Prediction League: FA cup special

With all the ins and outs at St Mary's it seems every match is a chance for a reunion and this week is no different. The linesmen botherer, Alan Pardew, and his mid-match toilet dweller, Jason Puncheon, return to the south coast with their Palace side hoping to replicate last season's 4th round victory.

Pardew used to fear returning to Southampton. His Newcastle side regularly got a beating from the saints but that all changed in January last year. Goals from Yaya Sanogo and Maroune Chamahk gave the eagles to a 3-2 victory after Southampton twice took the lead.

There will be no Sanogo this year but Chamahk may get a rare run out as Palace deal with injuries to their forward line. Star man Yannick Bolasie will be a big miss for Pards who is also without the bafflingly expensive Connor Wickham and soon to be ex-eagle Dwight Gayle.

Palace may not find a better time to play Southampton. We have lost 7 of our last 9, the games that didn't end in defeat were the disastrous draw with Villa and that match against Arsenal.

Despite all this the bookies will only give you even odds on a saints victory.

To the predictions:

With a shock win against Arsenal and two shocking results away from home, only one of the musers managed to get any points over the festive period. George predicted a 1-0 loss at Carrow Road whilst Merson raced into the lead with a correct result and score.

Merse: ?
Paul's paymasters at Sky don't have the rights to the FA cup. So, like the champions league and world cup, it's seen as an inferior competition not worthy of his time

Lawro: 2-1

Tommy: 2-1
"I literally have no clue, and you can tell that by my record. 2-1 Win."

Jake: 1-1
"The worst result possible for us right now. 1-1"

Dan: 0-0
"0-0 - possibly even worse"

Will: 3-1
"I'm quietly confident about this one and I have no idea why!"

George: 1-1
"Saints can't buy a win, but hopefully won't exit the Cup either. Hopefully..."

Connor: 1-2
"Palace to win 2-1."