THE EFL Cup 2nd Round takes centre-stage on Tuesday night. We asked Tom Love (@TomLove_18) to source the best bets from the televised encounter between Newport and West Ham at Rodney Parade.
Newport v West Ham | Tuesday 27th August 2019, 19:45 | Sky Sports
Newport gaffer Michael Flynn was candid in his dismissal of their 1st Round EFL Cup tie at Gillingham, even suggesting that the Exiles faithful needn’t bother making the trip as full focus was on the league. That pre-match chat will have no doubt seen punters flock to back against the Amber Army; but remarkably they did progress after winning on penalties.
Country’s reward is a home tie against Premier League outfit West Ham; it’s something the hosts will be getting used to, drawing big teams at home in the cup. But the job local lad Flynn has done at Rodney Parade, on a limited budget, has been simply outstanding. They’ve been regulars in the cups, managed to get to the play-off final last year and started off this campaign unbeaten.
Newport are so well drilled defensively and that’s shown in four consecutive clean sheets that follows on from the tail end of the last campaign. It can be to their detriment going forward though, just two goals have been scored in those four games.
County are particularly strong at Rodney Parade, mind. 1-0 wins over well-fancied duo Crewe and Plymouth have caught the eye and they make it so difficult for opposition. Gillingham manager Steve Evans called them out as a long ball side, there sure is an element of physicality in their approach, but that’s sometimes the most effective way to operate, especially at League Two level.
West Ham bagged thrice at Watford on the weekend with new signing Seb Haller notching two poachers goals. Manuel Pellegrini should be aiming for a serious run in this competition, as should all the relatively comfortable mid-table Premier League teams. In the past he has messed about with his starting XI, usually making a lot of changes, and I expect him to do the same here. The likes of Carlos Sanchez, Pablo Fornals, Robert Snodgrass and Albian Ajeti could all come in.
Given the tight nature of Newport games, and the fact a highly changed West Ham side may lack natural fluidity, I’m not expecting tonnes of goals. The Welsh side will set up in a rigid 4-3-1-2 formation and try keep it compact in midfield. The Asian goal line is set at 3.0 but we can get some 3/4 on Under 3.25 Goals with Bet365.
This bet would see us profit if fewer than four goals are scored, with a half-stakes win if exactly three are notched and a full-stakes pay-out if there’s fewer.
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Newport v West Ham – Under 3.25 Goals (3/4 Bet365)
