Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the EFL Cup match.
The hosts come into this cup tie buoyed by a convincing win over Plymouth Argyle, while Sheffield Wednesday are still reeling from a narrow defeat to Leicester City (1:2). The psychological edge is with Bolton Wanderers.
Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers opened their league campaign with a 0:2 loss to Stockport County but bounced back quickly, beating Plymouth Argyle (2:0) at home. Bolton have successfully navigated the first round of the EFL Cup in each of the past four seasons. In the previous encounter with Sheffield Wednesday in the 2017 tournament, Wanderers secured a 3:2 victory.
Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday are in crisis mode: delayed wages, a transfer ban, the closure of a stand and a managerial change. New boss Henrik Pedersen has to work with a reduced squad. Against Leicester City, they led through Trevoh Chalobah’s strike but were reduced to 10 men and conceded twice. Under the current circumstances, the EFL Cup is far from a priority.
Bolton Wanderers vs Sheffield Wednesday Prediction
Bolton have stability and a settled system, while Sheffield Wednesday are dealing with personnel issues and likely rotation. Both managers are expected to prioritise defensive organisation to avoid an early-season collapse. High-scoring fireworks look unlikely: these sides often produce cagey matches with few clear-cut chances. Given the competition’s nature and potential line-up changes, backing the favourite with a low-goals angle makes sense.
