Last Updated on 24/04/2026 by Andy Clark
Ryan Manning is 14/5 to be booked at Wembley against Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday — the best odds available anywhere. VirginBet are the bookmaker to use for this tip.
New customers who bet £10 receive £30 in free bets, whether the qualifying bet wins or loses.
This is a classic conditions-based card bet. Manning plays left-back for Southampton and will spend Saturday afternoon facing down Antoine Semenyo — one of the most direct, powerful wingers in the Premier League, who scored in City’s 4-0 quarter-final win over Liverpool and has been in the form of his life since joining from Bournemouth in January.
Manning averages 0.83 fouls per 90 minutes in the Championship this season. The task at Wembley against Semenyo is a different order of magnitude. The logic for a booking is compelling at 14/5.
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The Tip — Ryan Manning to be Booked vs Manchester City
| Selection | Ryan Manning to be booked |
| Match | Manchester City vs Southampton |
| Competition | FA Cup Semi-Final |
| Date | Saturday 25th April 2026, 5:15pm BST |
| Venue | Wembley Stadium |
| TV | TNT Sports 1, BBC One, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max |
| Best odds | 14/5 — VirginBet |
Odds Comparison — Ryan Manning to be Booked
| Bookmaker | Odds |
|---|---|
| VirginBet | 14/5 ✅ Best odds |
| bet365 | 12/5 |
| Betfred | 9/4 |
| BetVictor | 2/1 |
VirginBet are offering 14/5 — significantly better than the next best price of 12/5 at bet365 and well ahead of Betfred (9/4) and BetVictor (2/1). A £10 bet at 14/5 returns £38 total — £28 profit plus your £10 stake. The same bet at 2/1 returns only £30. Always use VirginBet for this selection.
Back Ryan Manning at 14/5 with VirginBet →
Why Manning is the Tip
The Matchup — Manning vs Semenyo
Ryan Manning will line up at left-back for Southampton against Antoine Semenyo — arguably the most demanding individual assignment of his career. Semenyo is a physical, direct winger who uses his pace and power to get at defenders. Since joining Manchester City from Bournemouth in the January transfer window he has been one of the Premier League’s standout performers, scoring 18 goals in all competitions across City and Bournemouth this season and contributing the spectacular chip in the 4-0 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final.
Manning’s job on Saturday is to stop him. In a Championship context, Manning averages 0.83 fouls per 90 minutes — a solid but unremarkable foul rate for a left-back. But the Championship is a different world to a Wembley FA Cup semi-final against the most direct attacker in Manchester City’s squad.
When a Championship left-back faces a top-flight winger operating at full speed on the Wembley turf, fouls happen. Tactical fouls happen. Fouls out of necessity — stopping a dangerous attack before it develops — happen. And against Semenyo, those fouls will come in areas of the pitch that referees at Wembley notice.
The Context — Southampton’s Defensive Task
Southampton knocked out Arsenal 2-1 in the quarter-final, but their route to Wembley has been built on hard defensive work and set-piece moments of quality — not dominating possession against top-six opposition. Against Manchester City at Wembley, Tonda Eckert’s Championship side will spend long periods defending. That means full-backs doing defensive work — tracking, jockeying, making tackles.
Manning is not a shy tackler. He is a willing defender who commits to challenges. In a match where Southampton will be defending for large portions of the game, his foul count on Semenyo will be higher than his Championship average suggests.
Southampton have never won at Wembley in an FA Cup semi-final — losing to Chelsea in 2017-18 and Leicester in 2020-21. The weight of that record and the occasion of facing a side that has reached eight consecutive FA Cup semi-finals will make the defensive discipline all the more difficult to maintain.
The Referee Factor
FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley are high-profile, high-pressure occasions. Referees are alert to cynical fouls that kill dangerous attacks, particularly in open space. Manning stopping Semenyo in his tracks on the left flank — as he will need to do repeatedly — is exactly the type of foul that earns a yellow card in this context.
How to Claim £30 in Free Bets on This Tip with VirginBet
VirginBet are a UKGC-licensed bookmaker offering the best odds on this selection and a straightforward new customer offer. Bet £10 and receive £30 in free bets — whether your qualifying bet wins or loses.
If Manning is booked: Your £10 bet at 14/5 returns £38 total — £28 profit plus your £10 stake. You also receive £30 in free bets.
If Manning is not booked: You lose the £10. VirginBet credits your account with £30 in free bets regardless. You are £20 up from where you started.
How to claim in 3 steps:
Step 1 — Click our link to VirginBet. Register your new account.
Step 2 — Deposit £10 or more.
Step 3 — Place a qualifying bet of £10 on Ryan Manning to be booked at 14/5. Once the match settles, receive £30 in free bets.
Join VirginBet – Back Manning at 14/5 → | Full VirginBet Offer Details →
Man City vs Southampton — Match Context
Southampton are in their third FA Cup semi-final in nine seasons, having faced Chelsea (2017-18) and Leicester (2020-21) in previous Wembley last-four ties without success. They have been the competition’s great story this season — beating Arsenal 2-1 in the quarter-final on a raucous night at St Mary’s to reach the semi-finals as a Championship club.
Manchester City have reached eight consecutive FA Cup semi-finals. They have won the FA Cup seven times. Erling Haaland has scored 12 goals in 12 FA Cup appearances — but has never scored in an FA Cup semi-final or final in 14 appearances at that stage of the competition.
Southampton won the FA Cup in 1976 — exactly 50 years ago this season. They will be wearing their commemorative ’76-inspired yellow kit for the Wembley semi-final.
The tie is a classic cup story — a Championship side with nothing to fear going up against one of the most powerful clubs in European football. Manning will play a central role in Southampton’s defensive plan, and the 14/5 about him receiving a booking reflects that.
FA Cup Semi-Final Card Tip FAQs
Why is VirginBet the right bookmaker for this bet? VirginBet are offering 14/5 — the best available odds for Ryan Manning to be booked. That is a significant premium over bet365 (12/5), Betfred (9/4) and BetVictor (2/1). Always take the best available price. A £10 bet at 14/5 returns £38 total versus £30 at 2/1 — an £8 difference from the same stake.
Why will Manning be booked? Manning plays left-back and will face Antoine Semenyo — City’s direct, physical winger who has been in outstanding form this season. Manning averages 0.83 fouls per 90 minutes in the Championship. Against Semenyo at Wembley with Southampton defending for long periods, his foul count will rise.
What time does Man City vs Southampton kick off? 5:15pm BST on Saturday 25th April at Wembley Stadium, live on TNT Sports 1, BBC One, BBC iPlayer and HBO Max.
Do I need a VirginBet promo code? Check the VirginBet offer page for current code requirements — see our full VirginBet sign-up offer details.
Does the qualifying bet need to win? No. The £30 in free bets is credited whether your qualifying bet wins or loses.
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Andy is the founder, owner and editor of thatsagoal.com, with over 20 years of experience in betting on sports. He has a keen eye for stats, particularly when looking at players to be carded, and these form a large part of the bet builder tips you see on the site. As well as creating daily football tips, Andy also keeps thatsagoal updated with all the best bookmaker promotions and offers for our readers.