Wolves vs Burnley Prediction: Hosts can rebuild their confidence

Wolverhampton Wanderers will still be reeling from their 6-2 home defeat to Chelsea at the weekend, but they have the chance for a Molineux bounce-back when they host Burnley in the second round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday (19:30, Sky Sports+).

The Clarets were handed their first defeat of the season against Sunderland last time out, and following several player exits, this trip to the West Midlands will be tricky. Read on for my Wolves vs Burnley prediction, featuring match odds and team news.

Wolves vs Burnley Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main Wolves vs Burnley page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.

Wolves are 4/6 to win in 90 minutes, giving them an implied probability of 60%. Burnley are 18/5 to get the away win, which gives them a 21.7% chance. If you think this tie will go to penalties, the draw can be backed at 11/4 (26.7%).

Both teams to score is priced at 4/6 and over 2.5 goals is available at the same odds.

Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill has two goals to his name this season in all competitions. He is marketed at 11/2 to score anytime on Wednesday. Wolves' joint-top scorer last season, Matheus Cunha, opened his account for the new term at the weekend. He is 9/2 to open the scoring at Molineux, and 7/5 to score anytime.

Football Odds

Team News

Wolves boss Gary O'Neil could make several changes to the side that leaked six goals at the weekend in search of a stronger defensive display. Attackers Matheus Cunha and Jorgen Strand Larsen have been the only positives to come out from Wolves' opening two defeats in the top-flight, so they should keep their places in the starting lineup.

O'Neil remains without Sasa Kalajdzic and Enso Gonzalez due to injury, but the former could be set for a return in October.

Burnley boss Scott Parker has several players unavailable due to injury, which doesn't help matters when the Clarets have lost a few key players to other clubs in the last few weeks. Nathan Redmond, Aaron Ramsey, Ameen Al-Dakhil, Hannes Delcroix, Jordan Beyer and Mike Tresor are all in the medical bay.

That lack at squad depth may force Parker to field the same side that lost to Sunderland at the weekend.

Wolves and both teams to score @ 9/4

Wolves' first match at Molineux this campaign did not go to plan, but I think the Old Gold can bounce back in the cup, to give them some much-needed confidence. Supporters were frustrated with the volume of goals they let in against Chelsea, but they were up against one of the most expensive squads ever assembled, so to lose to them and title challengers Arsenal was not a reflection of their abilities.

This match provides them with a relief against multi-million pound stars and one of the league's best teams, and so O'Neil will want to get a real gauge on where his team is at in the final few days of the transfer window.

He will look for an immediate response, with serious defensive issues needing to be addressed, and they might just get that against a Burnley side that has very quickly become thin in several areas across the pitch.

The Clarets still have some players who can have an impact in the final third with the likes of Brownhill, Lyle Foster, Vitinho and Luca Koleosho, who was the subject of a rejected £20m bid from Wolves in the last few days.

Wolves do look like they are in need of reinforcements at the back, and Burnley can capitalise on that. However, with the likes of Cunha and Larsen in attack, the Old Gold have more than enough firepower to fire themselves into the third round.

Jorgen Strand Larsen anytime goalscorer @ 11/8

Sunday may have been frustrating for Wolves, but on a personal note, it would've been a somewhat good day for Larsen. He opened up his account for his new side and having been brought in to have a big impact for the team in the final third, O'Neil will have been pleased that his first goal has come early.

This sets him up nicely for this cup tie, in which he is likely to feature again. I expect him to play an important role up top for Wolves again and he should be relishing the chance to face a Burnley squad that is looking depleted. And if Parker is forced to name the side that started at Sunderland on Saturday, fatigue could set in, allowing Larsen to profit.

Both he and Cunha could be in for a productive evening but my money is with the Norwegian to find the back of the net.

Offers

Acca Flex: Place a pre-match 5+ leg Football accumulator and get a CASH bonus up to 100% if all of your selections win or your money back as CASH if one leg lets you down.