Just a couple of days after the opening weekend of fixtures in the Football League, the first round of the Carling Cup kicks-off tonight with Darlington at home to Leeds; however the majority of games fall tomorrow as teams from League One, League Two and The Championship battle it out for a place in the 2nd round and a potential draw against a Premiership side. The Carling Cup offers great opportunities for people who like to bet on football, with many bookmakers offering extended markets on the fixtures. One thing that people must be aware of is that bets for these matches are to 90 minutes only - they do not cover extra-time or penalties.
Looking at tonight’s match, a lot of punters might be tempted by 8/11 on a Leeds win, however they struggled to beat 10-man Exeter at the weekend, and their recent record in cup competitions has not been great. Jermaine Beckford to score anytime at 11/10 looks more inviting.
There are a few potential upsets (or cupsets!) in tomorrow’s fixtures. Exeter will fancy their chances at home to QPR after an impressive determined display against Leeds on Saturday. You can get The Grecians at 13/5 or a draw at 12/5. A double-chance bet at 8/11 covering an Exeter win or a draw is very tempting, as this game could go to the wire.
You can get 2/1 on a Brentford home win against Bristol City, which is quite a good price considering the Bees’ recent promotion to League One and 3-1 away win on Saturday. Bristol City threw away a 2-0 lead at Preston, which will have rocked their confidence, so a home win in this fixture is quite possible.
Finally, I fancy Gillingham at home to Plymouth. After their 5-0 demolition of Swindon at the weekend, The Gills will be riding the crest of a wave, and this momentum could lead them to victory over their Championship opponents.
These are just a few of the many tempting bets that are out there on the Carling Cup market; all you have to do is dig deep at the bookies and you may unearth a few gems!