Carling Cup Tips of the Week

The opening stages of a cup competition nearly always brings up a few surprise results. It’s just finding those games that is the difficult thing for punters. If you get it right, there is a fair bit of money to be won.

The first round of the Carling Cup in England takes place this week, and there are a few possibilities to look at if you want that high priced winner.

Some of the ‘bigger’ teams field a weakened side against lower league opposition, and that only goes to increase the chances of the cup upset. Others might not fancy a trip to a small, tight, lower league ground, and the underdogs always seem to raise their game in the face of better opposition.

Chesterfield are a team with a bit of history in shocking higher league opponents. They reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup back in 1997 only to lose out on penalties. Their opposition on that occasion was Middlesbrough, and lo and behold, they face again this week. It may be a chance to get revenge for that unlucky defeat thirteen years ago.

The live Sky TV cameras will be there at the b2net Stadium, where the Spireites recorded their first win at their new ground on Saturday by defeating Barnet 2-1. At home, with a big crowd behind them, Chesterfield can be backed at 3/1 (Bet365).

If you fancy a slightly longer priced team to go with, Bradford could be the one for you. They host Nottingham Forest at Valley Parade. Despite a losing start to their league campaign, having suffered a 3-1 loss at Shrewsbury at the weekend, the Bantams are still one of the fancied teams in League Two.

Forest were also beaten at the weekend, 1-0 by Burnley, and have a dreadful recent run of form away from home. On the road, they have failed to win in any of their last 12 matches. Bradford will fancy their chances and can be backed at 10/3 (Blue Sq, 888 Sport).

For a longshot, League Two side Cheltenham travel to Brentford of League One. The Robins began their league season on Saturday with a credible draw at Gillingham, while the Bees suffered a setback with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Carlisle. At odds of 9/2 for a victory, they could be a good value bet.

Carling Cup tips of the week:

• Bristol Rovers to beat Oxford @ 7/4 (Ladbrokes)
• Reading to beat Torquay @ 6/5 (William Hill)
• Adel Taarabt to score first goal for QPR v Port Vale @ 15/2 (VCBet)

Carling Cup Round 1 Fixtures

9th August

• 19:45 [TV] Stevenage (19/10) v (13/5) Portsmouth (16/11)

10 August 2010

• 19:45 Aldershot (11/4) v (5/2) Watford (11/10)
• 19:45 Barnsley (8/11) v (14/5) Rochdale (9/2)
• 19:45 Bradford (10/3) v (5/2) Nottm Forest (18/19)
• 19:45 Brentford (4/6) v (11/4) Cheltenham (9/2)
• 19:45 Cardiff (1/2) v (7/2) Burton (13/2)
• 19:45 Carlisle (7/4) v (13/5) Huddersfield (6/4)
• 19:45 [TV] Chesterfield (3/1) v (13/5) Middlesbrough (Evs)
• 19:45 Crewe (23/10) v (13/5) Derby (6/5)
• 19:45 Doncaster (1/2) v (10/3) Accrington (6/1)
• 19:45 Exeter (23/10) v (5/2) Ipswich (6/5)
• 19:45 Hartlepool (9/4) v (5/2) Sheffield Utd (6/5)
• 19:45 Hereford (2/1) v (13/5) Colchester (6/4)
• 19:45 Leeds (4/11) v (15/4) Lincoln (9/1)
• 19:45 Leicester (2/5) v (15/4) Macclesfield (9/1)
• 19:45 MK Dons (4/5) v (13/5) Dagenham & Redbridge (7/2)
• 19:45 Morecambe (23/10) v (5/2) Coventry (6/5)
• 19:45 Northampton (15/8) v (13/5) Brighton (6/4)
• 19:45 Norwich (8/15) v (10/3) Gillingham (13/2)
• 19:45 Oxford (6/4) v (13/5) Bristol Rovers (7/4)
• 19:45 Peterboro (3/4) v (13/5) Rotherham (4/1)
• 19:45 Plymouth (15/13) v (5/2) Notts Co (13/5)
• 19:45 Q P R (2/5) v (7/2) Port Vale (8/1)
• 19:45 Scunthorpe (5/6) v (13/5) Oldham (7/2)
• 19:45 Sheffield Wednesday (8/13) v (14/5) Bury (5/1)
• 19:45 Shrewsbury (15/8) v (13/5) Charlton (11/8)
• 19:45 Southampton (8/13) v (11/4) Bournemouth (5/1)
• 19:45 Southend (11/4) v (5/2) Bristol City (20/19)
• 19:45 Stockport (5/2) v (5/2) Preston (11/10)
• 19:45 Swansea (2/5) v (7/2) Barnet (15/2)
• 19:45 Swindon (3/4) v (13/5) Leyton Orient (7/2)
• 19:45 Torquay (23/10) v (5/2) Reading (6/5)
• 19:45 Walsall (6/5) v (13/5) Tranmere (23/10)
• 19:45 Wycombe (12/5) v (13/5) Millwall (15/13)
• 19:45 Yeovil (15/8) v (5/2) Crystal Palace (13/10)

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