Betting Update; Bristol Rovers v West Brom with the bookmakers making West Brom their 23/20 favourit

Added: (Thu Mar 06 2008)

Pressbox (Press Release) - This is the romantic FA Cup quarter-final, with at least one lower-league side guaranteed a place in the last four. The players of League One Bristol Rovers and Championship outfit West Brom will already be dreaming of Wembley when they run out on Sunday, especially since the semi-finals take place there this season as well.

West Brom go into this match on the back of two straight wins and three in four, which includes their 5-0 thrashing of Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena in the fifth round last month. There’s no doubting the Baggies’ credentials for this tie; not only are they a division higher than their hosts, but they have produced some impeccable football in the competition so far, with eight goals scored and none conceded in their last two matches as well as a penalty shoot-out victory over Championship rivals Charlton at The Valley in the third round.

West Brom have also had ideal preparation for this game this season in that they have twice faced League Opposition away this season – and twice won. They beat Peterborough 2-0 in the League Cup back in August and faced the same opponents in the FA Cup fourth round, winning 3-0. On that basis Tony Mowbray and his boys will have no fear of giant-killing.

Do Bristol Rovers have a hope? They do, in that they’ve proved they can beat higher-ranking opposition this term. After two draws against Fulham in the fourth round they won a shoot-out 5-3 on home soil and the Pirates went on to beat Southampton 1-0 in the last round. Against that, however, they lost 1-0 to West Ham in the League Cup at the Memorial Stadium last August and needed penalties to get past Crystal Palace in the previous round of that competition. That makes their 90-minute record against opponents from higher divisions W1-D2-L1 this season, and furthermore they have won only five of 16 home league games.

With West Brom having a real taste for the competition, and 34 league places separating the two sides, the visitors look a good bet to make it into the hat for the semi-final draw with the minimum of fuss.

Recommended bet:
2pts West Brom 6/5


• All prices correct at time of writing.

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