Burton Albion will be hoping to pull off a League Cup upset when they take on Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium in Tuesday’s last 16 clash.
The League One side have already made it further in this year’s competition than they ever have in the two major cups, beating Nottingham Forest, Burnley and Aston Villa in the last three rounds.
Latest odds
However, they are 15/2 (8.50) outsiders with William Hill to go one step further by coming out on top against more higher level opposition.
GettyTony Pulis’ team have only lost two of their 14 home matches this season, and are clear 4/11 (1.36) favourites to take their place in the semi-finals for the first time since their victorious 2003/04 campaign with a victory here.
Two of the last three encounters between this pair have finished all square after 90 minutes, and you can get odds of 19/5 (4.80) on this one going into extra-time after another draw.
Team news
Mo Besic is set to return for the hosts after missing Saturday’s defeat away to QPR through suspension.
Liam Boyce, Scott Fraser and David Templeton are all doubts after sustaining injury’s in Saturday’s defeat against Fleetwood Town, while Kyle McFadzean will also face a late fitness test after missing that game due to a hip injury.
Goals at both ends
Unusually for a Pulis team, Boro don’t come into this game in great defensive shape after conceding six goals in their last three matches and going five games without a clean sheet.
With little to lose considering their underdog status, a Brewers team that has averaged two goals per game so far in this competition are sure to pure more pressure on the home defence.
Predictions
Considering Nigel Clough’s men have only kept one clean sheet in 12 fixtures themselves, even odds (2.00) seem like solid value on both teams finding the net in an entertaining cup clash.
Both teams to score at Evens (2.00) for a 1.5pt stake with William Hill
William Hill