Shrewsbury Town have an FA Cup giant-killing in their sights when they welcome West Ham United to Montgomery Waters Meadow for what promises to be a captivating FA Cup clash on Sunday afternoon.
The Shrews are certainly in fine form, for they have now gone eight matches without defeat in all competitions and the League One high-flyers will be determined to push David Moyes’ Hammers all the way this weekend.
Match odds:
Premier League survival is the primary objective for the Hammers this season, but it would still be a massive disappointment for the club’s supporters should the east Londoners come up short in this clash and the odds compilers make the Premier League side their 20/21 (1.95) favourites to progress inside 90 minutes.
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SportPesa offer 49/20 (3.45) that a replay is required to separate the sides, while the same firm offer a juicy 57/20 (3.85) that Paul Hurst’s team provide one of the upsets of the third round by sending the Premier League side crashing out of the competition.
Team news:
Neither side has any fresh injury concerns ahead of this weekend’s clash, but both managers may be tempted to shuffle their respective packs with the Hammers scrapping for survival in the Premier League, while the Shrews are pushing for promotion from League One.
Should he feature this weekend, Alex Rodman could be one to watch for the hosts, for the midfielder has scored first in both of the Shrews’ FA Cup ties so far this season, while West Ham striker Andy Carroll will be keen to start having come off the bench in the 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday night.
A tight tussle?
The Shrews have conceded just one goal in their last five fixtures and Hurst’s side can be backed at a chunky 59/20 (3.95) to keep the Hammers at bay on Sunday afternoon, while the same firm offer 17/4 (5.25) that the League One team win to nil against Moyes’ men.
Remarkably, there have been goals at both ends in just one of Shrewsbury’s last 14 home matches in all competitions and SportPesa go 20/23 (1.87) that either side fails to find the net here, while the odds compilers also offer 20/23 (1.87) that there are goals at both ends.
Tips and predictions:
Both sides may be somewhat distracted by their respective league campaigns and, so, this Cup tie might not be a classic; value, therefore, could lie in backing fewer than three goals to be scored in this game at 10/13 (1.77) - a selection that would have landed in each of the Shrews’ last six matches on their own patch.
Under 2.5 goals at 10/13 (1.77) for a 2pt stake with SportPesa 
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