Cheltenham v West Ham
Wednesday 19:45 (Live on Sky Sports Football)
In Mexico overnight, Queretaro 1 Tijuana 3 gave us the column's second consecutive winner this week. Shooting for a hat-trick, we're on some familiar-unfamiliar ground.
The Football Bet of the Day column doesn't often get domestic assignments but, when it does, it likes to make the most of them. Cheltenham versus West Ham? We don't think there's a more enticing game in the land today. And Sky Sports agrees too.
The second round is as far as Cheltenham Town have ever got in the League Cup. We might now be in the globalised era of the Carabao Cup, but the format remains the same and we expect the Robins' travails to continue.
Gary Johnson's team narrowly avoided relegation from League Two last season and, having lost two of their first three matches, look set to struggle again this term. In particular, the weekend's 3-0 defeat at Carlisle bodes ill for the visit of a top-flight outfit to Whaddon Road.
With Cheltenham rarely progressing far enough in the competition to encounter Premier League teams, and West Ham not playing away to a lower-league team since a 2-0 win at Burnley in 2013, the form book is a little bare.
Nonetheless, we fancy the visitors to show their class and come away with a comfortable victory. Slaven Bilic has made some serious signings over the summer: Joe Hart, Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez among them. It means he's now got a squad with some noses out of joint. Some of those disgruntled ex-first teamers should get a chance to show what they can do tonight. From Adrian in goal through to Diafra Sakho up top, there will be some high-quality players on the pitch with some high levels of motivation. And that should be more than enough for the struggling hosts to cope with.
Recommended Bet
Back West Ham -1.5 on the Asian Handicap @ 2.001/1 v Cheltenham
2017 P/L (1pt per bet)
Staked: 116pts
Returned: 98.14pts
P/L: -17.86pts
Get the Best Odds on English football with Betfair!
Betfair has had the best odds on all domestic English league football since the start of December. So when you win, you win bigger! Click here for full details.