EFL Cup Tips: Five fantastic punts as the competition’s first round gets underway
Robbie Purves | August 8, 2016
English football is back and Coral writers have picked out some top EFL Cup tips.
The first round of the revamped competition gets underway on Tuesday, August 8th and features headlining fixtures such as derby encounters Leyton Orient v Fulham and Blackpool taking on Bolton Wanderers. With 36 matches to choose from, here are our five top punts…
Sharp downs Crewe
Billy Sharp has scored four goals in as many games against Crewe Alexandra and Coral have him at 4/1 to strike two or more at Bramall Lane.
Crewe finished their previous league campaign with the second worst defensive record in the league, which will have Sharp licking his lips in anticipation of a goalfest.
Londoners all square after 90 minutes
Both Orient and the Cottagers having already kicked off their league campaigns, Fulham recording a 1-0 victory while the O’s drew 1-1 yet again.
The Brisbane Road club drew 1-1 six times last season in the league and was their most frequent result. Meanwhile, Slavisa Jokanovic’s side also possessed 1-1 as their most common outcome, drawing with that scoreline 10 times.
This game looks destined to end up 1-1 after 90 minutes and Coral have them 11/2 emulate the result.
Bolton blow by Blackpool
Blackpool are without a win against Bolton in five years, and have lost two of the last four match-ups against their Lancashire counterparts.
Zach McLough was left out of the Wanderers’ opening fixture, but is expected to return to the side against Gary Bowyers’ side. The 21-year-old scored 26 goals last term and will look to kick his campaign off in style – McClough is 5/1 to net first.
Stokes strikes in Blackburn blowout
Anthony Stokes was superb in the Scottish FA Cup last year with Hibernian, scoring four in six, two of which came in the final, and culminated in the Edinburgh side lifting the trophy for the first time since 1902.
Mansfield Town finished their league campaign last term with a poor defensive record, so with this in mind, expect Stokes to run riot. The former Celtic striker is 7/1 to score two more or more against the Nottinghamshire outfit.
Costa crushes Crawley
Helder Costa arrived at Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer on loan from Portuguese giants Benfica, amid much speculation to where his next move would be. The talented winger came off the bench in the club’s opening league fixture and is likely to start against Crawley Town.
Costa is a tricky flank player and will look forward to taking on Dermot Drummy’s men, as they finished their last season with one of the worst defensive records in their division – the Portuguese is 7/1 to score first.
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