Wednesday's EFL Cup predictions and football betting tips from Dan Childs

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Wednesday's EFL Cup fourth round ties.

Best bet

Brighton to win & under 3.5 goals
7.45pm Wednesday
1pt 6-5 BoyleSports

Wednesday's EFL Cup preview

Brighton can overcome the absence of World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister by defeating League One strugglers Charlton in their EFL Cup fourth-round tie at the Valley.

The Seagulls passed a massive test in the third round – winning 3-1 at Arsenal – and have been rewarded by a more straightforward round-of-16 fixture.

Charlton have slipped to 18th in League One after three straight defeats and are on the lookout for a new permanent manager following the sacking of Ben Garner earlier this month.

Addicks caretaker-manager Anthony Hayes watched his team throw away a first-half lead in Saturday's 2-1 loss at home to Bristol Rovers, and the Londoners face a much tougher challenge against the Seagulls, who may fancy their chances of going all the way in the competition.

Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi had eight players on World Cup duty but only Mac Allister was involved in the tournament beyond the round of 16, so he should have plenty of options to choose from.

It should be a fairly strong Brighton side and, while they may not be at their free-flowing best, they are likely to advance to the next round.

Blackburn's clash with Nottingham Forest looks a tougher one to call with both teams likely to fancy their chances of reaching the quarter-finals.

Rovers manager Jon Dahl Tomasson made six changes for his team's 1-0 win at Norwich on Saturday and has promised to use his whole squad over the festive period.

Nottingham Forest are more likely to use first-choice players as they contemplate a first competitive game since mid-November, but Giulian Biancone (knee), Cheikhou Kouyate and Moussa Niakhate (both thigh) are long-term absentees.

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