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Tottenham Hotspur vs Charlton Athletic predictions: EFL Cup tips and odds
Harry Reynolds has picked three bets for tonight’s EFL Cup second-round tie between Tottenham Hotspur and Charlton Athletic
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Harry Reynolds Telegraph Media Group Betting Writer Show biography
Harry has spent more than seven years in the industry, creating expert and insightful sports and betting-focused content. Trained as a sports journalist, he focuses on his main sporting passions, regularly covering horse racing, football, cricket and American football. Since joining Telegraph Media Group in June 2025, he has provided data-driven tips and sports analysis, alongside independent reviews of betting sites and customer offers. His extensive sector experience includes writing for major brands such as Virgin Games and Bally's, as well as Everton Women FC.
Published 26 August 2026 9:00am BST
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Clean sheets have been hard to come by for Tottenham and Charlton
Harry Reynolds Telegraph Media Group Betting Writer Show biography
Harry has spent more than seven years in the industry, creating expert and insightful sports and betting-focused content. Trained as a sports journalist, he focuses on his main sporting passions, regularly covering horse racing, football, cricket and American football. Since joining Telegraph Media Group in June 2025, he has provided data-driven tips and sports analysis, alongside independent reviews of betting sites and customer offers. His extensive sector experience includes writing for major brands such as Virgin Games and Bally's, as well as Everton Women FC.
Published 26 August 2026 9:00am BST
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Spurs play Charlton Athletic in the second round of the EFL Cup at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tonight (kick-off, 7.45pm), with added pressure on the hosts after Saturday’s mauling by Brentford.
I am anticipating an entertaining tie in north London, as both sides have had issues keeping clean sheets this year. Check out my three best bets for the game below, along with my analysis.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Charlton Athletic tips
HARRY REYNOLDS' TIPS
odds provided by
TOTTENHAM vs CHARLTON | EFL CUP | WEDS 26 AUG | 19:45
Tottenham to win and both teams to score @ 17/10
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TOTTENHAM vs CHARLTON | EFL CUP | WEDS 26 AUG | 19:45
Dominic Solanke to score @ 10/11
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TOTTENHAM vs CHARLTON | EFL CUP | WEDS 26 AUG | 19:45
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Odds courtesy of Midnite. Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
Already have a Midnite account? Discover more free bets from the best betting sites in the UK, reviewed by our experts.
Match details
What: Spurs vs Charlton Athletic, EFL Cup second round
Where: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
When: 7.45pm, Wednesday August 26
Watch: Sky Sports +
Key stats
Both teams have scored in each of Charlton’s last 10 competitive games.
The Addicks are without a clean sheet since March; Spurs have kept just two since February..
Dominic Solanke may be best placed to exploit Charlton's porous defence. He has not scored since March, but averaged 1.3 shots per game last season, and has two goals and an assist in his last two EFL Cup outings.
Referee Adam Herczeg has shown eight yellow cards in two matches this season.
No Premier League team had more cautions than Spurs (99) last season, while Charlton (98) had the fourth-highest tally in the Championship.
Spurs to edge past free-scoring Charlton
After a summer of progress off the field, Tottenham Hotspur reminded everyone that there is no quick fix for their ailments in their Premier League curtain-raiser.
Despite spending more than £300million on new players, Spurs were hammered 3-0 by Brentford. That scoreline does not quite reflect the dominance of the Bees, who also missed a penalty.
As a result, tonight’s EFL Cup tie against Charlton Athletic has extra pressure on it. This will be no easy ride for the hosts as the Addicks have started the season in fine form, winning their opening two Championship matches, including a 2-1 success at title favourites West Ham United on Saturday.
There should be goals in this game, too. Charlton have scored in 10 consecutive matches dating back to last season, although they have failed to keep a clean sheet since March.
Spurs have defensive issues of their own, with just two clean sheets in 18 games. Based on Saturday’s evidence, there is no danger of that statistic improving any time soon, despite new arrivals such as Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke and Andy Robertson.
I thought head coach Roberto De Zerbi selected a strange team at Brentford on Saturday, which did not help his side’s chances. The Italian is likely to field a strong XI for the visit of Charlton as he seeks to give key players much-needed game time.
Naturally, there is no point in backing a Tottenham win at odds of 2/11, particularly as they have recorded just three victories against English opposition in 2026.
One bet that does make plenty of appeal, however, is Tottenham to win and both teams to score, priced at 17/10 with Midnite.
Charlton have been a great friend to both-teams-to-score bettors and they have the quality to find the target for an 11th straight match.
If the hosts were to be knocked out by Championship opposition at this stage of the competition, especially with no European football to fall back on, it would be a calamity. They need a serious response to Saturday’s performance and I expect them to win a high-scoring game.
HARRY REYNOLDS' TIP
odds provided by
TOTTENHAM vs CHARLTON | EFL CUP | WEDS 26 AUG | 19:45
Tottenham to win and both teams to score @ 17/10
Go to site
Back Solanke to end goal drought
Dominic Solanke should get the nod up front for Tottenham. He started on the bench in the defeat at Brentford and came on in the closing stages when the game was already over.
It has been a frustrating couple of seasons for the 28-year-old, who has missed a third of the club’s Premier League fixtures since moving from Bournemouth for £55million in 2024.
Solanke has not scored since March but there is every reason to believe he can end that barren run against a Charlton team who appear incapable of keeping clean sheets.
The England striker had something of a purple patch at the start of the year, scoring five times in eight outings before his drought set in. Despite being in and out of the team, he averaged 1.3 shots per game in the Premier League last season, hitting the target with 0.7 of those.
Charlton’s expected goals (xG) conceded figure of 63.5 was the seventh-worst in last season’s Championship. They have started the new campaign in the same form and their xG conceded of 3.8 ranks as the fifth-worst in the division.
Based on what we know, it would be a surprise if Solanke did not get plenty of chances to strike against the Addicks. If he can end his long wait for a goal, it would be a major relief to himself and all Spurs fans, and I think his price of 10/11 to find the net is very fair.
HARRY REYNOLDS' TIP
odds provided by
TOTTENHAM vs CHARLTON | EFL CUP | WEDS 26 AUG | 19:45
Dominic Solanke to score @ 10/11
Go to site
Busy night on cards for referee Herczeg
Both Tottenham and Charlton were at the wrong ends of their respective disciplinary tables last season, so tonight’s referee Adam Herczeg could have his hands full.
No team received more cards than the 103 that Spurs were awarded in the previous campaign, comprising 99 cautions and four sendings-off. They also conceded a high number of fouls and their average of 12.2 per game was the second highest in the top flight.
Charlton players collected 98 bookings last season, although they played eight more league games than Spurs. That total was still the fourth-highest in the Championship, while their average of 12 fouls per match was lower than only two teams.
Herczeg has issued eight cautions in two appointments so far this season and he has been very trigger-happy with the whistle. He blew for 31 fouls in West Ham’s victory over Portsmouth in round one of the EFL Cup, which isn’t the best news for sides who have struggled in that department.
For my final bet of the day, I am backing Herczeg to show at least four cards in the match at odds of 13/10.
Saturday’s game at Brentford was the first time Tottenham had received fewer than three cards since De Zerbi took charge at the club. Charlton have received at least two cautions in all but three of their last 13 fixtures. All things considered, I think this bet is definitely overpriced.
HARRY REYNOLDS' TIP
odds provided by
TOTTENHAM vs CHARLTON | EFL CUP | WEDS 26 AUG | 19:45
Go to site
Tottenham Hotspur vs Charlton Athletic odds
Tottenham Hotspur @ 2/11
Draw @ 5/1
Charlton Athletic @ 9/1
Odds courtesy of Midnite. Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
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