Bradford v Hull predictions: Tigers can avoid cup upset against Yorkshire rivals

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Bradford v Hull in the first round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Football, 7.45pm Tuesday

Best bet

Hull
1pt 5-4 Coral, Hills

Team news

Bradford
New attacking arrivals Emmanuel Osadebe and Jamie Walker are both missing through injury.

Hull
Midfielder Greg Docherty is injured and joins Brandon Fleming, Josh Emmanuel, Dogukan Sinik, Ryan Longman and James Scott on the sidelines.

Match preview

Sky may have pinpointed Valley Parade as the destination for a potential EFL Cup first-round upset, but early evidence suggests Hull can justify the two-division gap over their Yorkshire rivals Bradford.

The Bantams started the League Two season with high hopes and were chalked up among the pre-season title favourites as they prepared for a first full campaign under vastly experienced manager Mark Hughes.

The former Premier League boss has been given full backing by the Bradford board with Crystal Palace winger Scott Banks becoming Hughes' 15th signing of the summer on Monday.

However, some Bradford fans are already starting to get restless after Saturday’s 3-2 loss at Barrow.

The Bantams thought they had snatched a point with Andy Cook’s 95th-minute equaliser, only to see Josh Gordon go up the other end and supply the Cumbrians with a last-gasp winner.

Hughes accused City of lacking bravery and being too easy to play against and, although that criticism could spark a revival, patience may be needed with a summer spending spree potentially leaving them disjointed.

Bradford had also failed to win their opening game of the season as they were held to a goalless draw at home to Doncaster, who had been reduced to ten men following the first-half dismissal of Lee Tomlin.

With two of Hughes’s marquee signings - Emmanuel Osadebe and Jamie Walker - also set for significant spells on the sidelines, the Bantams don’t look best prepared in their bid to land a knockout blow.

Hull, on the other hand, have made an excellent start to the season and followed up their come-from-behind 2-1 win over Bristol City with a hard-fought point at Preston.

With Championship clashes against Norwich, Burnley and West Brom to come in the next 11 days, manager Shota Arveladze has said tweaks to his team can be expected.

However, Arveladze also insists there won’t be wholesale changes as he wants to make the most of the opportunity against a lower-league derby rival.

It is a chance to give valuable minutes to fringe players such as Randell Williams, Mallik Wilks, Vaughn Covil, Callum Elder and Andy Cannon, and there looks enough quality in the squad to take care of a Bradford side who clearly need time to gel as a unit.

Key stat

Bradford have won only one of their last nine EFL Cup clashes.

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