Colchester 4/7 to beat Southend in Tuesday’s EFL Trophy tie

Competition: EFL Trophy

Market: Colchester win

Odds: 4/7 @ 888sport

In an Essex derby on Tuesday night, Colchester will turn their attention back to EFL Cup duties when they host a struggling Southend from behind closed doors.

Starting with the hosts, making a return to winning ways in League Two earlier in the month, Colchester have their sights set on securing a play-off finish this season. In their opening 10 fourth-tier contests so far this year, they have recorded four wins, four draws and two defeats, scoring 16 and conceding 12 in return. Managing to collect a points tally of 16, they currently find themselves sat just three points from finding a route back into the top-six. As for their recent run of results, Colchester have won three of their last four League Two contests and it should also be noted, in their five home fixtures so far this season, Colchester are unbeaten, collecting four wins. More impressive, continuing on from last season, Tuesday’s hosts have lost just a pair of their last 16 home fixtures in England’s fourth-tier.

As for the visitors, enduring what has been a woeful start to the 2020/2021 campaign, Southend are a landslide pick to lose their Football League status this season. In their opening 11 matchups in the fourth-tier so far, they are yet to pick up a single victory with two draws against nine defeats, scoring five and conceding 25 in return. Along with managing to muster just a points tally of two out of a possible 33, the Blues find themselves sat rock-bottom of the League Two table and holding the worst defensive record in the division. As for their recent run of results, Southend have now lost their last seven matchups on the bounce across all formats, shipping over 1.5 goals in each of those defeats. Given the huge gulf in class between the two rivals, we’re backing a routine home victory in midweek.

Bet: Colchester 4/7 to beat Southend in Tuesday’s EFL Trophy tie @ 888sport