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

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

When to bet

Kick-offs 7.45pm Tuesday

Best bets

Middlesbrough 7.45pm
3pts 27-20 Coral, Ladbrokes

Leyton Orient 7.45pm
3pts 6-5Betfred, BoyleSports

Everton 7.45pm
2pts 13-8 Betfair, Power

Tuesday's betting preview

Middlesbrough are showing some positives signs after their brave decision to appoint rookie Michael Carrick as manager and they can extend their unbeaten run to three Championship games with a victory over injury-hit Blackpool at Bloomfield Road.

Carrick favours a front-foot, possession-based style and will have been delighted with elements of his team's performance in Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Bristol City.

Boro dominated City at the weekend, winning the shot count 23 to six and amassing a 72 per cent share of possession.

Their players seem to be buying into Carrick's managerial methods and a star man has emerged in attack with Chuba Akpom scoring in each of the last three matches.

Middlesbrough can expect to improve as the season progresses and appear likely to finish above 18th-placed Blackpool, who are on the slide after back-to-back 1-0 losses at West Brom and at home to Luton.

The Seasiders did everything but score in their harsh weekend loss to Luton, but it was a difficult afternoon in more ways than one because defender Jordan Thorniley and midfielder Keshi Anderson were added to their lengthy injury list and utility man Callum Connolly picked up a fifth yellow card of the season, triggering a one-match suspension.

Blackpool manager Michael Appleton has also had to manage the effects of a sickness bug which restricted Arsenal loanee midfielder Charlie Patino to a 45-minute run out at the weekend, and his threadbare squad could struggle until the World Cup break.

League Two leaders Leyton Orient are in a much healthier state and they can crank up the pressure on their promotion rivals by defeating London rivals AFC Wimbledon at Plough Lane.

Several key players were rested for Orient's 1-0 loss at Crewe in the FA Cup first round but the regulars will return against Wimbledon, who are having a difficult campaign.

The Wombles were fortunate to scrape a 1-1 draw at National League South basement boys Weymouth in the FA Cup first round and they will need a big improvement if they are to avoid an eighth league loss of the season.

Everton are going through a difficult run in the Premier League – taking four points from their last six games – but they look a decent bet to defeat top flight rivals Bournemouth in their EFL Cup tie at the Vitality Stadium.

Frank Lampard knows Premier League points are the priority but will also be aware of the need to satisfy the Everton fans' demands for a decent cup run.

He may resist the temptation to make wholesale changes and can be rewarded with a victory against the Cherries, who are on a four-game losing sequence.

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