Wednesday EFL Cup Tips: Middlesbrough will beat Championship newbies

Away win for promotion chasing Boro

Blackpool 2.8615/8 v Middlesbrough 2.56/4; The Draw 3.412/5
Wednesday 11 August, 19:45

Both Blackpool and Middlesbrough began their Championship campaigns with 1-1 draws over the weekend.

Blackpool were playing in their first match in the second tier since their promotion last season and grabbed a valuable point when Shayne Lavery scored an injury time equaliser, away at Bristol City. Under the circumstances it was very much a point earned and it could later prove to be a valuable one for a club that are the third favourites to be relegated from the Championship at 3.613/5.

Middlesbrough are now rated as the fifth favourites to win promotion at 5.39/2. They drew 1-1 at Fulham on Sunday and no one has more experience of winning promotion from the Championship than Neil Warnock. Boro should win this all-Championship clash and are a big enough price that you can back them in the Draw No Bet market and still get odds of 1.84/5.

Low scoring match between League One clubs

Burton 1.9210/11 v Oxford 2.427/5; The Draw 3.55/2
Wednesday 11 August, 19:45

Two League One teams have the chance to make it through to the next round of the EFL Cup, when Burton play host to Oxford.

It's Burton that have had the better start to the season, having won 1-0 at Shrewsbury on Sunday. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink returned to the club over the summer, having previously managed the Midlands outfit between 2014 and 2015.

Oxford drew 1-1 at Cambridge, having conceded a penalty with only twelve minutes of the match remaining. With both teams having been involved in low scoring games at the weekend, under 2.5 goals could land at 1.8810/11, in what should be a tight match.

Coventry celebrate return home

Coventry 1.635/8 v Northampton 5.59/2; The Draw 4.216/5
Wednesday 11 August, 19:45

After a long period away, Coventry are finally back playing in their home stadium and they marked their return in perfect fashion at the weekend.

They were 1-0 down in their game on Sunday against Nottingham Forest until nine minutes remaining, when the Swedish forward Viktor Gyokeres levelled the scores. Then in injury time, Kyle McFadzean scored the winning goal to give Coventry all three points.

Northampton enjoyed a 1-0 win in League Two at home to Port Vale, but should have perhaps won by a bigger margin considering that they were playing against ten-men for most of the second-half. Back Coventry to contain Northampton and win to nil at 2.757/4.

Forest can claim first win

Nottingham Forest 1.538/15 v Bradford 6.511/2; The Draw 4.216/5
Wednesday 11 August, 19:45

Following the disappointment of that loss, Nottingham Forest will want to bounce back with a victory when they host Bradford.

Chris Hughton saved Forest from relegation this season and having taken then likes of Newcastle and Brighton into the Premier League, there is reason to for the club's fans to be positive, despite their opening defeat.

Bradford drew 0-0 in the first match of their League Two season against Exeter at the weekend. Back Nottingham Forest to win the match and for there to be under 2.5 goals at 3.412/5.