Capital One Cup Tips: QPR, Burnley and MK Dons at risk of early exits

Lay QPR to win at Yeovil @ 1.875/6

QPR will always be the first name on a list like this, and it would be a shock if a single Hoops supporter declared such a strategy unjustified. Let's take a quickstep down the memory lane side street labelled cup humiliation...

In 2014/15, they exited the FA Cup 3-0 at home to Sheffield United (League One) and the Capital One Cup 1-0 away to Burton (League Two). In 2013/14, they fled the FA Cup 4-0 at Everton and the Capital One Cup 2-0 at Loftus Road to Swindon (League One). 2012/13's cringe combo was 4-2 when hosting MK Dons (League One) in the FA Cup and 3-2 to Reading in west London in the League Cup.

You probably don't require much more evidence, but a few other lowlights worth referencing are QPR 0-2 Rochdale from League Cup 2011/12 and QPR 1-3 Port Vale from the 2010/11 edition. Add in that they opened the Championship campaign with a 2-0 loss at Charlton and you have a full house.

Lay Burnley to win at Port Vale @ 1.875/6

The Clarets caught this columnist's eye because they are odds-on on their travels, something that arguably shouldn't even be allowed given the high Championship club elimination rate at this stage of the competition.

There are other reasons to conclude that they need opposing though. The first is that Port Vale have history at this type of feather-ruffling. Since 2006 alone, they have hustled Preston, QPR (twice), Norwich, Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday out of the Capital One Cup, taking Tottenham to extra time at White Hart Lane too.

Burnley have won just three League Cup away ties in ten in 90 minutes despite reaching the semi-finals during that sequence. Admittedly, one of those was against the Valiants in 2012, yet they trailed 1-0 that night, so there is potential for a Cash Out opportunity at the very least.

Lay MK Dons to beat Leyton Orient @ 1.68/13

This might be a Championship versus League Two clash, but these teams shared the third tier for the past seven seasons and Leyton Orient could claim possession of the bragging rights upon separation, taking ten points from the most recent five meetings.

The east Londoners also possess a remarkable Capital One Cup road record, suffering a mere two defeats in eight, and both of those to Premier League clubs. They progressed through the other six ties, outlasting five sides currently in higher divisions: Colchester, Swindon, Southend, Charlton and Aston Villa.