Football Bet of the Day: Barnet fancied as Carabao Cup kicks off

Domestic football is back. On Tuesday, we see actual English Football League teams compete for the first time in a few months as the Carabao Cup gets underway. 

After England amazingly won the Euros on Sunday night, the domestic game returns as Barnet host Newport County (19:30, Sky Sports Football) in round one. This fixture takes our focus for Tuesday’s Football Bet of the Day.

Newport County are set for a season of struggle in League 2. Last season they just about stayed up by finishing 22nd in the league but it wasn’t a strong campaign by any means. The xG numbers suggested that they were actually the worst team in the fourth tier and towards the end of the season they collapsed defensively. 

Nelson Jardim has been replaced by Welshman David Hughes who takes on his first senior job having worked as part of the youth set-up at Manchester United recently. As a result a lot of the recruitment has been ‘Welsh-focused’, but I’m not convinced by the players that have come in, or their hopes of survival this season.

Barnet vs Newport County Odds 

They only just avoided the drop last term, and I’m not sure they will be so lucky this time. Anyway, without getting into an entire season preview, they are a weak side at this level, so it makes sense to oppose them early on. 

On the other hand, I’m feeling incredibly optimistic about Barnet this term, as they come up as National League champions. We’ve seen Stockport County and Wrexham fly through League 2 after coming up, and although Barnet don’t have the same financial might, they are incredibly strong. 

I think they offer good value to go up this season given they hit 102 points last season, conceded just 38 times in 46 games and they’ve made some sensible additions this summer. I know these type of games early in the season are difficult to judge, but I think Barnet are a better side with more momentum than County right now, and there’s too much uncertainty around the Welsh side for me to back them. 

Today's Football Fixtures

Dean Brennan has worked well with this squad for nearly four years now, and will be relishing the challenge of League 2. This Carabao Cup tie provides a chance to put an early marker down, and I believe the Bees will get off to a good start. Adding a clean sheet to boot takes us to 7/4 for Tuesday‘s Football Bet of the Day. 

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