Lincoln City v Everton: EFL Cup betting preview, free tip & TV details
Imps can shock Premier League Toffees
Sky Sports Football & Main Event, 7.45pm Wednesday
Marco Silva’s expensively-assembled team of international all-stars are in for something of a culture shock at Sincil Bank, where Lincoln are capable of causing an EFL Cup second-round upset.
Formidable on their own patch and cup giantkillers supreme under current boss Danny Cowley, the Sky Bet League One grafters should not be taken lightly.
Silva knows all about the threat carried by Lincoln – the teams met at Goodison Park in round three of the FA Cup in January when a close-to-full-strength Toffees were made to work hard for a 2-1 win.
Now, back in Lincolnshire on a ground where the Imps are formidable, Everton are definitely vulnerable.
Lincoln are going well on their return to the third tier after winning League Two in May and Everton haven’t really got going with just a solitary goal from their first three outings. That two-division gulf might not seem quite so wide if the illustrious visitors get a working over from their industrious hosts.
There is bags of quality in the Everton squad but the one-off nature of the tie (it’s straight to penalties after 90 minutes) and Lincoln’s tenacity and cup prowess means the Imps arguably represent a value option at big prices.
Everton haven’t lost to a League One side in the League Cup since going out to Brentford nine years ago and they have overcome their first hurdle in each of the four campaigns.
For all that, this competition that hasn’t been kind to them. It’s 35 years since they last reached the final and Silva will want to make changes to his side, as he did against Rotherham at this stage 12 months ago.
Just three players who appeared in the 2-2 draw at Bournemouth five days earlier turned out against the Millers, a match Everton won 3-1.
Silva’s squad is so huge that he would argue that he can afford to make sweeping changes and he’d love the opportunity to give chances to the likes of Djibril Sidibe, Fabian Delph and Mason Holgate.
Silva also knows he needs to find a solution to woes in the final third. They haven’t found the net in two road trips and just six efforts on target in three Premier League outings is pretty dismal stuff.
They are pedestrian in their build-up and short of potency in attack and whether you’re playing Crystal Palace or Lincoln, that’s not going to cut much ice.
Cowley’s Lincoln are nothing if not well organised and Everton’s slow-slow-quick-slow approach shouldn’t ruffle them.
As for Lincoln, they earned the right to take on Everton courtesy of a solid 1-0 win at Huddersfield in round one. That came in the midst of a run of four wins to nil to start their new season.
They have since lost narrowly at MK Dons and Doncaster and have no reason to be feeling down.
Recommendation
Lincoln
1pt 11-2 bet365, Betfred, BoyleSports
Team news
Lincoln
Lee Frecklington and Tom Pett are still out. New signing Ben Coker is also carrying a knock.
Everton
Jonas Lossl and Fabian Delph have recovered from knocks and could make debuts. Jean-Philippe Gbamin is still out.
Key stat
Lincoln have scored in all six of their matches this season.
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