The League Cup will always hold a special place in my heart. The football club which I support, who will absolutely be going unnamed to avoid the abuse, have only ever had their biggest days headlined by League Cup wins.
I often find with this competition that its merits are now down to how silly the sponsor sounds as a prefix, rather than its actual place in English footballing hierarchy.
So without further ado, here’s a nice little accumulator for the next round of the Carabao Cup. I mean, what else are you going to be doing on a Tuesday night, right?
6pm: Millwall v Cheltenham – Millwall to Win
I often find a clever play with the League Cup is to back sides who have players coming back from injuries because they’ll be playing here to get minutes into the legs. Some of Gary Rowett’s best nights have been in the competition, and his Millwall blueprint is to be solid.
If his players aren’t showing that, even midweek against lower league opposition, they’ll be booted out. That scoreless draw with Stoke should be a good indication of what the Lions are about this year, and losing to Cheltenham certainly doesn’t fit the bill.
6pm: Reading v Luton – Under 2.5 Goals
In the immortal words of Sir David Brent: “[I don’t know about football], I support Reading.”
Well, the joke’s on him, because Reading recorded somewhat of a surprise opening day win over Derby County to kick their season off. The same can be said of Luton, who fended off the advances of the likeable Barnsley last Saturday.
With that in mind, there’s no way either manager is going to send out their strongest sides for this clash.
The logical thing to do here is back unders, because it’s a matchup that neither side really needs to win, given the momentum will carry over from the opening day heroics regardless.
7.30pm: Newcastle v Blackburn – Newcastle to Win
Out of absolutely nowhere, and with limited resources, Steve Bruce has developed a squad at Newcastle, as if by some divine miracle. He must be drinking that northern ale again.
But taking a look at their bench from the weekend, they felt comfortable omitting Joelinton, Matt Richie, Ryan Fraser and Miguel Almiron.
Given that you can expect each of these to start Tuesday night, and Blackburn looks as porous as a sponge against Bournemouth, they could be in for a long night on Tyneside.
Although are there any other kinds of nights on Tyneside, come to think of it?
7.30pm: West Ham v Charlton – Over 3.5 Goals
When you’re the disgrace of the opening weekend and your manager is David Moyes, who is permanently engaged in a standoff with the world as to whether or not he’s actually good enough to manage in the top tier, you can bet your life he’s sending out his troops.
West Ham might have been the biggest embarrassment of the lot in an opening day that saw two sides lose 3-0, and unless his side go out here and produced, you can’t expect many of them to retain their place for next weekend.
I’m all for paranoid managers who are handcuffed into taking this trophy more seriously than the British coaching ideology typically permits.
Well in, Moyesy.
Our Tuesday night Carabao Cup acca
Millwall to beat Cheltenham
Reading v Luton – Under 2.5 Goals
Newcastle to beat Blackburn
West Ham v Charlton – Over 3.5 Goals
- A Paddy Power acca of the above 4 bets combined clocks in at around 15/1
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