New regulations in the Johnstone Paint Trophy mean managers must field a line up that features 6 starting players from their last league fixture, or 6 players from their next league fixture. Many managers wont be used to having a rule telling them who they can pick, and I can see the typical reaction being that managers will do their best to change their team, which will mean 'resting' their best 5 players.
As League One teams may well see this tournament as even more of a waste of time than their League Two counterparts, it may pay to look for a few shocks. I certainly think the way to approach this is to look for teams who have something to play for.
Hereford travel to Bournemouth and may be worth taking a chance on tonight. Bournemouth have lost four on the spin in League 1, and will probably look on this as an opportunity to rest some of their senior players. Hereford, 23rd in League 2, will look to give a number of new signings an opportunity to prove themselves, and I think the 6.6 about Hereford is worth a small play.
Burton have been very difficult to beat so far this season, and they will be looking forward to the visit of Sheffield United to the Pirelli Stadium. Sheffield United are another team who will look on this tournament as getting in the way of their promotion campaign, and there wont be a tear shed if the Blades arent in the hat for the next round.
Bradford (nap) will be one side who surely wont play a weakened side. with new manager Phil Parkinson in place, and fresh off a 4-2 win against Barnet. Bradford will be well up for the visit of rivals Sheffield Wednesday, and are worth backing to upset them at 3.4. Bradford came very close to beating Championship side Leeds in the Carling Cup, and against League 1 Wednesday, will have another opportunity to upset Yorkshire rivals.
Lastly, Exeter are quite short against local rivals Plymouth at 1.61, but Plymouth are in all sorts of trouble on and off the pitch, and could face a mauling against Devon rivals here. Plymouth couldnt even find a way past the leakiest defence in world football on Saturday, going down 1-0 at home to Crewe, and even a weakened Exeter side should find enough to beat the Pilgrims in this sorry state.
3pts Exeter v Plymouth @ 1.61
2pts Bradford v Sheff Weds @ 3.4
1pt Burton v Sheff Utd @ 4
1pt Bournemouth v Hereford @ 6.6
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