It’s not just the Premier League and Football League that’s made a welcome return but the League Cup gets going as well. It’s not always given a huge amount of respect but Chelsea used it as a springboard for even greater success last season and it allows lower league clubs the chance to get one over on some more illustrious names. We’ve gone through the first round to pick out three accumulators to make it all a bit more exciting for you.
Easy Winner – 10/11 (Sky Bet)
- Brentford to beat Oxford United (1/2) – The Bees were one of the stories of last season having pressed all the way in the Championship for promotion but just falling short. They will fancy playing some Premier League teams in the latter stages of the League Cup but have to do a professional job against Oxford United on Tuesday night first.
- Cardiff to beat AFC Wimbledon (2/5) – AFC Wimbledon have it all to do to come through a tough-looking tie away to Cardiff. The Bluebirds are focussing much of their attention on making a return to the Premier League but they can use this match to get the whole club used to that winning feeling.
- Ipswich to beat Stevenage (2/5) – Ipswich are many people’s outside tip to win promotion from the Championship. Mick McCarthy’s team did ever so well to make the playoffs last season considering they were so cheaply put together. With some exciting attacking players and a strong defensive base, they should have more than enough to knock Teddy Sheringham’s Stevenage out at the first stage.
Medium Risk – 10/1 (BetVictor)
- Millwall to beat Barnet (4/6) – Millwall fans have had to endure a tough couple of years but they are hopeful of better times under popular player turned manager Neil Harris. The Lions have a chance to roar early on in the season against Martin Allen’s Barnet. The former West Ham player will be fired up for this one but his priorities lie in staying in the Football League after winning promotion from the Conference last season.
- Peterborough to beat Crawley Town (8/11) – Peterborough know how exciting a cup run can be having won the Football League Trophy in 2014. They can get through this first round test against League Two Crawley by using the full extent of their squad which has been well bolstered in the summer transfer window.
- Southend United to beat Brighton (13/5) – Surely it is nearly time for Brighton to win promotion to the Premier League. With a good fan-base and great new stadium they’ve been a top flight club in waiting for some time now. They’ll be putting all their eggs in one basket this season so Phil Brown’s Southend can take advantage by getting through to the second round against a team from the division above.
Long Shot – 77/1 (Bet365)
- Accrington Stanley to beat Hull (5/1) – Hull’s controversial owner Assem Allen will have told Steve Bruce that the club has to win promotion back to the Premier League having been relegated last season. So expect to see a virtual reserve team fielded against Accrington Stanley on Tuesday. That will allow the League Two club to upset their odds and send their fans home happy.
- Doncaster to beat Leeds (2/1) – Doncaster were not able to make it out of League One last season but they’re well placed for another crack at it. They would dearly love to beat Yorkshire rivals Leeds early on in the season to give the players a boost. Leeds have their own problems so could well take their eye off the ball in this one.
- Yeovil to beat QPR (10/3) – If the QPR players were unable to get motivated for a relegation battle to stay in the most lucrative league in the world last season, how are they going to rally themselves for a trip down to Yeovil on a Tuesday night in the first round of the League Cup? This has upset written all over it.