If you are looking for goals in one of the FA Cup ties this weekend then Millwall is the place to be as they host non-league Braintree.
Millwall are on a pretty good run in League One, dropping points just twice in their last eight matches which puts them ninth in the table and just one point off the play-off spots with a game in hand.
Neil Harris’s side score a fair amount of goals and are the third best attacking side in League One with 32 goals to their name. Unfortunately, The Lions are not so good at keeping them out and their record of 31 goals conceded puts them near the bottom of the table in terms of ‘goals against’ whilst they have kept just three clean sheets in 19 matches in the league.
After a dismal run of games at The Den which saw them not win in four matches from the beginning of September to mid-October, Millwall are now on a three-match unbeaten run at home.
The Lions overcame fellow League One side Southend United in the previous round of the FA Cup and will be happy to have drawn a non-league team in Round Two which should allow easier passage to the Third Round and a potential match-up with a Premier League side.
Millwall of course reached the final of the competition in 2004 but succumbed to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester United. Whilst nobody is expecting the same heroics, the fans will no doubt expect Harris to lead his team into the next round.
Braintree Town are the main reason why there should be goals in this match. The National League side have seen an abundance of goals scored in recent matches – 41 in nine matches in all competitions to be exact. This includes a 7-0 thrashing of fellow non-league outfit Eastbourne in the previous round of the FA Cup whilst their last match was a thrilling 5-4 victory away at Southport in the National League.
Whilst they may be on a good run in the FA Cup, things are not going well for Hakan Hayrettin’s side in the league with The Iron currently sitting in 21st place and in one of the four relegation spots.
Having said that, everybody knows about the magic of the FA Cup and that shocks are usually on the cards. Braintree will certainly take confidence from the fact they are playing away from home as they have been on a great run of form on the road in recent weeks with three consecutive victories.
As mentioned at the start, goals are certainly the way to go in this match given the absurd scored and conceded by both teams in recent weeks. Although Millwall are the favourites here, the FA Cup can of course produce unlikely shocks so I would hesitate before backing The Lions. The goals factor also comes into play here; with both sides involved in a lot of high-scoring games recently, it makes results harder to predict.
I think the best market to look at here is ‘Over 3.5 Goals’ at 5/4. Whilst Millwall are the favourites, this bet gives you good flexibility and allows that famous FA Cup shock for Braintree. Additionally, this bet would have won in three out of the last five matches involving either of these teams.
See more tips here.