EFL Cup Tips: Looking up for Sky Blues

THIS weekend the EFL Cup kicks off for real after qualifiers – and loads of sides will be dreaming of making big runs.

In reality it will be one of the big guns who go all the way with 16 of the last 20 finals won by the so-called big six.

Man City and Man United have won it nine times between them and only Birmingham, Blackburn, Middlesbrough and Swansea have interrupted the giants' run of glory.

Nothing much is unlikely to change this season and Man City are 3-1 with William Hill to retain their crown ahead of 5-1 Liverpool and 7-1 Man United.

No Premiership sides are in action at this stage but there are plenty of dreamers.

Take Coventry for example. The Sky Blues, still ground sharing with Birmingham, caught a break when League One was called and they were handed the title and promotion to the Premiership.

Boss Mark Robins celebrated by paying PEC Zwolle £1.4million for Dutch midfielder Gustavo Hamer.

It's big bucks for a homeless outfit but the blue Sky's the limit and Coventry can show their potential today by beating a MK Dons they took care of in a pre-season friendly last month.

MK finished 19th in League One and Coventry are nicely priced at 5-4 with McBookie.

I wouldn't go daft on the accumulators but after last week's 7-1 treble winner I'm giving it another go.

Sunderland are another sleeping giant and I'm backing them at evens at home to a Hull side who slipped out of the Championship by losing their last six games.

That included a red-faced 8-0 pounding by Wigan who joined them in League One after being deducted 12 points for going into administration.

Complete a 6-1 treble tomorrow with Brentford at home to Wycombe. The Bees should really be starting the season in the Premier League but blew it at the death.

However, their squad remains packed with quality and as long as boss Thomas Frank fields a strong side they should win at 1-2 with McBookie.

EFL Treble

• Coventry
• Sunderland
• Brentford (Sun)
• (6-1, McBookie)

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