We begin a new footballing week as Coventry host Maidstone United in the FA Cup.
Road To Wembley
While the visitors will look to add Coventry to their ever-growing list of cup scalps. Will they join the list that already includes Stevenage and Ipswich?
The Next Scalp
Although the FA Cup Fifth Round loses some of its lustre being scheduled within midweek fixtures, there is no loss of shine as far as both Coventry and Maidstone United are concerned and with both sides potentially 90 minutes from the last eight, cup fever has hit the West Midlands.
Monday night sees the Championship hosts square off against the sixth-tier visitors. The minnows of Maidstone have certainly been the story of this season’s FA Cup and they will now look to write another chapter at the start of the week.
George Elokobi’s men have been synonymous with the word giantkiller since the turn of the year and after disposing of Stevenage on home soil in the Third Round of the competition, their reward was a trip to Ipswich’s Portman Road in the Fourth.
A pairing that on paper would have seen Ipswich advance on 99 of 100 separate occasions. Thankfully for the Kent-based outfit, football matches are not played on paper and their meeting at the end of January was the 100th of those occasions.
Victory that was a mixture of hard work and lady luck combining in the best possible way. Maidstone’s endeavour rewarded with goals from Lamar Reynolds and Sam Corne, but it also must be noted that goalkeeper Lucas Covolan may never have a busier 90 minutes.
The Brazilian shotstopper would have earned any win bonus and then some. Ipswich had no less than 38 shots on his goal, the Tractor Boys would only manage to breach the 32-year-old’s net on one occasion.
Shock progress for Maidstone on the Saturday, slight disappointment when the Fifth Round draw was made on Sunday. Manager Elokobi and his players dreaming of a trip to the likes of Anfield or the Etihad, instead they have to make do with the Coventry Building Society Arena.
Home to a side that is currently in the mix for a Championship play-off position and after losing out in the second tier lottery at the end of last season, Mark Robins’ men are yet to guarantee a ticket for the latest edition of the draw.
Which begs the question as to whether the Sky Blues can afford the distraction of further cup progress. If they can, then a tilt at the last eight and maybe even beyond is in their grasp. If they cannot, then a certain non-league outfit would love to add another scalp to their list.
But now it is time for the first of my two tips, and I am going to opt for an early lead for the hosts. Looking at the first 10 minute market, you can back Coventry to be ahead by 09:59 and this outcome is currently priced at 11/4.
In addition to this, I am still banking on some cup drama and although Coventry may be ahead after 10 minutes, I believe they will be level after 90 and a draw before extra-time gets underway can also be backed at odds of 17/2.
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