Midweek tips: Carabao Cup upsets to come?

The second round of the Carabao Cup gets underway this week and there could be some upsets on the cards.

The Nap 

Wednesday is a huge night for Rangers, who travel to Eindhoven with their Champions League future hanging in the balance. Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side are locked at 2-2 with Dutch outfit PSV after a wildly entertaining first leg at Ibrox.

They are potentially 90 minutes away from the promised land, but Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side have a strong home record at the Phillips Stadion and are the 4/9 betting favourites to qualify. Rangers' hopes of ending their 12-year absence from the Champions League group stage are on a knife-edge, and they are as big as 19/5 to win in 90 minutes in the Netherlands.

At times Rangers were too rushed in getting the ball forward in that first leg in Glasgow, but they showed some real grit and determination on the night and have given themselves a fighting chance to progresses to the lucrative group stage.

The return game at the Philips Stadion is now completely sold out, and with 35,000 in attendance there should be quite an atmosphere. Analysing that first leg, it is easy to see why the bookies fancy PSV, who had Rangers on the ropes for much of the second half and were hampered by a goalkeeping howler from Walter Benitez, who somehow spilled a Tom Lawrence free-kick to gift the hosts a second-half lead.

PSV like to get forward and have been full of goals this season. They will also be well rested having not played since their first leg. Another high scoring encounter would be no surprise, so with this in mind 12/5 about PSV winning and both teams scoring in Eindhoven could be the way to bet.

The Nap – PSV to win & both teams to score at 12/5 (bet365)

 

Value Tip

After two defeats in three Premier League matches Aston Villa would be forgiven for prioritising top-flight survival over a good run in the Carabao Cup.

They travel to the University of Bolton Stadium on Tuesday and face a tricky fixture against Bolton Wanderers, who could spring a shock at 13/2. Steven Gerrard's men are going through a torrid run of form recently. That defeat on Saturday to Crystal Palace leaves them with just three wins in their last 14 Premier League matches.

Gerrard has struggled to find any sort of consistency as Aston Villa boss, and must privately be worried about his future in what is a results business. The loss of £26million summer signing Diego Carlos (ruptured Achilles) has not helped Gerrard's cause, and if his side are not switched on against Bolton an upset could be on the cards.

Lucas Digne and John McGinn looked miles off the pace against Palace, and they look far too short at 2/5 to win on the night given their poor recent form.

Northern Ireland international Dion Charles could feature for Bolton, having been out of action with a thigh injury since the opening day of the season. The powerful forward could potentially cause Villa all manner of problems, and the Trotters are worth a small punt at fancy prices.

Value Tip – Bolton Wanderers to win at 13/2 (Hills)

 

First Goal Flutter

Having started on the bench in that breathless 3-3 draw against Manchester City on Sunday, Chris Wood could start for Newcastle United when they travel to Tranmere Rovers in the Carabao Cup.

Newcastle remain unbeaten after drawing against reigning Premier League champions at the weekend, and are very warm favourites to win on The Wirral. Rovers, currently managed by Micky Mellon, booked their place in round two earlier after defeating Accrington Stanley 12-11 on penalties following an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Wham Stadium.

Boss Eddie Howe will likely ring the changes on Tuesday, but if Wood start he will fancy his chances of getting back among the goals.

The former Leeds and Burnley striker has yet to find the net this season, but his pace and size could be too much for Tranmere, who are currently seventeenth in League Two after an erratic start to their campaign.

First Goal Flutter – Wood to score first at 15/4 (bet365)

 

The Euro Banker

West Ham ran out easy winners over Danish minnows Viborg in the Europa Conference League play-off last week and they can finish the job by winning the return leg on Thursday.

It finished 3-1 at the London Stadium, with Gianluca Scamacca opening his goal account with the Hammers. Boss David Moyes, Declan Rice and Aaron Cresswell were all suspended for that first leg, but the Londoners were still too hot for Viborg, who nevertheless gave a decent account of themselves.

It would not be a major surprise if Moyes set his side up a bit more defensively for this return, knowing they have a two-goal lead to defend. They’ve endured a poor start to the season and are currently bottom of the Premier League, but enjoyed a fine run in Europe last season and look a tasty price at 21/10 to win without conceding at the Energi Viborg Arena.

The Euro Banker – West Ham to win to nil at 21/10 (Betfair/Coral/Ladbrokes/Paddy Power)