Betting Tips: Watford vs Palace

Our tipster thinks that goals may not flow freely when the Hornets and the Eagles meet for an FA Cup quarter-final tie at Vicarage Road this weekend

Watford welcome Crystal Palace to Vicarage Road for their FA Cup quarter-final on Saturday afternoon.

The Hornets have won each of their last five FA Cup ties on their own patch and Javi Gracia's charges will hope that home advantage can again prove pivotal on this occasion.

Crystal Palace, though, have been in fine form on their travels in recent months. Indeed, the Eagles have lost just one of their last seven matches away from Selhurst Park.

Watford are William Hill's 7/5 (2.40) favourites to seal a semi-final spot with victory inside 90 minutes. The odds compilers offer 2/1 (3.0) that Palace come out on top and 11/5 (3.20) that the match remains deadlocked at the end of normal time.

If required, this tie will be settled by extra-time and, potentially, penalty kicks. The odds compilers go 8/11 (1.73) that the Hornets reach the final four. Palace can be backed at even money (2.0) to progress.

Watford have fielded a second string side in their previous three FA Cup ties but it was a weakened side that lost at Manchester City in the Premier League last weekend. That move may suggest a shift in approach and he could name a strong line-up for this one.

Roy Hodgson has admitted that the FA Cup is not his primary priority this term but Palace are still expected to name an experienced line-up. Max Meyer, who scored in the previous round, seems likely to start along with Chelsea loanee Michy Batshuayi.

Remarkably, both of these teams have yet to concede an FA Cup goal this season and William Hill offer 15/2 (8.50) that this tie ends goalless. The same firm go 17/20 (1.85) that either side fails to find the net at Vicarage Road.

The Hornets can be backed at 14/5 (3.80) to win to nil this weekend whilst their counterparts are available at 15/4 (4.75) to win without conceding.

A tight tussle certainly seems likely, then, and as such, William Hill's 17/20 (1.85) quote for either side to draw a blank could pay dividends. The selection would have landed in each of Watford's last seven FA Cup ties.

Backing this angle would also have reaped rewards in all six FA Cup ties involving these teams in the competition thus far this term.