Bristol City vs Plymouth Argyle Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Having experienced an excellent run in this competition last season, a run that saw them defeat Manchester United on route to exiting the competition in the semi-finals, Bristol City will be hoping to go on another exciting cup run. To do that they will need to get the better of League One Plymouth in front of a home crowd on Tuesday night.

After another progressive campaign last season, Bristol City have made a steady start this time around. Their first two results aren’t likely to turn many heads, though they’ve given Lee Johnson’s men a solid platform from which to build. Offensively, the manager will be happy with how his team has performed at the start of the new campaign, though he may be a tad concerned with what they’ve done at the other end of the pitch. Bristol City have failed to keep a clean sheet in either of their opening two matches, and it’s probably fair to say that they’ve not defended amazingly well.

In addition to their recent form in the Championship, Tuesday’s hosts have something of a poor defensive record in this competition over the last few years. The Robins have kept a clean sheet in just two of their last ten League Cup matches, though they have at least competed in the offensive third, scoring in each of those ten.

In contrast, Plymouth’s start to the new season hasn’t been a steady one. Tuesday’s visitors lost on the opening day when facing Walsall away from home, while they could only manage a draw at home against Southend last time out, despite taking the lead. Like their hosts, they’ve offered a bit going forward, but they have looked worryingly easy to get at.

Again, in contrast to the hosts, who’ve enjoyed themselves in this competition in recent years, Plymouth have a shocking record in the League Cup. They’ve fallen at the first hurdle in all of the last six years, losing by five goals to nil when visiting this venue last season. To avoid being met with the same fate on Tuesday, the Pilgrims will need to deliver a much-improved performance.

It would be easy to assume that Plymouth will roll over and die in this fixture, simply because that’s what happened when they visited Ashton Gate last season. However, they’ve enjoyed an excellent campaign since then and are now a better side. It would be a surprise if the visitors didn’t acquit themselves slightly better on this occasion, at least going forward.

From a betting point of view, it’s easy to plump for a high-scoring game at the prices. Given the openness of this pair at the start of the season, coupled with the fact that both have tended to be involved in high-scoring games in this competition, with at least three goals being scored in eight of their last ten combined League Cup games, ‘Over 2.5 Goals’ stands out as a good bet.