Carling Cup: Crystal Palace v Southampton Odds and Betting Preview

LONDON, UK – Crystal Palace host Southampton tonight in their eagerly anticipated Carling Cup fixture at Selhurst Park. Southampton are currently top of the Championship table, on course for back-to-back promotions that will see them playing top flight football once again next season. Despite playing away against Palace this evening they will start as favourites, and can be backed to win at best odds of 7/5 (bet £5 to make £7 profit) with Bet365. Crystal Palace, on the other hand, are on offer at 15/8 with Skybet and Betinternet, whilst the draw is available at 5/2 with Coral.

Southampton are making their first appearance in the Carling Cup fourth round for seven years, but will believe that this year they can progress even further. Nigel Adkins' top the Championship by three points with the strongest goal difference in the league, and will go into tonight's game brimming with confidence. Saints must do without the help of Jose Fonte, however, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury. Palace have won four of their last five matches, and look to be an increasingly slick outfit under the management of Dougie Freedman. Southampton will certainly have to fight for a result this evening, in the face of tough opposition.

In the over/under betting the top price on over 2.5 goals being scored is 3/4 with Bet365, whilst under 2.5 goals is on offer at11/10 with Skybet. For those punters who expect this game to end in a dull goalless draw, however, under 0.5 goals can be backed at a much longer 12/1 with Bet365.

Rickie Lambert has been on blistering form in a Southampton shirt so far this season, netting an astonishing eleven goals in all competitions so far. Unsurprisingly Lambert is favourite with most bookmakers to score first in this evening's game, and punters can back him to do so at best odds of 11/2 with Victor Chandler. Lambert's team mates Lee Barnard and David Connolly are also deemed likely to open the scoring, and both are available at a top price of 13/2 with Paddy Power. Crystal Palace's most threatening attacking player is thought to be Glenn Murray, who is currently on offer to break the deadlock at 7/1 with Ladbrokes.

Southampton are quoted at best odds of 7/2 with Ladbrokes to win the match after leading at half time, whilst draw/Southampton is on offer at 5/1 with Paddy Power. Draw/Palace is available at a market best of 13/2 with Skybet, whilst those punters who think that Palace will fight back to win the match after trailing at half time can back Southampton/Palace at odds as long as 33/1 with Stan James.

Kick off is at 19.45 BST

Crystal Palace v Southampton Match Odds

Crystal Palace v Southampton Over/Under Odds

Crystal Palace v Southampton First Goalscorer Odds

Crystal Palace v Southampton Half-Time/Full-Time Odds