Will Rook provides his football tips from Saturday's action in the EFL Cup and Nations League.

WIN/DRAW/WIN

Derby to beat Barrow (12:00)

Derby have beaten a League Two side in the opening round of the EFL Cup in each of the last four seasons.

The Rams have won each of their last eight cup ties against lower-league opposition and are worth backing to notch a ninth, despite their short price.

Barrow are competing in the EFL for the first time since 1972 and despite an impressive National League campaign last term, their hosts are likely to have too much for them.

Gillingham to beat Southend (13:00)

Southend were a shambles last season, finishing second-bottom of League One and just five points above a Bolton side that had been docked 12 points.

Although the Shrimpers come into this with a new manager in Mark Molesley, they have only managed to bring in one signing in the off-season and it’s hard to say that they look an improved side.

Gillingham completed a league double over Southend last season and have strengthened since last term, bringing in highly-rated midfielder Kyle Dempsey and winger Jordan Graham among seven other signings.

Bolton to beat Bradford (15:00)

Bradford look underprepared, with just 17 senior players currently on their books. They have also failed to replace last season’s top scorer James Vaughan, who left for Tranmere in the summer.

Bolton, meanwhile, have brought in 15 signings in the off-season, including former Bantams striker and last season’s Golden Boot winner Eoin Doyle, who netted 25 league goals while on loan at Swindon in 2019/20.

Wanderers will start the League Two season as favourites for the title but before that gets under way, an odds-against price looks generous for them to put down a marker against mediocre opposition.

Norwich to beat Luton (15:00)

Norwich lost all of their last 10 Premier League matches in 2019/20, which goes some way to explaining their chunky price here, but things should get easier for them this term.

For now, the Canaries have managed to retain key players Max Aarons, Mario Vrancic and Teemu Pukki among others, as well as making some decent signings like 15-goal Jordan Hugill.

They look well-equipped for a decent season and, despite Luton taking 11 points from their final five matches last term, can start with victory in the cup at Kenilworth Road.

England to beat Iceland to nil (17:00)

England won 6-0, 7-0 and 4-0 in their last three matches, and should again manage a victory and a clean sheet against Iceland, who are solid but aren’t particularly impressive going forward.

The hosts have scored just six goals across their last six matches – including blanks against France and Turkey – despite playing against Andorra, Canada and El Savador during that run.

The bet is also a Betway Super Boost - so the odds are bumped up to 2/1.

Belgium to beat Denmark & under 4.5 goals (19:45)

Belgium come into this having won each of their last 10 matches and should make it 11 here.

This bet would have landed in six of the last nine away games for Roberto Martinez’s side, who have kept four clean sheets in their last five on the road.

There have been over two goals in just two of Denmark’s last six matches, both of which were 6-0 victories over Gibraltar.

BTTS

BTTS: No in Gibraltar v San Marino (14:00)

This bet would have landed in 17 of Gibraltar’s last 21 matches, while they have scored only five goals in their last 11.

San Marino, meanwhile, have scored just one goal in their last 19 matches.

They failed to find the net once in the previous Nations League and a record of just three goals in 32 would suggest that this looks a solid bet.

Luton v Norwich (15:00)

The commitment of both of these sides to playing attacking football suggests that BTTS has a decent chance of landing here.

No Championship side was involved in a greater proportion of BTTS matches than Luton last season, with both teams scoring in 28 out of 46.

This bet would have also landed in four of Norwich’s five cup games last season and, having kept hold of some key players, they look well-placed to do well a division lower.

BTTS: No in Estoania v Georgia (17:00)

Estonia have failed to score in nine of their last 11 matches, including in each of their last four.

The only BTTS game in Georgia’s last four, meanwhile, was a 3-2 victory over Gibraltar last October.

Prior to that, they were held to back-to-back goalless draws against Republic of Ireland and Denmark. Expect a similar result here.

Portugal v Croatia (19:45)

This feels like a big price for a game between two sides that score a lot of goals.

Croatia have found the net in 13 consecutive matches – a run that stretches back to October 2018 – while BTTS has landed in 11 of those.

Portugal haven’t fired a blank in any of their last nine, so should do their bit as well.