I think that there was a close season somewhere! The World Cup is over, we’re into August and not only are the Champions League qualifiers up and running, but we have the first round of the Carabao Cup. Friday evening sees Middlesbrough, who ended last season with playoff heartache after being caught up in the Spygate scandal, take on Wrexham, a club on the up. Both sides will have serious designs on promotion; however, before a ball is kicked in the Championship, they will want to lay a marker down in the League Cup. I will be starting my weekend by watching this one with a betslip for a 19/4 bet builder in my hand.
Middlesbrough vs Wrexham Betting Tips: Carabao Cup Round 1
| Market | Odds at 10bet | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Full-Time Result: Middlesbrough to Win | 3/4 | 1 |
| Under 3.5 Goals | 21/50 | 1.5 |
| Player to Score Anytime: Morgan Whittaker | 8/5 | 1 |
| Bet Builder | 19/4 | 1 |
Odds correct at 10:35 BST on 5th August 2026. Odds subject to change.
No Expiry Date
Full-Time Result: Middlesbrough to Win
Betting on matches at this stage of the season can be difficult. There is obviously no data from the current campaign, so we are relying on pre-season fixtures and stats from last season. Having said that, I fancy Middlesbrough to win this one. Boro will be looking to bounce back from last season’s disappointment and get off to a positive start. Draws with Celtic and Espanyol in their two friendly matches show that they are heading into the season proper in reasonable nick. Last season they won 12 from 23 league matches at the Riverside, losing only five times. Wrexham had a reasonable away record last time round, however, they have struggled for goals in pre-season. Kickform give the home side a 66% chance of winning and I am in agreement.
Under 3.5 Goals
I am not expecting an avalanche of goals in this one. Middlesbrough only conceded 18 times at home last season and although they netted 34 times themselves, that was a fairly average total for the division. Wrexham scored 28 and conceded 28 in their 23 away fixtures last season. Overall, Boro averaged 1.49 goals per game while Wrexham averaged 1.5. 71% of Middlesbrough’s matches saw less than 3.5 goals while 67% of Wrexham’s games saw under four goals.
Looking at the two sides’ pre-season matches also suggests that we are not in for a goal-fest. Two games go against the grain for this, Boro’s 3-3 draw with Espanyol and Wrexham’s 3-2 win over Leeds United. Middlesbrough’s only other match was a 1-1 draw against Celtic while Wrexham have failed to score in their other four pre-season games, which ended in three 1-0 losses and a goalless draw. At the end of last season, the two sides drew 2-2. I don’t see a repeat of that. The other match finished 1-1, which is a much more accurate representation. I am confident of less than four goals in this one.
Player to Score Anytime: Morgan Whittaker
Morgan Whittaker hit 16 goals in 28 Championship starts last season, the joint fourth highest total in the division. He was on target against Espanyol and will be looking to get off the mark quickly once the season gets underway. Promotion chasing teams often ring the changes in cup matches, which you must consider when betting on the Carabao Cup. However, with this match taking place a week before the Championship season begins, I am expecting both managers to field strong teams, meaning Whittaker is likely to start. And with odds of 8/5 I am backing him to find the net.
My 19/4 Carabao Cup Bet Builder is Live
My 19/4 bet builder with 10bet, one of the best bookies in the UK, is live. Good luck if you’re having a bet and remember to gamble responsibly.
Middlesbrough vs Wrexham Odds
Check out the latest odds for this one with the UK’s top football betting sites.
