EFL Cup Second Round Betting Tips: Back Barnes to get on the scoresheet at the City Ground

The EFL Cup second round is upon us, with Premier League teams now entering the competition. In this tipsheet, we have an all-Sussex clash, a meeting between two Premier League sides and League One/Two clubs looking to upset Premier League opposition. 

Brighton vs Crawley

Tuesday August 27
Kick Off: 19:45
Sky Sports+

Tuesday sees an all-Sussex clash as Crawley make the short trip to the AMEX to face Brighton. The only time the sides met was in the FA Cup 1992, a match in which the Seagulls triumphed 5-0. 

Under the reign of 31-year-old Fabian Hurzeler, Brighton have started the season in immaculate form. A 3-0 dismantling of Everton at Goodison Park was followed up by a last-gasp 2-1 win over Manchester United – a game in which Albion flexed their squad depth with the substitutions of Yasin Ayari, Simon Adingra, Georgino Rutter and Carlos Baleba changing the game. 

Despite being backed by many for relegation from League Two last season, Crawley surpassed expectations, finishing in the playoffs and ultimately getting promoted after shocking MK Dons and Crewe. 

The Red Devils were predicted to have a poor season this year, with the majority of their squad being gutted for minimal or in most cases no fee. However, Scott Lindsey continues to surpass expectations, beating Blackpool and Cambridge in their opening two League games and Swindon in the EFL Cup. 

Their unbeaten run was thwarted on the weekend, losing 1-0 at Wigan. However, it was a performance to be proud of, with the Red Devils dominating the game and restricting the Latics to just three shots. 

Only Chelsea have spent more than Brighton this summer, with Tony Bloom aiming for another European finish. The signings of several supremely talented youngsters leave Brighton with a large squad. 

Players coming back from injuries like Bart Verbruggen, Evan Ferguson, Pervis Estupinan and Julio Enciso are expected to be given a run-out, as well as fringe players such as Jeremey Sarmiento, Simon Adingra and Carlos Baleba. The Seagulls should have too much quality for Crawley – regardless of the side they put out. 

Prediction: Brighton -2 Asian Handicap @ 1.71

Everton vs Doncaster

Tuesday August 27
Kick Off: 19:15
Sky Sports+

Everton and their supporters made headlines for all the wrong reasons on the weekend, with supporters visibly upset with their side’s performance in their 4-0 defeat at Tottenham. This came after a poor showing in the 0-3 defeat to Brighton. Sean Dyche will see a home game against League Two Doncaster. 

In these two performances, Everton have looked disorganised at the back and easily penetrable. Frustration after the Tottenham game was also directed at Sean Dyche after he only made just the one change from the defeat against Brighton. 

Players like Iliman Ndiaye and Jesper Lindstrom were signed with big expectations but have not been given a start – this is set to change against Doncaster. The duo in particular will be hoping to end Everton’s impotency in front of goal.  

Doncaster stormed into the League Two play-offs last year after a run of just one defeat from February onwards. Grant McCann’s side scored a goal in their last 19 league games of the season and have already scored in their first four games in all competitions this season. 

This game will be seen as a ‘free hit’ for Rovers, with McCann likely to go for it. With Everton’s shaky-looking defence so far and a toxic Goodison Park, they will fancy their chances of getting onto the scoresheet. 

Prediction: Both Teams To Score @ 1.85

Birmingham vs Fulham

Tuesday August 27
Kick Off: 20:00
Sky Sports Football

After a heavy summer of spending, it seemed a foregone conclusion for many that Birmingham would run away with the League One title. Chris Davies’ side have started well, gaining seven points from their opening three, as well as defeating Charlton 0-1 in the EFL Cup first round. They have been rewarded with a second-round tie against the Premier League’s Fulham. 

The influx of new attacking signings have seen them be potent in front of goal, scoring seven in their opening four. They are also blessed with an abundance of attacking talent, so there shouldn’t be too much drop-off if Davies does decide to rotate. 

Fulham opened the season with a 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford in front of the TV cameras. Marco Silva’s side looked organised and posed a threat on the counterattack, but ultimately struggled in the final third. 

A home game against Leicester City was seen as the perfect opportunity to get their first win of the season. In a game where the Whites dominated, they emerged as 2-1 winners thanks to goals from Alex Iwobi and Emile Smith Rowe. 

Fulham travel to Ipswich on Saturday, so some midweek rotation is expected. Fringe players such as Jorge Cuenca, Timothy Castagne and Ryan Sessegnon could be afforded the opportunity to impress.

It will be a game where both will have rotated sides, so this should lead to plenty of chances at both ends for two sides yet to keep a league-clean sheet this season. 

Prediction: Both Teams To Score @ 1.71

Wolves vs Burnley

Wednesday August 28
Kick Off: 19:30
SkySports+

Wolves enter the competition in the second round and host recently relegated Burnley at the Molineux.

Gary O’Neil’s side were handed a tough start to the season and have so far faced Arsenal away and Chelsea at home. Despite losing 2-0 to the Gunners, Wolves had dangerous moments, with David Raya making three impressive saves. 

A chaotic game against Chelsea followed, with Enzo Maresca’s side emerging 2-6 victors thanks to a Noni Madueke hat trick.

Once Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Giorgi Mamardashvili, Wolves will officially be the lowest spenders in the Premier League this season, despite selling close to £100 million of talent in Pedro Neto and Max Kilman. 

Wanderers have been left with a small squad, so O’Neil may be tempted to rotate to protect key players. 

The same can be said for Burnley who had a bloated squad heading into the season, but Scott Parker has had to sell a large chunk of the players. 

They started the season with resounding 1-4 and 5-0 wins over Luton and Cardiff respectively, but the 1-0 loss to Sunderland was a poor performance and one that would have frustrated Parker. 

However, against a Wolves team that has conceded eight goals in just two games, Burnley will be confident of scoring at least one goal on their trip to the Midlands. 

Prediction: Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals @ 2.00

Nottingham Forest vs Newcastle

Wednesday August 28
Kick Off: 20:00
Sky Sports Football

Nottingham Forest vs Newcastle is one of two all Premier League clashes. 

Forest started the season with a 1-1 draw at home to Bournemouth, before a gritty 0-1 win at Southampton. Newcastle beat Southampton 1-0, despite playing the majority of the game, before scraping a controversial point at Bournemouth. 

Eddie Howe’s side scored the equaliser in the 76th minute thanks to Anthony Gordon. The assist came from substitute Harvey Barnes – a player expected to start on Wednesday. 

The winger has found game time hard to come by since his move from Leicester last summer, with the 26-year-old starting just seven Premier League games last season due to injury. In those seven starts, he scored five goals and assisted three, averaging 0.57 goals per 90. 

The season before, Barnes scored 13 goals for relegated Leicester City, averaging 0.43 goals per 90. He has had to start the opening two games on the bench due to the pre-season form of Jacob Murphy, but Eddie Howe will see a cup game as the perfect opportunity to get some more minutes into Barnes’ legs. 

In his 32 minutes against Bournemouth, Barnes created two big chances and also missed one himself. It should be an attacking Newcastle team on Wednesday, so Barnes looks a nice price to score. 

Prediction: Harvey Barnes to score @ 3.45

Recommended Bets:

Back Brighton to beat Crawley with a -2 Asian Handicap @ 1.71
Back Both Teams to Score in Everton vs Doncaster @ 1.85
Back Both Teams to Score in Birmingham vs Fulham @ 1.71
Back Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 goals in Wolves vs Burnley @ 2.00
Back Harvey Barnes to score for Newcastle vs Nottingham Forest @ 3.45