EFL midweek best bets
· Luton vs Cardiff – Draw @ 23/10
· Carlisle to beat Barrow @ 11/10
· Stockport to keep a clean sheet vs Crewe @ 23/20
· £10 treble pays £149
Deadlock a big runner as draw-some duo do battle
At first glance the even money about Luton beating Cardiff looks a decent bet. The Hatters have won four of their last five in the league and sit seventh, 13 places above visitors who also happen to be the division’s lowest scorers (21 goals from 28 matches).
However, this game comes just three days after Town were held 2-2 by League Two Grimsby at Kenilworth Road, the fifth time honours have ended even in their last seven home games across all competitions.
Sabri Lamouchi’s visitors last played 10 days ago and should be the fresher side here, but their aforementioned lack of cutting edge means that rest advantage is unlikely to translate into victory.
The Bluebirds have drawn six of their last nine in league and cup action, making a sharing of the spoils the most likely outcome for sides that have been separated by one goal in each of their three meetings across the last two campaigns.
Best bet: Luton vs Cardiff – Draw @ 23/10
Hosts look a great bet in the Cumbrian Clasico
Barrow come into this derby with the bragging rights, having secured a 2-0 Papa John’s Trophy success over their rivals at Holker Street in October, but Prenton Park will be anticipating revenge.
Carlilse have won five of their last six matches and boast the division’s joint-leading scorer in Kristian Dennis. The Mancunian marksman has been lethal of late, bagging five in his last five outings.
The visitors are in rather less of a purple patch, winning just twice in 12 games across league and cups, losing seven and drawing three of the remainder. They’ve also failed to find the net in three of their last four matches.
Best Bet: Carlisle to beat Barrow @ 11/10
Shutout supremos Stockport can blank goal shy Alex
Crewe Alexandra are spared the blushes of being League Two’s lowest scorers by the abjectly toothless Gillingham, but they’ve still notched just 20 times in 24 games in the competition this term.
That ropey record in front of goal offers plenty of encouragement for stingy Stockport, who have kept more clean sheets (13) than any other side in the division bar leaders Leyton Orient.
At 8/13 for victory Dave Challinor’s men are a touch short for a side that have lost seven of their 13 road assignments in the league in 2022/23. Backing them to shut out their hosts looks better value.
