There are some tasty looking fixtures on Tuesday night as the Carling Cup becomes the focus once more, with two all Premier League clashes as well as an old rivalry renewed.
Leeds host Manchester United at Elland Road in a fierce rivalry clash with the Red Devils, unsurprisingly, strong favourites at 8/15 with the hosts available at 5/1 to spring a surprise and the draw at 3/1.
Sir Alex Ferguson has a tendency to field his fringe players in what is perceived by many as the weakest competition but he does have previous, having won the trophy three times in the last six years (United 6/1 to go all the way again).
A weakened team came unstuck against West Ham last season so there is always the potential for an upset, and Leeds did exactly that when landing a huge price to knock United out of the FA Cup in 2010 with a 1-0 at Old Trafford, when a League One side.
With the riches on offer by earning promotion to the Premier League, there is no guarantee that Simon Grayson will pick his strongest side, despite leading Leeds past Bradford and Doncaster to make it this far.
Ferguson might still be smarting from the FA Cup shock and with his side having made an impressive start to the season, it would be difficult to see his charges doing anything other than progressing.
United have won on their last two visits to Elland Road and have never lost to Leeds in the Carling Cup but it could be worth waiting for the teams news to see if that offers hope to the underdog.
Stoke and Tottenham go head-to-head at the Britannia Stadium after contrasting fortunes at the weekend, with the Potters getting trounced 4-0 at Sunderland, while Spurs enjoyed a 4-0 demolition of Liverpool.
Team selection is going to be key in this game with both managers also having to contend with the demands of the Europa League.
Tony Pulis’ men do have home advantage and have made the Britannia a difficult place to go – just ask Liverpool and Chelsea – and have been installed as marginal favourites at 8/5 in the match betting, with Spurs on offer at 13/8 and the draw at 12/5.
It may pay to side with the north Londoners on this occasion as they are coming into form having registered back-to-back wins in the top-flight and won home and away against Stoke last term.
They also have the less arduous task on Saturday when they travel to Wigan, with the Potters hosting the league-leading defending champions.
Aston Villa entertain Bolton in the other all Premier League fixture and this looks like a home banker, with Alex McLeish’s men priced at 5/6, the draw at 12/5 and Owen Coyle’s side available at 7/2.
Villa are unbeaten in their last eight home matches in all competitions and have a fantastic record in the competition, lifting the trophy five times and reaching the final eight times.
Things have gone spectacularly wrong for the Trotters following a 4-0 opening weekend win over QPR, having lost four successive league games, conceding 13 goals in the process, while the only win in the last five was a 2-1 home success over League Two Macclesfield in the second round.
It is difficult to see Arsenal (1/5), Wolves (4/5) and Blackburn (4/11) coming unstuck at home, while Newcastle (5/4) should have enough to see off Nottingham Forest (21/10), given the Championship side’s early struggles this season.
Middlesbrough (13/10) are fancied to continue their good form at Crystal Palace (19/10), with Rochdale (7/4) and Milton Keynes Dons (13/5) capable of winnign at Aldershot (6/4) and Burnley (Evens) respectively.
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