Capital One Cup Tips: Newcastle fans should keep faith

Sheffield United v Southampton
Tuesday, 19:45

Match Odds: Sheffield United 7.26/1, Southampton 1.584/7, The Draw 4.3100/30

Sheffield United aren't anything special in their own division right now, going four League One games without a win and trailing leaders Bristol City by ten points, but they have developed a canny knack of disrespecting clubs from higher divisions in the cups in 2014.

They have met six Premier League and Championship sides across seven fixtures and lost just one - last season's FA Cup semi-final 3-5 against Hull. In that period, they have conquered Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Charlton, beaten Fulham in extra time and defeated West Ham on penalties.

The Blades have also competed seven times across the FA Cup and Capital One Cup to date this term without suffering elimination, and are unquestionably catching Southampton at the right time.

Ronald Koeman's men have traded an extraordinary run of 11 victories in 12 for none in five, following a draw at Aston Villa with four successive reverses. If the ones against Man City, Arsenal and Man United were easily excused, the same can't be said for the latest at lowly Burnley.

The best bet is quite possibly Sheffield United +2 at 1.645/8 given that they were beaten by a margin greater than one goal in only one of their previous 34 matches. However, for those seeking a wider profit margin, there is enough evidence to highlight the straight lay as a worthwhile option at 1.594/7.

Recommended Bet: Lay Southampton to win @ 1.594/7

Tottenham v Newcastle
Wednesday, 19:45

Match Odds: Tottenham 1.814/5, Newcastle 5.04/1, The Draw 4.03/1

Newcastle's 2-0 triumph at holders Man City in the last round caused many a Magpie to believe that this could be the campaign in which they win their first domestic cup since 1955. An away draw against Tottenham has dampened the optimism somewhat, but it certainly isn't an impossible task.

After all, Alan Pardew's team won at White Hart Lane less than two months ago during a sequence that also brought them the scalps of Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea.

They have been forced to travel in every round so far, twice to fellow Premier League clubs, and have avoided defeat in nine of their ten Capital One Cup road trips this decade, winning five in normal time (one at Chelsea to go with the one at Man City) and three in 120 minutes.

Tottenham have prevailed in a mere two of their past seven home clashes with Premier League rivals, scoring only five times in the process and firing four blanks while achieving just two clean sheets and conceding two or more on three occasions.

Spurs have entertained top-flight foes in the Capital One Cup three times this decade without success in 90 minutes, being knocked out by Arsenal and West Ham and requiring penalties to get rid of Hull.

Recommended Bet: Lay Tottenham to win @ 1.824/5