EFL Trophy: football predictions and free betting tips for Tuesday's matches

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Tuesday's EFL Trophy matches.

When to bet

Kick-offs from 5.30pm Tuesday

Best bets

Ipswich
3pts 3-4 Betway, BoyleSports
Cambridge draw no bet
1pt 11-4BoyleSports
Mansfield
2pts 9-5BoyleSports

Preview

Ipswich bowed out of the FA Cup on Saturday, suffering a 3-2 extra-time defeat at home to Portsmouth, but they can stay on the road to Wembley in the EFL Trophy by seeing off League Two Crawley in West Sussex.

Tractor Boys boss Paul Lambert makes no apologies for prioritising the push for League One promotion but he can select a strong side to face Crawley knowing there is no league fixture to worry about until after the international break.

Lambert made nine changes for the loss at home to Portsmouth but he could restore some of his key men to the side as Ipswich seek the win they need to guarantee a top-two finish in Group B of the southern section.

While Ipswich could be stronger than they were at the weekend, sectional basement-boys Crawley may be weaker because they have had just two days to recover from Sunday's extraordinary 6-5 extra-time success at Torquay in the FA Cup first round.

John Yems's side showed great spirit at Plainmoor, where they trailed by two goals both in normal time and extra-time, but the occasion must have taken a toll on the players.

Freshening up the side may be Yems's only option although wholesale changes would play into the hands of Ipswich, who look solid favourites.

League Two highflyers Cambridge started the season with a shock 1-0 victory away to Birmingham in the EFL Cup and they look overpriced to spring a surprise at home to Peterborough in Group H of the southern section.

Mark Bonner's side lost 2-0 at home to League One Shrewsbury in the FA Cup on Saturday but they were 4-2 winners at third-tier Burton in the EFL Trophy.

They have shown they are a threat against higher-division opponents and could cause problems for League One leaders Posh in a battle between two teams assured of a place in the knockout stage.

Mansfield responded to the appointment of new manager Nigel Clough by posting a 1-0 FA Cup success at Sunderland on Saturday and they have a great chance to follow up by defeating League Two rivals Scunthorpe at Glanford Park.

The Stags are still waiting for their first league win of the season and cannot avoid EFL Trophy group-stage elimination.

However, a second cup victory in four days looks possible against Scunny, who are also out of the running and have had little time to recover since losing 3-2 at home to Solihull Moors in Sunday's FA Cup tie.

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