Colchester United take on Southampton in their EFL Cup opener on Saturday. The hosts were eliminated in the first hurdle last season, while the Saints reached the third round, losing 1-0 to Liverpool.
Danny Cowley’s Colchester are coming off a 1-0 friendly defeat at Stevenage at the weekend. Following a controversial decision to send off Colchester defender Sean Raggett for a foul on the line, Jamie Reid scored the game’s only goal from the spot in the 19th minute.
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The U’s’ EFL Cup campaign last season ended with a 1-0 defeat at Oxford United in the first round, thanks to Tyler Goodrham’s ninth-minute winner. They eventually finished 12th in League Two, having also gone out of the FA Cup in the first round and in the Round of 32 of the EFL Trophy.
Meanwhile, Tonda Eckert’s Southampton are fresh off a 2-1 friendly win over Preussen Munster lsat weekend. Following Felix Higl’s 13th-minute opener for the hosts, the Saints responded through Leo Scienza four minutes later before Lewis Dobbin struck the winner three minutes from time.
Last campaign, the Saints – who were expelled from the play-off final for ‘Spygate’ and deducted four points for the new campaign – lost 2-1 at Liverpool in the third round to exit the EFL Cup.
On that note, here’s a look at the head-to-head stats and key numbers, match prediction, and betting tips for the Colchester-Southampton EFL Cup clash at Colchester Community Stadium:
Colchester United vs Southampton head-to-head stats and key numbers
- In 28 meetings across competitions, Southampton lead Colchester 13-8, winning their last clash 2-0 away in Leagu One in March 2011.
- The U’s have won thrice in their last meetings across competition with the Saints, losing one.
- Colchester have won two of their last five competitive home games – all in League Two – losing three.
- The Saints are unbeaten in six road outings across competitions, winning five.
- Form guide (last five games across competitions, most recent result first): Colchester: W-L-L-W-W; Southampton: W-D-W-D-L
Colchester United vs Southampton prediction
Colchester and Southampton are coming off contrasting seasons. While the U’s finished mid-table in the fourth tier, the Saints came within one win of Premier League promotion before they were evicted from the play-offs.
Tonda Eckert’s side have dominated the rivalry, but Colchester have dominated recent matchups. While both sides have had decent pre-seasons leading up to this clash, the Saints’ superior squad quality and form away from home at the end of the previous campaign should see them take a comfortable win.
Prediction: Colchester United 0-2 Southampton
Colchester United vs Southampton betting tips
Tip-1: Southampton to win
Tip-2: Colchester to score: No
Tip-3: Over 1.5 goals
Edited by Bhargav