This weekend marks the return of competitive football in England, as the majority of the fixtures for the fist round of the EFL Cup takes place.
And with that, we have compiled a mega accumulator for Saturday's matches, currently coming in at 200/1 - odds correct as of 12:15 Fri 7 Aug.
As well, we have a collection of free offers down below which you can claim just in time for the return of club football this weekend!
Preparation-wise, QPR have been excellent, as the home side head into this fixture unbeaten in their previous six matches. QPR have won their previous five matches, having beaten AFC Wimbledon (0-3), Bromley (0-7), Fiorentina (3-2), Wycombe Wanderers (1-0) and WNSC from Austria, 3-2. The upturn in form this summer ended a run of six league games without a win which QPR suffered towards the end of the previous season.
The Hammers have had a strong pre-season despite the departures, with the home side unbeaten in their last five matches, including four this summer and having beaten Leeds United on the final day of last season, all to no avail. Portsmouth finished 18th in the Championship last season, but away from home, Pompey only won six of their 23 league matches.
Sheffield Wednesday will be buoyant heading into this game and last season they eliminated Bolton Wanderers on penalties in the exact round of this competition. Despite a defeat in their first pre-season fixture against DAC 1904, the Trotters have bounced back to go four games unbeaten during pre-season, however they have drawn two of their last three.
We are leaning towards a Birmingham City victory in this fixture. The Blues have had an excellent pre-season, remaining unbeaten with six straight wins, including a penalty shootout win against Barcelona at home. Birmingham City are on an unbeaten run of 11 matches, which stretched to the back end of last season, and they remain unbeaten against Swansea City in the last 10 meetings between the two sides.
Leyton Orient are heading into this fixture without a clean sheet in their previous six matches and conceding first in five of those matches. As for Oxford United, the visitors have had a good pre-season, winning all four of their recognised matches heading into the new season.
