FA Cup final: Man City maestro Bernardo Silva could be the golden boy

BBC1 & BT Sport 2, 5pm Saturday

Chelsea centre-back Antonio Rudiger was recognised for a sterling contribution to the Blues' 1-0 success over Manchester United last year, but only two defenders have been named the FA Cup final man of the match in the last 20 years.

Vincent Kompany delivered the iconic moment of the Premier League season when his long-range strike fizzed past Kasper Schmeichel earlier this month. But defenders are rarely credited for playing starring roles at Wembley and they all are big prices for the award when Manchester City play Watford.

Therefore it makes sense to swerve the defenders in the man of the match betting, including 25-1 shot Kompany.

Selecting a midfielder or an attacking player makes sense and it is imperative to choose someone likely to be on the winning side.

The last player from the losing team to be named man of the match was Wayne Rooney in 2005 when Manchester United lost to Arsenal 5-4 on penalties.

The last 13 men of the match have been on the winning side and that statistic influences the betting. Eight players from red-hot favourites City are the shortest prices.

The very top of the market is similar to the first scorer betting with Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling first and second at 7-2 and 4-1.

However, while they deserve to be short prices to net the opener, they may not be value to be the man of the match.

Six of the last eight players to win the accolade did so without scoring a goal and only four of the last 20 winners bagged the first goal of the game.

Creative players with an eye for goal have an excellent record and there are several in City's ranks.

David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne are capable of providing match-winning moments on the big stage but the goals have dried up for them recently - David Silva has failed to score in 2019 while De Bruyne has netted twice in 19 Premier League games.

Bernardo Silva has fared better, notching five goals since the beginning of March, and is more attractively priced than Aguero and Sterling at 7-1.

It will be tough for a Watford player to win because the Hornets are massive outsiders.

Heurelho Gomes is the shortest price among the Watford players at 16-1 but his chances of keeping a clean sheet look remote.

Gomes would have a better chance of playing a hero's role in a shootout, but anyone fancying that to happen would be better off backing Watford to win on spot-kicks at 28-1.

Gerard Deulofeu, Watford's two-goal hero in the 3-2 semi-final success over Wolves, is a more likely matchwinner and looks the best value Hornet at 25-1.

Bookmakers offer a best-priced 9-2 that there is a red card in the game, which may be of interest because there are a few players on the pitch with a short fuse.

Watford have received five red cards in domestic matches this season and two of them – dismissals for Troy Deeney and Jose Holebas – have come in the last five weeks. Holebas had his overturned so is available for the final.

Fabian Delph is the only City player to have been dismissed in domestic football this season and he is unlikely to feature.

Recommendation
B Silva man of the match
1pt 7-1 bet365

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