Football tips: FA Cup quarter-final preview

FA Cup football returns this weekend with Chelsea and Manchester United safe bets to progress to the last four on Saturday, while Sunday finds value in unfancied outsiders springing a surprise or two. Click here for a free £200 to bet on FA Cup football with Canbet Barnsley may have claimed the scalp of Liverpool in the last round but no-nonsense Chelsea won't prove such pushovers. Their recent defeat in the Carling Cup has left the Blues doubly determined to retain the FA Cup as they continue their push for the treble. Barnsley, who survived a barrage of shots on goal before getting lucky against Liverpool, have a good home record, but they are sure to feel the same sort of backlash that Olympiakos experienced on Wednesday. Manchester United have drawn Premier League opposition for the 11th consecutive occasion but they will not be disappointed at having to face Portsmouth at home. Pompey have a decent away record but they haven't won at Old Trafford for 50 years and on current form it'll be more of a case of how many United will score than whether or not they will win. Cardiff have an excellent chance of turning over Middlesbrough at the Riverside on Sunday. Gareth Southgate's side has somehow stumbled through to the last eight courtesy of scrappy, unconvincing victories against lower league opposition in Bristol City, Mansfield and Sheffield United and without the suspended Jeremie Aliadiere may well struggle to find the cutting edge against an inconsistent Cardiff side. The Welsh club aren't exactly world-beaters this season but they have saved their best for the cup this term and if Reading can beat Boro at the Riverside then there's no reason why the Bluebirds can't. Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink, Darren Purse, Trevor Sinclair and Peter Whittingham are just a few of the players at David Jones's disposal with top-flight experience and at 4/1 they look handily placed to cause an upset. Bristol Rovers have a real opportunity to turn over West Brom on Sunday. Albion are known as the best passing side in the Championship but that won't help them on the potato patch that is the Memorial Stadium. Southampton and Fulham are among the six scalps that Rovers have claimed this season and, although WBA are a far superior side, 9/2 represents excellent value for the Pirates. Verdict: 3pt double Chelsea and Manchester United @ 1.75 (Canbet); 1pt Cardiff @ 4/1 (Canbet); 1pt Bristol Rovers @ 9/2 (Canbet) Click here for a free £200 to bet on FA Cup football with Canbet