You can count on County

[sake]

Ben Coley and Ian Ogg preview Saturday's fifth round ties in the FA Cup, including Crystal Palace against Liverpool.


Recommended:

1pt Diafro Sakho anytime goalscorer v WBA

1pt Darren Bent to score first v Reading

2pts Bent to score and Derby to win

1pt Stoke to beat Blackburn and both teams to score

West Bromwich Albion v West Ham United (1245 GMT)

Both of these managers are keen on extending their participation in the competition for as long as possible and both should field strong sides. Tony Pulis' options have been improved by Brown Ideye rediscovering his scoring touch but Sam Allardyce's injury problems have been compounded by Andy Carroll picking up another knock. Adrian, who has been outstanding between the sticks for the Londoners, could also be missing and his absence following his red card in the week would be a blow although Allardyce was confident that they would get the card rescinded. The two teams may be separated by 12 points in the table but there's not a great deal between them as evidenced by their two league games this season which saw the Hammers win by the odd goal in three at the Hawthorns and the two teams draw 1-1 at Upton Park. That victory was one of only three on the road for West Ham this season so it's reasonable that West Brom are favourites for this game despite their lowly league position, especially considering West Ham's injury problems. Despite their absentees, the Hammers proved just how hard they are to beat in their two Premier League games over the last week, gaining draws with Manchester United and Southampton but a similar outcome here would be less appealing to both sides one would imagine. Backing both to score at a shade of odds-on is well worth bearing in mind given their meetings this season and that West Ham have a decent record of finding the net on the road. The Albion's form figures look terrific but they've had a fairly easy run of things having played a number of sides who were either out of form or struggling and they were blown away by Spurs on the one occasion that that wasn't the case. As such, I'm struggling to make a strong case for getting with either side but Diafro Sakho remains West Ham's most likely outlet for goals with 10 in all competitions (including one against the Baggies) and he merits an interest in the anytime market given that Albion's defence still appears rather shaky despite their clean sheet against Swansea.