Expert FA Cup predictions from Mark Langdon: Picking the right TV tie isn't easy

Almost everyone was in agreement the TV companies got it wrong in round three of the FA Cup but, much like betting, it looks a lot easier once you know the final results.

How could they miss sixth-tier Kidderminster's shock win over Championship strugglers Reading? What about Cambridge's giantkilling at Newcastle?

Morecambe and Shrewsbury taking the lead at Tottenham and Liverpool respectively was also glossed over by the live cameras, along with Boreham Wood proving too strong for AFC Wimbledon.

It looks so simple now, but the vast majority of these so-called mismatches turn into exactly that. The cameras were at Swindon versus Manchester City and the game was basically done as soon as Bernardo Silva scored inside 15 minutes.

I'd long tuned out by the time Cole Palmer got City's fourth goal and Chelsea scored three times inside the opening 20 minutes against Chesterfield. It would be interesting to note how many people were still on the BBC red button to witness Chesterfield's late consolation through Akwasi Asante and, let's face it, there won't have been too many neutrals hanging around.

This time both non-league teams have their day in the sun with Kidderminster tackling West Ham and Boreham Wood's trip to Bournemouth and if you moaned about the choice of TV ties in round three you are obliged to sit through these games, even if the Hammers race into a comfortable first-half advantage.

There are few things in English football more thrilling than watching a giantkilling in the FA Cup. However, the one-sided games are complete dead ducks and getting the balance right is much harder than the Twitterati would have you believe.

Watford's survival hopes look better now that Roy Hodgson is at the helm and he will be hoping for big performances from centre-back Samir, who joined the Hornets from sister club Udinese.

That move did not go down well with Udinese's supporters and boss Gabriele Cioffi, formerly in charge of Crawley, will have to hope Premier League rejects Filip Benkovic and Pablo Mari are able to fill the void left by the departed Samir.

Six-goal Gerard Deulofeu, one of those who has made the well-trodden path between Udine and Hertfordshire, is suspended this weekend and it all leaves the hosts vulnerable against a Torino team who are on the up under a seriously useful manager in Ivan Juric.

The Croatian coach worked wonders at Verona and is a disciple of Atalanta's inspirational Gian Piero Gasperini. They press all over the pitch in one-on-one battles without possession and it works really well, even if some have complained that their tactical fouls in non-dangerous areas could be seen as being against the spirit of football.

Only Napoli and Inter have conceded fewer goals than Torino and recent performances have been outstanding after an initial slow start to life with Juric in the hotseat.

In their last 12 matches Torino have finished with a superior expected goals figure on ten occasions, ending level in one match and only once (against champions Inter) were they "beaten" on the xG.

Best bet

Torino draw no bet Sunday 5pm
1pt 8-11 Hills

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