Depleted Reading in danger of slipping up at Torquay
Published:Torquay are 11/5 to beat Reading in the Carling Cup on Wednesday night, and they will seldom have a better chance to secure a shock victory, as Reading are missing a host of players.
Simon Church, Mikkel Andersen, Alex McCarthy, Jake Taylor, Hal Robson-Kanu and their talismanic midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson are all away on international duty.
As well as being without their international players, Reading (23/20 to win) have also been hit by injuries to Matt Mills, Jobi McAnuff and Shane Long.
Torquay started their season in fine fashion, as they put League Two promotion contenders Northampton to the sword with a 3-0 win at Plainmoor.
Striker Martin Gritton is a doubt for the hosts after injuring his knee during the win over Northampton, so Billy Kee (7/1 to open the scoring) could start in his place.
Hartlepool vs Sheffield United
With Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell braced to make a number of changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Cardiff, Hartlepool will fancy their chances of claiming a surprising win.
Chris Turner’s Pools side are 21/10 to beat the Blades, though strikers Adam Boyd and James Brown are fitness doubts for the hosts.
Cardiff vs Burton
Paul Peschisolido’s Burton side travel to the Cardiff City Stadium with rather dauntingly long odds of 11/2 to win.
The Brewers began their League Two campaign with a draw against Oxford, but their Championship opponents will be a different beast altogether.
Dave Jones is unable to make wholesale changes, such is the threadbare nature of his squad, though new loan signing Seyi Olofinjana could feature. Cardiff are 4/9 to win.
Will Reading overpower Torquay? The Royals’ Noel Hunt is the 5/1 favourite to score first. See the full Torquay vs Reading Match Betting Odds market.
