MARK O’Haire (@MarkOHaire) takes a look at the betting ahead of Barnsley’s League Cup second round showdown against Everton on Wednesday night.
Barnsley v Everton | Wednesday 19.45 | Sky Sports 1
Barnsley boss Lee Johnson has been speaking bullishly about his side’s prospects of dumping out Premier League Everton in Wednesday’s Capital One Cup second round clash at Oakwell. The Tykes have made a slow start to the 2015/16 campaign but their young and talented squad have shown signs of life in recent weeks and Johnson is confident they can rise to the challenge.
Speaking to the local press, the Barnsley boss said “If we can have the bravery to take the ball, then we’ll be in it. We are good enough with the ball, so it’s important we are brave and we don’t fear the occasion.” The hosts are four unbeaten after being held to a fiercely-contested 0-0 Yorkshire derby against Bradford on Saturday but Johnson was chuffed with what he saw.
Barnsley hit the woodwork early on through Marley Watkins before Ben Pearson and Alfie Mawson went close as the Reds dominated the ball and “demoralised” the Bantams with a neat passing game. The new-look team still need time to gel and tweak but there are promising signs that they can at least give Everton a decent run for their money on Wednesday.
The Toffees have had a mixed bag of results to start the new season but Roberto Martinez is set to ring the changes to give fringe players the opportunity to stake their claims and that should play into their Yorkshire hosts’ hands. Everton are yet to consistently convince at the back and I believe Barnsley are well capable of playing their part and getting on the scoresheet.
Conor Hourihane has plenty of set-piece quality and the aforementioned Pearson learnt the ropes at Manchester United. Daniel Crowley is a hugely promising playmaker from Arsenal, Kadeem Harris has plenty of keen admirers back at parent club Cardiff and Sam Winnall is an able front-man.
Last season Martinez made seven changes to his team for their League Cup exit at Swansea and you’d expect similar this midweek. The visitors’ clean sheet kept at Southampton recently was their first on the road since January but there’s still firepower in the Toffees ranks to rattle the third tier team. 8888 Sport’s 16/19 stands out in the Both Teams To Score market and it’s a bet I’m keen to invest in.
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Barnsley v Everton – Both Teams To Score (16/19 888 Sport)
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