asking you in what minute will the first goal be scored between AFCB and Everton - also put down the goal scorer, if you really feel that you know it all! For a chance to win Tweet me, before Saturday morning, the predicted minute of the first goal to @PeterBell19

The closest minute time to the actual goal going in will win the prize no matter which team the goal goes in for. If we have more than one winner we will draw the winner from a hat.

The prize this week is the AFC Bournemouth sweat bands that no one was able to walk off with last week!

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