Football betting tips: Carabao Cup
2pts Over 2.5 goals & BTTS at 5/4 (Coral, Ladbrokes)
1pt David McGoldrick to score anytime at 11/4 (Sky Bet, Betfair, Paddy Power)
0.5pt David McGoldrick to score 2+ goals at 20/1 (bet365)
Sheffield United’s preparation for the new campaign hasn’t been ideal.
The people behind the scenes have ushered Alan Knill out, Chris Wilder’s long serving right-hand man.
They want to freshen things up apparently, with an ‘eye on the future’, but the decision caught everyone in S2 off-guard, not least Knill.
Him and Wilder have been almost inseparable since 2008 at Bury, where their roles were reversed.
Phil Jones replaces Knill, the ex-Manchester United player who was most recently part of the coaching staff at Blackburn.
The Blades also seem resigned to the fact they will lose Gus Hamer, he could even be back at Coventry by the time Sunday’s game with Mansfield kicks-off.
And whilst it would be a big blow to lose him, the concern comes from United’s lack of additions.
Matt Doherty was the Blades last bit of business and he was announced on July 20.
With only six days between this clash at Field Mill and United’s Championship curtain raiser with Birmingham, it feels as though Wilder’s side will start the season a little undercooked.
All the more reason to fancy Mansfield here.
Managed by former-Blades boss Nigel Clough, the Stags will be eyeing up another scalp over United having beaten them 4-3 in the FA Cup third-round last season.
Clough certainly has a rosier view of the cup competitions than his opposite number but with the price about the hosts a little short, I think goals are the best way in.
OVER 2.5 GOALS AND BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE can be backed at odds against, and that is the bet.
It's clicked in three of Mansfield’s four pre-season friendlies, if those count, and three of their last seven games in all competitions have seen at least five goals, two going seven or over with a nine goal-thriller thrown in for good measure.
With goals the order of the day, I’ll take a stab at the goalscorer market, although guessing the line-ups for a fixture like this is tricky.
DAVID MCGOLDRICK’s prices TO SCORE ANYTIME and TO SCORE 2+ GOALS are simply too big to ignore.
Since he left Bramall Lane in the summer of 22, ‘Didzy’ has netted 69 goals across 155 appearances in all competitions (0.47 goals per 90).
Once a Blade, always a Blade provides an added bit of narrative, I can certainly see him slotting in his second of the day and reluctantly pulling out his trademark celebration.
Odds correct at 16:30 BST (07/08/26)
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