Leeds United vs Cardiff City – Betting Preview
The FA Cup third-round replay between Leeds United and Cardiff City will take place at Elland Road on Wednesday night.
To hold the Championship relegation candidates to a 2-2 draw in the first meeting at the Cardiff City Stadium, Jesse Marsch’s team overcame a 2-0 halftime deficit!
Leeds United Preview
The Whites, however, instantly reverted to their old ways of dropping points in the Premier League on Friday, losing 2-1 on the road at Aston Villa.
Leeds’ attempt to secure survival has become significantly more difficult given that West Ham United, who are currently in 18th place, are only two points behind them.
Marsch’s team will hope the club-record signing of Georginio Rutter could help them turn the corner. They have yet to taste victory since club football resumed in December.
But when struggling Cardiff travel to Yorkshire on Wednesday in an effort to snap a miserable nine-game domestic winless streak, the £35 million acquisition won’t be in the mix!
Leeds’ last three FA Cup campaigns have ended in the third round, but it’s important to note that this match ends a stretch of ten consecutive away games in the competition.
Elland Road is no longer a happy hunting ground for the Whites, which is evident by their disappointing record of just one victory in their last seven home games.
Elland Road supporters have at least recently witnessed some entertaining, high-scoring games, with Leeds’ last four home games averaging five goals per game.
Cardiff City Preview
For the second time in as many games, the Bluebirds failed to capitalise on a late advantage, drawing 1-1 at Wigan Athletic despite being ahead after the 80th minute.
The club was forced to act after Cardiff’s failed attempt to defeat the whipping boys of the Championship, and manager Mark Hudson was given the boot.
It will be up to caretaker boss Dean Whitehead to shake his team up at Elland Road!
Despite Cardiff’s poor season, there is some encouragement in the fact that the Bluebirds have scored at least three goals in each of their last three FA Cup replays.
They have scored an average of three goals during their last three visits to Leeds, with the most recent one ending in a 3-3 draw in December 2019.
1×2 Betting Odds
Marsch, who found himself on the ropes amid Leeds’ disastrous Premier League season, is unlikely to bow out this early in the FA Cup, especially against inferior competition.
Even though Cardiff have nothing to lose, which could be a deadly tool, we anticipate the Whites to firmly seal advancement!
And the betting market agrees!
Despite their poor run of form in the recent games, Leeds are still the favourites to defeat Cardiff from Championship with market odds @ 1.36.
Cardiff City are 21st in the Championship and their odds of winning against a Premier League side are slim! Their market odds in this FA Cup reply are @ 10.00!
The possibility that we might need extra time to settle this stands @ 5.80.
Total goals over/under
The odds that the total number of goals scored will be over 2.5, stands @ 1.65.
While the odds that the total number of goals will be under 2.5, stands @ 2.43.
Leeds’ last four home games have averaged five goals per game, so it can be understandable why the market expects yet another high scoring clash at Elland Road!
