EFL Cup: Round 3
Stadium: The Peninsula Stadium
26th September 2023
Salford City will welcome Burnley at The Peninsula Stadium in Round 3 of the EFL Cup. This is the first time these two teams are meeting in the English competition. Who will come out on top after 90 minutes?
Receive Your Welcome Bonus!Salford City form
Salford has had a challenging start to their League Two campaign, currently occupying the 21st position after their first nine games. This places them only one point above the relegation zone.
In all competitions, the Ammies are currently on a five-game losing streak, which raises concerns as they prepare to face Premier League opposition. They have suffered four consecutive defeats in the league.
While losses to table-toppers Notts County and recently-relegated Accrington Stanley are somewhat expected, Neil Wood will be disappointed with his team's 3-2 defeat against a struggling Harrogate Town side in their most recent match.
Salford has been unable to keep a clean sheet since the season's opening day, conceding a minimum of two goals in each of their last four games. Consequently, Wood will be seeking a significantly improved defensive performance on Tuesday night.
Nevertheless, there is a positive note for Salford as they approach the upcoming EFL Cup match. They have already demonstrated their capability to overcome formidable opponents in the competition this season, notably defeating Leeds United in a penalty shootout during the second round.
Salford City Predicted Lineup
Cairns; Ingram, Mariappa, Tilt, John; Watt, Humbles, Watson, Mallan, McAleny; Smith
Burnley form
Nevertheless, Burnley should still have confidence in their prospects this Tuesday, considering their current status as a Premier League team, even though they have faced difficulties in the early stages of the season.
In fairness to the Clarets, their schedule has pitted them against formidable opponents, including a home loss to Manchester City in their opening match. Additionally, they have encountered the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, and Manchester United.
When facing teams of similar caliber to their own, Vincent Kompany's side has exhibited more promise. They secured a 1-0 victory against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, which propelled them to this stage of the competition. They also played to a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest in the league.
In their most recent outing, Burnley narrowly succumbed to a home defeat against Manchester United, with Bruno Fernandes scoring the lone goal in a closely-contested match. Consequently, they are eager to rebound with a victory against another Greater Manchester opponent on Tuesday night.
Burnley Predicted Lineup
Muric; Roberts, Al Dakhil, O'Shea, Taylor; Redmond, Brownhill, Ramsey; Gudmundsson, Larsen, Rodriguez
Salford City vs Burnley Expert Tips
Burnley reached this stage of the competition by defeating Nottingham Forest away from home and considering the significant difference in their divisions, they should be able to secure a comfortable victory against Salford City, who have been in poor form lately. We expect over 2.5 goals in the game.