Stoke v Walsall Tip

Last year I picked Stoke to falter at home to Swindon in the second round of the League Cup. They did so 4-3 after extra-time. Fast forward 12 months to the day and Walsall could win in 90 minutes at the Britannia Stadium at best odds of 13/2 with WilliamHill.

The Potters will be yet another Premier League side who will tinker considerably with the team sheet for a match they’d happily forfeit altogether. Mark Hughes’s side were fortunate to escape with a 2-1 home victory over Palace at the weekend, having deservedly trailed at half-time. Perhaps their luck is about to run out?

Walsall have produced much of their best football on their travels so far this season so will relish the trip to a top flight ground. The Saddlers recently beat Oldham at Boundary Park, as well as Port Vale away in round one.

The League One outfit might even be challenging for promotion to the Championship at this rate and boss Dean Smith will rightly see this as an opportunity for glory.