EFL Cup

EFL Cup Round 2 Predictions: The road to the third round continues with a stacked midweek lineup

1 hour ago

| BY Sam McLoughlin

William Hill News tipster @Footy_Tipster previews Tuesday’s EFL Cup action from across the country.

Not including games featuring Premier League sides, Tuesday night offers up twelve intriguing EFL Cup ties, with teams parking their league ambitions and hoping to put together a cup run.

View our predictions for EFL Cup games involving Premier League teams

Let’s take a look at the EFL Cup second round action.

Cardiff City v Norwich City Prediction

Kick-off: 7pm

Cardiff City preview – Back in the EFL Championship, Cardiff have started the season unbeaten with back-to-back stalemates. You’ve got to go back to March for the last time the Bluebirds lost a competitive game on home soil.

Best EFL Cup Run: Runners-up (2011/2012)
The Last Time They Reached Round Three: 2025/2026 (QF).

Norwich City preview – The Canaries have lost both of their opening Championship games, including Saturday’s 3-0 defeat away at Millwall but this is a fixture that Norwich tend to enjoy, winning four of the last five meetings (L1).

Best EFL Cup Run: Winners (1984/1985)
The Last Time They Reached Round Three: 2023/2024 (R3)

Prediction: Away Win (5/4) – Cardiff 1-2 Norwich City (15/2)

Doncaster Rovers v Middlesbrough Prediction

Kick-off: 7.30pm

Doncaster Rovers preview – Doncaster made it past Stockport County in the previous round via a penalty shootout, they’ve lost one and drawn one of their following two games in the league, albeit in difficult games.

Best EFL Cup Run: Quarter-Final (2005/2006)
The Last Time They Reached Round Three: 2025/2026 (R3).

Middlesbrough preview – Middlesbrough progressed into round 2 with a 1-0 victory over Wrexham, they travel to Doncaster off the back of a 2-1 defeat to Blackburn in the Championship on Saturday despite being the favourites, these two sides last met in August 2025, where Donny won their EFL Cup game 4-0 away from home.

Best EFL Cup Run: Winners (2003/2004)
The Last Time They Reached Round Three: 2023/2024 (SF)

Prediction: Away Win (4/7) – Doncaster 0-2 Middlesbrough (7/1)

Barnsley v Crewe Prediction

Kick-off: 7.45pm

Barnsley preview – Barnsley set up this EFL Cup tie after beating Wigan 6-5 on penalties, it’s been fairly disappointing since then with a defeat to Bromley followed up with a goalless draw at Doncaster on Saturday.

Best EFL Cup Run: Quarter-Final (1981/1982)
The Last Time They Reached Round Three: 2025/2026 (R3).

Crewe preview – The Railwaymen have started their campaign in fine form, beating Accrington 2-1 in Round 1, they’ve since won back-to-back League Two games 1-0, although they’ve lost their last three meetings with Barnsley.

Best EFL Cup Run: R3 (Last doing so in 2008/2009)
The Last Time They Reached Round Three: 2008/2009 (R3)

Prediction: Home Win (8/13) – Barnsley 1-0 Crewe (15/2)

Blackburn Rovers v Sheffield United Prediction

Kick-off: 7.45pm

Blackburn Rovers preview – Tipped to struggle this season, Blackburn Rovers have started to make people question their opinions having made an unbeaten start to their campaign, including a 2-1 victory on Saturday against Middlesbrough.

Best EFL Cup Run: Winners (2001/2002)
The Last Time They Reached Round Three: 2023/2024 (R4).

Sheffield United preview – Sheffield United breezed past Mansfield in the previous round but have started their EFL Championship campaign looking for their first goal, with back-to-back goalless draws.

Best EFL Cup Run: Semi-Final (2014/2015)
The Last Time They Reached Round Three: 2021/2022 (R3)

Prediction: Draw (2/1) – Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Sheffield United (5/1) – Sheffield United On Pens (11/2).

Blackpool v Lincoln City Prediction

Kick-off: 7.45pm

Blackpool preview – Blackpool beat Grimsby 3-1 away from home in round one, they’ve also taken four points from a possible six in League One, they return to home soil having beat Stockport County 2-1 on Saturday.

Best EFL Cup Run: Semi-Final (1961/1962)
The Last Time They Reached Round Three: 2024/2025 (R3).

Lincoln City preview – Lincoln won their round one fixture against Derby away from home. Since then, they’ve lost their two Championship outings albeit having found themselves on the scoresheet, we should see goals in this one.

Best EFL Cup Run: Round of 16 (1967/1968)
The Last Time They Reached Round Three: 2025/2026 (R3)

Prediction: Away Win (EVS) – Blackpool 1-2 Lincoln City (7/1)

Cambridge United v Millwall Prediction

Kick-off: 7.45pm

Cambridge United preview – Cambridge have started life in League One in fine form, their 3-2 victory against Wigan was followed up with a point away at Bromley on Saturday, they’ve lost just one of their last thirteen competitive fixtures on home soil.

Best EFL Cup Run: Quarter-Final (1992/1993)
The Last Time They Reached Round Three: 2025/2026 (R3).

Millwall preview – Millwall progressed into round 2 following a 2-1 victory on penalties against QPR, they’ve won their two Championship outings since then without conceding a goal, they look really strong even at this early stage.

Best EFL Cup Run: QF (1994/1995)
The Last Time They Reached Round Three: 2025/2026 (R3)

Prediction: Away Win – Cambridge 0-2 Millwall

Fleetwood Town v Shrewsbury Town Prediction

Kick-off: 7.45pm

Fleetwood Town preview – Fleetwood beat Chesterfield 1-0 in the opening round of the competition, they’ve taken four points from a possible six in League Two and come into this R2 tie off the back of a goalless draw with Gillingham at the weekend.

Best EFL Cup Run: Third Round (2024/2025)
The Last Time They Reached Round Three: 2024/2025 (R3).

Shrewsbury preview – Shrewsbury progressed into round 2 of the EFL Cup having beat Salford 4-3 on penalties. Since then, they’ve lost back-to-back games in League Two, fans are starting to get a little concerned.

Best EFL Cup Run: Semi-Final (1960/1961)
The Last Time They Reached Round Three: 2014/2015 (Round of 16)

Prediction: Home Win (EVS) – Fleetwood 1-0 Shrewsbury (11/2)

Sheffield Wednesday v Wolverhampton Wanderers Prediction

Kick-off: 7.45pm

Sheffield Wednesday preview – Sheffield Wednesday have endured some tough times in recent years but they look to be back on their feet, they beat Championship side Bolton in round one, they face another Championship side in this one.

Best EFL Cup Run: Winners (1990/1991)
The Last Time They Reached Round Three: 2025/2026 (R3).

Wolves preview – Wolves are one of the favourites to bounce straight back to the Premier League this season and have started well, they head to South Yorkshire following their 3-1 victory away at Preston on Saturday.

Best EFL Cup Run: Winners (1973/1974 & 1979/1980)
The Last Time They Reached Round Three: 2025/2026 (R4)

Prediction: Away Win (4/7) – Sheffield Wednesday 0-2 Wolves (13/2)

Southampton v West Ham Prediction

Kick-off: 7.45pm

Southampton preview – Southampton beat Colchester 2-0 in the first round, whilst they return to home soil having beaten Stoke here on Saturday to pick up their first Championship victory of the season.

Best EFL Cup Run: Runners-Up (2016/2017 & 1978/1979)
The Last Time They Reached Round Three: 2024/2025 (QF).

West Ham preview – Against the odds really, West Ham are still looking for their first win in the Championship season and head to the south coast following a shock 2-1 defeat against Charlton on Saturday.

Best EFL Cup Run: Runners-Up (1980/1981 & 1965/1966)
The Last Time They Reached Round Three: 2024/2025 (R3)

Prediction: Draw (12/5) – Southampton 2-2 West Ham (10/1) – Southampton To Win On Pens (11/2)

Stevenage v Reading Prediction

Kick-off: 7.45pm

Stevenage preview – The Boro beat Wycombe 2-1 in the opening round of the EFL Cup, they’ve since picked up just one point from a possible six in League One, they come into this fixture off the back of a 2-1 defeat to Oxford United on Saturday.

Best EFL Cup Run: Third Round (2022/2023)
The Last Time They Reached Round Three: 2022/2023 (R3).

Reading preview – Reading edged past Bromley on penalties in round one, they head to Stevenage off the back of a goalless draw against AFC Wimbledon last weekend, the Royals have won just one of their last four trips here.

Best EFL Cup Run: Quarter-Final (1997/1998 & 1995/1996)
The Last Time They Reached Round Three: 2025/2026 (R3)

Prediction: Draw (19/10) – Stevenage 0-0 Reading (13/2) – Reading To Win On Pens (5/1)

Walsall v Leyton Orient Prediction

Kick-off: 7.45pm

Walsall preview – Walsall provided one of the shocks in round one with a 1-0 victory away at Championship side Bristol City. Since then, they’ve beaten Gillingham 3-0 away from home before coming into this tie off the back of a goalless draw against Grimsby.

Best EFL Cup Run: Semi-Final (1983/1984)
The Last Time They Reached Round Three: 2024/2024 (R3).

Leyton Orient preview – Leyton Orient beat Oxford United to set up this tie, they’ve since had a mixture of results but travel to Walsall having beaten Wigan 2-0 away from home in League One last weekend.

Best EFL Cup Run: Quarter-Final (1962/1963)
The Last Time They Reached Round Three: 2024/2025 (R3)

Prediction: Away Win (11/10) – Walsall 1-2 Leyton Orient (15/2)

Watford v Peterborough Prediction

Kick-off: 7.45pm

Watford preview – Watford have made an unbeaten start to the campaign, their victories against Crawley (R1) and Southampton (Champ) was then followed up with a creditable 1-1 draw away at Wrexham on Saturday afternoon.

Best EFL Cup Run: Semi-Final (2004/2005 & 1978/1979)
The Last Time They Reached Round Three: 2024/2025 (R3).

Peterborough preview – Peterborough have produced a mixed-bag of results thus far, they beat Bristol Rovers in round one before losing to Bradford in their League One clash. However, the Posh do travel to Watford off the back of a 2-1 victory against Mansfield.

Best EFL Cup Run: Semi-Final (1965/1966)
The Last Time They Reached Round Three: 2023/2024 (R3)

Prediction: Home Win (8/13) – Watford 3-0 Peterborough (11/1)

All odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing

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