When: 20:45
Where: English League Cup, Round 1

Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town's start to the season in League Two has so far been disappointing with two defeats and no goals scored. Despite a promising preseason with a win against Swansea City and a draw against Bristol City, the team currently lacks offensive punch. Additionally, injuries and limited playing opportunities for some players complicate the situation. The defense appears vulnerable, while the team is making intensive changes and experiments in the starting lineup.

Exeter City
After an initial defeat in League One, Exeter City showed a strong reaction with a 4-1 thrashing of Blackpool. Gary Caldwell's team has an experienced and flexible squad with quick wingers. Despite some injury-related absences, team spirit is high and confidence has increased following recent successes. The team takes on the role of favorite in this encounter.

Injuries
Cheltenham will miss Tain Anderson, while Jake Bickerstaff has yet to make any starting appearances. Exeter is without Pedro Borges, Andrew Oluwabori, Ryan Rydel, Patrick Sweeney, and John-Lly Ifeko due to injuries, with no short-term returns expected for these players.

Head-to-head
The recent meetings clearly favor Exeter. In the 2022 League Cup, they defeated Cheltenham at home 7-0. Exeter also won both league matches against Cheltenham, who were relegated. This series of three consecutive victories gives the visitors a distinct psychological edge.

Match prediction
Given Cheltenham’s offensive weaknesses and Exeter’s solid form, we expect a match with a modest number of goals. Exeter will act as the clearly stronger team and is likely to secure the win, though Cheltenham can certainly score an honorary goal. Overall, the game is likely to be low-scoring, and the betting market “Under 3.5 goals” with odds of 1.63 offers an attractive option.

My tip: Under 3.5 goals (1.63)

When: 21:00
Where: English League Cup, 1st Round

Birmingham City
Birmingham City returns to the Championship after an impressive season in League One with 111 points. The team shows particularly strong home form at their St. Andrews Arena, where no points were dropped last season and 19 wins were achieved in 23 games. Even in the season opener, Birmingham has already made offensive impressions, despite the late draw against Ipswich Town due to a controversial penalty. New players like James Beadle and Eiran Cashin could earn their place in the League Cup team and provide additional motivation.

Sheffield United
Sheffield United is currently undergoing changes under coach Ruben Sellars and after the success in the play-offs at the start of the season, suffered a painful 1-4 home defeat against Bristol City. The absence of several key midfield players complicates the preseason preparation and limits tactical options. With debutant Djibril Soumaré and players like Tyrese Campbell and Louis Barry, the team still aims to fight for promotion and gain valuable experience.

Injuries
Birmingham still miss Scott Wright, Marvin Ducksch, and Kanya Fujimoto, who are still in rehab. Sheffield United faces significant absences in midfield with Oliver Arblaster, Tom Davies, and Jamie Shackleton, reducing options for central game organization. Djibril Soumaré could make his midfield debut against Birmingham.

Head-to-Head
In the League Cup, Birmingham City won two previous encounters against Sheffield United, most recently 19 years ago in the third round. In the Championship, however, Sheffield’s last two visits ended with wins, including a 2-1 victory in May 2023 at St. Andrews. Sheffield has never won three consecutive matches at Birmingham, giving the hosts extra motivation.

Match Prediction
Birmingham City has a stable playing style and has shown great strength at home. The motivating factors from new players and the ambition to continue the home streak give the team an advantage against the still restructuring Sheffield United. Despite absences on both sides, it is expected that both teams will show their offensive qualities. Sheffield is likely to score some goals even if Birmingham controls the game territorially. Therefore, the bet "Both Teams to Score: Yes" at odds of 1.70 is highly recommended.

My Tip: Both Teams to Score: Yes (1.70)

When: 20:45
Where: English League Cup Round of 128

Bolton
Bolton is currently playing in the third tier of English football and is the host of this match. Although they play in a lower league, they enjoy the home advantage. However, in previous encounters against Sheffield Wednesday, they have not managed to secure a win, which certainly weighs on the team.

Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday competes in the second tier of English football and has a long streak against Bolton with four wins and three draws in seven matches. After a disappointing start to the league, they want to make a positive impact in this cup match with a strong performance. Their offensive strength is evident as they have scored at least one goal in each of the last five games.

Injuries
No specific information on injuries is available.

Head-to-Head
In the last seven direct encounters, Sheffield Wednesday has been unbeaten against Bolton with four wins and three draws. Bolton has consistently struggled to score against Sheffield during this period.

Match Prediction
Although Bolton are considered the favourites by the bookmakers, we expect a high-scoring match. Both teams have shown strong attacking form in recent games, and the history of their head-to-head encounters also points towards plenty of goals. Sheffield Wednesday will be highly motivated, while Bolton will look to make the most of their home advantage. Given this setup, the bet on Over 2.5 goals (odds 1.45) appears to be the most promising option.

My tip: Over 2.5 goals (odds 1.45)