Expert EFL Trophy outright and match predictions from Dan Childs

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for the EFL Trophy outright and the group stage matches on Tuesday.

When to bet

Kick-offs from 7pm Tuesday

Best bets

Bolton to win EFL Trophy
1pt 14-1 Hills

Bolton
2pts 13-10BoyleSports

Fleetwood
1pt 6-4 BoyleSports

Port Vale
1pt 15-8Coral

Newport
1pt 8-5 Coral

Preview

Clubs with the strongest squads usually excel in the EFL Trophy and strength in depth could help Bolton to deliver a serious challenge in this season's competition.

Sixteen Premier League under-21 sides are among the 64 clubs contesting the group stage, which started on August 30.

Academy sides have participated since 2016, but none have made the final and it seems likely that the winner will come from one of the other 48 teams.

Wholesale team changes are common in the early stages of the competition and it makes perfect sense to side with one of the clubs with a strong shadow squad.

Bolton are certainly one of those after significantly strengthening during the last two transfer windows and they started the competition with a 4-1 victory at home to Crewe.

Ian Evatt's Trotters are attractively priced at 14-1 to lift the trophy and they look a solid wager to win their second group-stage fixture at League Two Tranmere, who have lost four of their last six matches.

Fleetwood made an uncertain start – drawing 1-1 at home to Barrow and losing the penalty shootout (3-4) – but they can bounce back when facing fourth tier Carlisle at Brunton Park.

The Cod Army do not have a League One game at the weekend and might go with a reasonably strong side against the Cumbrians, who are already on the back foot after a 2-1 loss at home to Manchester United's under-21s.

Port Vale were 1-0 winners at home to Stockport in their opening match and they can follow up with a victory at Shrewsbury.

Vale defeated the Shrews 2-1 in Saturday's League One clash in the Potteries and they can complete a win double just four days later.

League Two Newport are renowned as a strong cup team and they can defeat League One strugglers Forest Green at Rodney Parade.

The Exiles have struggled in the league but they have won their three cup matches, including a 2-1 EFL Trophy success away to Exeter, and they can topple injury-hit Rovers, who lost 2-1 at home to Morecambe at the weekend.

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