There are 17 EFL Cup second-round matches tonight. How about a 17/1 six-fold?
Tuesday’s EFL Cup ACCA
- Over 2.5 Goals – Cardiff City v Norwich City
- Ipswich Town to beat Leicester City
- Middlesbrough to beat Doncaster Rovers
- Under 2.5 goals – Blackburn Rovers v Sheffield United
- Wolves to beat Sheffield Wednesday
- BTTS Yes – Southampton v West Ham United
- ODDS: 17.34/1
Cardiff City v Norwich City, 19:00, Sky Sports+
Cardiff City are off to a solid start in the Championship with two points from two games, and last season’s EFL Cup quarter-finalists possess the firepower to trouble Norwich at home tonight. The Canaries were thumped 3-0 at Millwall at the weekend, having opened their league campaign with a home loss against West Brom.
Both these sides were involved in high-scoring games in round 1 of the EFL Cup, and with both scoring in five of their combined six games, another goalfest could be on the cards. Over 2.5 goals has clicked in all but one of Cardiff’s three competitive fixtures this term, and it’s landed in all three of Norwich’s matches.
Best Bet: Over 2.5 goals (7/10)
Ipswich Town v Leicester City, 19:45, Sky Sports+
The Tractor Boys got off to a flyer in the Premier League on Saturday and will bid to follow up on their last-gasp heroics against Sunderland with an EFL Cup victory at home to League One outfit Leicester. Both these sides were in the Championship last season, but how their fortunes have swung since.
The Foxes, champions of England a decade ago, are winless after two games in the third tier. A home defeat against Burton last time out was a sobering reminder of just how far Leicester City have fallen.
Only Coventry had a stronger home record in the second tier than Ipswich last season, and they’ll want to keep the feel-good factor high at Portman Road as long as possible.
Best Bet: Ipswich Town (1/2)
Doncaster Rovers v Middlesbrough, 19:30, Sky Sports+
It’s League One against the Championship at the Eco-Power Stadium as Doncaster hosts Middlesbrough. Donny needed penalties to get past Stockport in round one, but that remains their only win of the season. Boro overcame Wrexham in round one before starting their league campaign with a home win over newly promoted Lincoln. They’ve since been beaten at Blackburn, so are far from invincible, but they should have enough here to progress.
Best Bet: Middlesbrough (4/7)
Blackburn Rovers v Sheffield United, 19:45, Sky Sports+
Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United have started the league with back-to-back 0-0 draws, with the backdrop of a potential points deduction and ongoing financial problems adding to the pressure around the club. A trip to Ewood Park is a tough assignment at the best of times, never mind amid the uncertainty currently surrounding the Blades. Blackburn got the better of Middlesbrough here at the weekend, but they may have to be patient again against a stubborn United side that have proven difficult to break down.
Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals (9/10)
Sheffield Wednesday v Wolverhampton Wanderers, 19:45, Sky Sports+
Wolves have been banging in the goals at the start of the season, with eight in their opening three games, so Sheffield Wednesday face a daunting task here. Wolves showed no mercy against Port Vale in the opening round, cruising to a 3-0 victory, and they look capable of producing another convincing result against Wednesday.
Best Bet: Wolves (4/7)
Southampton v West Ham, 19:45, Sky Sports+
Championship favourites West Ham face a Southampton side, who could easily have been a Premier League team this season were it not for the ridiculous circumstances that derailed them at the end of last campaign. Both sides have endured slightly slow starts in the league, but there’s been no shortage of entertainment with both teams to score clicking in their combined four Championship matches.
Both clubs’ squad depth should allow for plenty of changes here. This is a meeting between two of the big guns in the second tier, so expect plenty of fireworks. Southampton also showed their pedigree in last season’s FA Cup, reaching the semi-finals after knocking out Arsenal before giving Manchester City a real scare in the last four.
Best Bet: BTTS Yes (8/15)
Tuesday’s EFL Cup ACCA
- Over 2.5 Goals – Cardiff City v Norwich City
- Ipswich Town to beat Leicester City
- Middlesbrough to beat Doncaster Rovers
- Under 2.5 goals – Blackburn Rovers v Sheffield United
- Wolves to beat Sheffield Wednesday
- BTTS Yes – Southampton v West Ham United
- ODDS: 17.34/1
