Tuesday's football tips including Southampton vs Stoke predictions: Saints set to seal EFL Cup quarter-final spot

When to bet

All matches are live on Sky Sports+

Best bets

Southampton -1 goal on handicap v Stoke
7.45pm Tuesday
2pts 5-4 general

Reading or draw double chance v Stockport
7.45pm Tuesday
1pt 19-20 Coral, Ladbrokes

Doncaster to beat Barnsley
7pm Tuesday
1pt 7-5 Betfair, Coral, Ladbrokes

Best bets for Tuesday's matches

Southampton have struggled to get going in the Premier League but there is a place in the EFL Cup quarter-final up for grabs at home to Stoke and they should seize the opportunity.

The Saints are rooted to the foot of the Premier League table having failed to win any of their opening nine games, but they should have a significant class edge on Stoke who are only 19th in the early  Championship standings.

While positive results have evaded Russell Martin’s men, their performances haven’t been too bad of late and they have been far from disgraced in defeats  at Arsenal and Manchester City, taking the lead at the Emirates before a 1-0 reverse at the Etihad.

With the pressure well and truly on, Martin is unlikely to take too many risks with his team selection and they can see off Stoke, who needed penalties to get the better of League Two outfit Fleetwood in the previous round.

The Potters have failed to score in five of their six away games in the Championship this season and that includes 2-0 defeats on recent trips to Middlesbrough and Sheffield United, suggesting that they may be readily outclassed at St Mary’s.

There are three fixtures in League One, and Stockport are worth opposing at odds-on at home to Reading, who have risen up to sixth following five wins in six matches.

Stockport started the season in style, recording victories in their opening three matches, but they have won only one of their subsequent nine outings, failing to oblige at odds-on in three straight home fixtures.

There are also nine fixtures in the EFL Trophy as the group-stage concludes in a number of sections, and Doncaster may represent the best bet  at Barnsley.

Donny must better Huddersfield’s result at home to Manchester United U21 to seal their place in the knockout stages while Barnsley have already been eliminated from this season’s competition following a couple of defeats.

The Tykes may opt to provide valuable minutes to some of their fringe players and that may leave them vulnerable against Doncaster, who are flying high in fourth in League Two and have recorded three straight away successes.

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