Fleetwood Town vs. West Bromwich Albion in EFL Cup Clash
Fleetwood Town and West Bromwich Albion will face off in the first round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday night, both teams coming into the clash on the back of weekend wins.
The Cod Army, who were relegated to League Two last season, secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Grimsby Town in their league opener on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Baggies came from behind to clinch a 3-1 win over Queens Park Rangers in the Championship.
Fleetwood will be looking to bounce back from their early EFL Cup exit last season, when they lost to fellow fourth-tier side Port Vale. New manager Charlie Adam, the former Blackpool and Liverpool midfielder, will be tasked with guiding the Cod Army back to League One.
“We’re determined to make amends for our early exit last season and show that we belong at a higher level,” said Adam.
West Brom, on the other hand, have a rich history in the EFL Cup, having won the trophy in the 1965-66 season. However, the Baggies have often fielded weakened teams in the early rounds in recent years. This time, manager Carlos Corberan is expected to make several changes, with the likes of John Swift, Tom Fellows and hat-trick hero Josh Maja potentially dropping out.
The visitors will be without their club captain Jed Wallace, who is expected to return to action in September due to a calf injury.
“We’re taking this competition seriously and want to progress as far as we can,” said Corberan. “But we also need to manage our squad and give opportunities to some of our younger players.”
While Fleetwood will be looking to capitalize on West Brom’s rotated squad, the Baggies’ quality and experience should ultimately see them through to the next round of the EFL Cup. A narrow 2-1 victory for the visitors is the predicted outcome.
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