Leeds v Tottenham: Lilywhites to inflict a good hiding on United

AVB will field a strong side at Elland Road including Gareth Bale

Championship host Premier League in Sunday's live FA Cup game but Mike Norman expects nothing less than a comprehensive victory for the Lilywhites...

Leeds v Tottenham
Sunday, 14:00, live on ESPN

It's been 21 years since Tottenham last won the FA Cup - the 1991 final, chants of, "You'll never beat Des Walker", and Gazza's career-threatening injury being the vivid memories for this, then 18-year-old, football fan watching a cup final in a pub for the very first time.

Of course Spurs did beat Des Walker that day, or rather the Nottm Forest centre-back beat himself - an extra-time own goal handing the trophy to the Lilywhites. As for Gazza, well whatever happened to him?

It's been even longer since Leeds United last won the FA Cup, 41 years in fact. Come to think of it they lifted the trophy at the beginning of May 1972, my father was a Leeds fan, and I was born not long into 1973. Hmm, no prizes for guessing how Norman Snr celebrated that night then!

Coincidentally, on their way to that 1972 cup final victory Leeds beat Tottenham 2-1 at Elland Road in one of the earlier rounds. Will history repeat itself on Sunday? In a nutshell. No.

Both sides are expected to be at full strength, though the home side will be without on-loan midfielder Ross Barkley whose parent club Everton have denied him permission to play. Leeds boss Neil Warnock is set to start leading goalscorer Luciano Becchio in attack despite the striker handing in a transfer request earlier in the week.

Match Odds

At 1.715/7 to back, Tottenham look a cracking bet to see off Championship outfit Leeds (5.79/2, Draw 4.1n/a). Andre Villas-Boas will see this as a very winnable competition and will take no chances with his team selection, meaning the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon will be unleashed at Elland Road.

Tottenham's only defeat since mid-November - a run of 12 games in total - was away to top-four chasing Everton in the Premier League, and they also have a fantastic recent head-to-head record against Sunday's opponents - five wins and two draws from their last seven meetings including a 1-3 win at Leeds at the same stage of this competition three years ago.

Leeds have won their last six league games on home soil but the last time they faced Premier League opposition in front of their own fans resulted in a 1-5 hammering to Chelsea in the Capital One Cup two months ago.

Under/Over 3.5 Goals

It may not be 1-5 this time but I fully expect Spurs to run out comfortable winners, especially after reading Warnock say he will approach this game in much the same way as he did the aforementioned Chelsea game. And if by that he means give it a real go then this game should see plenty of goals, possibly at both ends.

Expect United to come out all guns blazing and create some chances, with Tottenham looking dangerous on the counter. This type of match-up itself should allow for some early goals, but as the clock ticks by I would expect the away side to start controlling the game with Bale and Lennon giving United's full-backs Aidy White and Sam Byram a torrid time.

Over 2.5 Goals is available to back at just 1.664/6 so we'll instead take a chance on Over 3.5 Goals at 2.8615/8.

Correct Score

Rather like the Leeds v Chelsea Capital One Cup game I can see the home side getting on the scoresheet, and I suspect scorelines of 1-2 (9.89/1, 1-3 (14.5n/a) and 1-4 (26.025/1) will be popular.

But my gut feeling is that Tottenham will be well up for this game and they'll be able to get behind Leeds and creat chances at will. They'll have no problems scoring at least four if they're on top form so rather than try to factor in how many Leeds will score, simply cover the Any Unquoted option (any team to score at least four) at a very appealing 6.611/2.

Recommended Bets

Back Tottenham to beat Leeds @ 1.715/7
Back Over 3.5 Goals @ 2.8615/8
Back Any Unquoted Correct Score @ 6.611/2