Tuesday's EFL Trophy predictions, betting odds and tips: Saddlers could be swept aside

When to bet

Kick-offs from 7pm

Best bets

Birmingham -1.5 on Asian handicap
2pts 21-20 bet365

Swindon or draw double chance
2pts 21-20 Coral, Hills, Ladbrokes

Tuesday's EFL Trophy predictions

Big-spending Birmingham are determined to achieve League One promotion, but they also have a chance of impacting the cup competitions and can make a positive start to the EFL Trophy by sweeping aside Walsall in their Southern section Group A clash at St Andrew's.

The Blues' last experience of third-tier football was in the 1994-95 season when they went up as champions and won the EFL trophy.

Repeating the feat will be Birmingham's aim and, after making some high-profile signings such as strikers Alfie May and Jay Stansfield, they have every chance.

Chris Davies's side exited the EFL Cup at the second-round stage with a 2-0 loss at home to Fulham, but they are chasing down Fulham's Under-21s in their EFL Trophy section after the Premier League academy side opened with a 2-1 success at Shrewsbury.

Birmingham look the strongest side in the group and, even if wholesale changes are made, they should be too strong for Walsall, whose main focus is on League Two promotion.

Walsall climbed to second in League Two after Saturday's 2-1 success at home to Cheltenham but it came at a cost as Oisin McEntee, Liam Gordon and Josh Gordon picked up injuries.

The Saddlers cannot afford to lose many more of their key players and manager Matt Sadler will probably bear that in mind when selecting a starting line-up.

Several Walsall fringe players may get their chance but it could be a tough learning experience against Birmingham, who should prevail by at least two goals.

There could be a surprise result in the Southern section Group G clash between Exeter and Swindon and the League Two visitors look overpriced to avoid defeat.

League One highflyers Exeter are set to make a few changes after Saturday's hard-fought 2-0 success at Bolton, but they could be exposed by Swindon, who showed a lot of improvement in their harsh weekend 2-1 loss at home to Notts County.

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