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Walsall vs Leicester City betting tips: FA Cup Fourth Round preview, predictions, team news and odds

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Match preview

Will 2021 FA Cup winners Leicester City avoid a big upset in this all-Midlands affair?

In round three, the Foxes ground out a victory over Gillingham, with Kelechi Ịheanachọ the only scorer at Priestfield.

This is, to date, Leicester’s only victory of 2023, as they continue to struggle in the Premier League.

After the World Cup break, Brendan Rodgers’ side lost four successive league matches, before a much-needed draw with Brighton last weekend.

Marc Albrighton, just seconds after he was introduced as a substitute, and then Harvey Barnes on target in that one.

This leaves the Foxes 14th, on course for their lowest finish since the season before they won the title.

To get this far, the Saddlers have already overcome Wycombe, Carlisle and Stockport, so are on the cusp of reaching round five for the first time in two decades.

Walsall are 11th in League One, most-recently drawing with Tranmere, but will believe a shock is possible here.

Manager Michael Flynn oversaw plenty of upsets whilst in charge of Newport, including a 2-1 victory over Leicester four years ago.

So, will it be a memorable afternoon for the home fans at Bescot Stadium?

Walsall team news

Danny Johnson is Walsall’s top scorer this season with 15, including 12 in League One, which accounts for 40% of all their league goals.

Manny MonthĂ©’s red card in their last outing against Tranmere means the Cameroonian is suspended for this one.

So his compatriot Yann Songo’o, who’s recently joined on loan from Bradford, is likely to make his Walsall debut at the back.

Meanwhile, January signing Jamille Matt is cup-tied, having featured for Forest Green in earlier rounds.

Predicted XI (3-4-1-2): Evans; White, Daniels, Songo’o; Knowles, Kinsella, Comley, Gordon; Hutchinson, Johnson, Maddox.

Leicester City team news

Kelechi Ịheanachọ doesn’t feature much in the Premier League these days, but continues to be on fire in the FA Cup.

He’s the highest-scoring African player in the competition’s history, bagging his 16th FA Cup goal at Gillingham in round three.

So, Ịheanachọ is likely to lead the line, possibly with Patson Daka also coming in, while Jamie Vardy is set to be rested.

James Maddison came on for a 20 minute cameo against Brighton, his first appearance since 12 November.

Leicester’s other star player this season, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, is also fit again, which is another big boost going forward.

Goalkeeper Daniel Iversen as well as Jannik Vestergaard, Çağlar Söyüncü, Lewis Brunt and Kasey McAtee all started in the last round, so are all in contention here too.

Dennis Praet hobbled off last weekend, while Wilfred Ndidi is a doubt.

Meantime, James Justin, Ricardo Pereira, Jonny Evans and Ryan Bertrand are all out long-term, limiting defensive options.

Predicted XI (4-4-2): Iversen; Brunt, Söyüncü, Vestergaard, McAtee; Mendy, Tielemans, Albrighton, Barnes; Daka, Ịheanachọ.

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Ben Gray

Arsenal fan – follow them over land and sea (and Leicester); sofa Celtic supporter; a bit of a football '"encyclopedia".

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