FA Cup Friday Tipsheet: Dons and Valiants backed plus 15/2 Wrexham bet builder | OneFootball

English FA Cup

The FA Cup Third Round commences on Friday night

Ste Tudor runs the rule over Friday night's FA Cup action, tipping a minor upset in Bucks and a multi-goal thriller in North Wales...

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MK Dons v Oxford United Tip - Home win no shock

MK Dons v Oxford UnitedFriday, 19:30Live on discovery+

Two divisions and 30 places may separate these teams but a home win would hardly constitute an upset. The Dons are the top scorers in League Two, converting 1.8 goals per 90, and can give any defence a serious examination. Pertinently, the Us have kept just one clean sheet on their travels all season.

Second from bottom in the Championship and managerless having dismissed Gary Rowett just prior to Christmas, Oxford have problems going forward too, committing to just a single shot on target apiece across their last three away fixtures. A possible debut for Spurs loanee Jamie Donley may address that. It may not.

The Dons have no such concerns offensively, not with Callum Paterson scoring 0.38 goals per 90 in the league. Rushian Hepburn-Murphy meanwhile fired a worldie against Chesterfield at the weekend.

The hosts to win at 9/5 and Paul Warne's men to bag over 1.5 goals at 6/4 both tempt here. Why not combine the two?

Port Vale v Fleetwood Tip - A valiant effort

Port Vale v FleetwoodFriday, 19:30Live on discovery+

A 5-1 thumping of Blackpool on New Year's Day was quite the plot-twist for the Valiants who were previously winless in 12, a dire run that led to Darren Moore's departure post-Christmas.

With the Seasiders deprived of a man 45 minutes in, Vale ran riot in the second half and crucially showed greater care in front of goal compared to what they served up under Moore.

Remarkably, rock-bottom Port Vale have taken on more shots this term than Lincoln, Stockport and Stevenage, who are 2nd, 6th and 7th respectively.As for Fleetwood they too have offered up a curveball of their own of late.

Decent at home but poor on the road they could at least be counted on to score, only failing to convert twice in 21 league fixtures going into Christmas. They have subsequently drawn a blank for 275 minutes.

Preston v Wigan Tip - Cautionary tale for hosts

Preston NE v Wigan Friday, 19:30Live on discovery+

Last season's quarter-finalists Preston resume their cup adventures in terrific form, losing only once in their last ten outings. It's worth noting too that Paul Heckingbottom's men are very good front-runners, winning 11 and drawing four of the 15 occasions when they have taken a lead this season.

That's not to suggest an early goal could be forthcoming at Deepdale. Eleven of the Lilywhites' last 14 strikes have come in the second period while only four League One teams have scored fewer first-half goals than Wigan.Second half most goals therefore makes sense.

Mid-table in the third-tier and picking up just five points from their last 18, the visitors aren't especially fancied here but they should at least win out on the disciplinary front. Wigan have accrued just 31 bookings this season, a league low. Preston, by stark comparison, have received 2.1 cautions per 90 across 2025/26.

Wrexham v Nottingham Forest Bet Builder

Wrexham v Nottm ForestFriday, 19:30Live on TNT Sports

Four wins on the bounce for the Dragons has rocketed them into the play-off reckoning and notably their upturn in fortunes has coincided with goal-fests returning to the Racecourse. A multitude of 1-1 and 0-0 draws between September and early December simply didn't sit right, like a party animal staying in to watch Emmerdale.

Regarding the visitors, their inconsistency in recent weeks makes them a potentially willing participant in a Friday night cracker in North Wales.

For possible headline-makers look no further than Nathan Broadhead, who is starting to show why Wrexham smashed their transfer record to secure him last summer. The Welsh attacker has three goal involvements in three and has taken on a shot every 22 minutes post-Christmas.

Lastly, plenty of corners will likely accompany the end-to-end action. The Championship side have averaged 5.5 per 90 all season while Forest have averaged 5.8 per 90 in their last 10 outings.

Now read Max Liu's take on the next Man Utd manager odds here

Recommended bets

Back Port Vale to win to nil at 9/5

Back Preston/Wigan second half most goals at 6/5

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