The Carabao Cup marches on, and remember, carabaos are swamp-type water buffaloes, NOT river-type.
Which is good, because Millwall’s stadium, The Den, is less than a mile from the Thames as the crow flies (hey, we’re the crow!).
Whom:
Burnley at Millwall
What:
Carabao Cup/League Cup/EFL Cup/English Football League Cup, Third Round.
When:
1:00 PM American Central Daylight Time
How to Watch:
Looks like we can’t in America (ten pounds for the Brits for an online stream), so refreshing Burnley’s official Twitter feed it is.
What’s at Stake:
The League Cup trophy is attractive. I don’t know if it’s physically attractive, but it comes with a Europa League bid, so it’s attractive. That said, it’s early, and the League Cup has an NIT vibe where teams don’t seem to try out of the gate, then start trying if they make significant progress. Winning would earn Burnley a home match against either Man City or Bournemouth (hopefully Bournemouth) in the Fourth Round, which is also the Round of 16.
The Odds:
Looks like Burnley’s around -130 to advance and Millwall’s around +100, so we’re somewhere between 50/50 and 60/40, probably on the end closer to 50/50.
The Opponent:
The Mills & Walls are more commonly known as the Lions. Their fans are known for hooliganism, and were the opposing firm in Green Street, the movie where Frodo does all those overhand windmill punches and you struggle to remember who’s who because you’re 19 years old when you watch it, you’re on your fifth Natty Light, and you got distracted when the pizza came. They’re in their natural habitat, the Championship League (or League Championship—whatever that thing’s named), where they’ve spent the majority of their time over recent decades despite a few forays into the third tier.
The twain last met in 2014, with Burnley on its way to promotion. Millwall last beat Burnley in 2012. The Gillballs have opened this season strong, winning one and drawing one in league play while winning each of their EFL Cup fixtures 3-1 over fourth-tier competition.
Transfer Window News:
Looks like Burnley’s trying to sign Harry Wilson and Dale Stephens. Wilson, a Welsh winger, is under Liverpool’s control but played last season on loan for Bournemouth, scoring seven goals. Stephens is a veteran midfielder for Brighton & Hove Albion, where he played in 33 of their EPL matches last year.
Other News:
Robbie Brady fractured a rib in the Leicester match, so he’s out. Sounds like it’ll be Jimmy Dunne in for James Tarkowski if Tarkowski’s toe isn’t healthy enough for him to play.
Bertie News:
None. And to be clear, I am getting a bit frustrated by this and may have to ask Burnley how he’s doing.
