With top level football taking a short break for international friendlies, we have to look at the popular Johnstones Paint Trophy series for mid-week betting options. Tonight’s round looks to be challenging with the Trophy favourites playing away from home. This can make for interesting action, especially if you’re prepared to take the bookmakers on.

We’re into the area quarter finals with 8 clubs from each area hoping to make it through to the semi-finals. Johnstones Paint Trophy betting has Preston and Sheffield United as equal favourites at 5/1 ahead of Brentford at 8/1. Being a single tie knockout competition, every game is life and death, so those odds will undoubtedly change once tonight’s games have been decided.

Preston have the toughest ask playing away to Rochdale. Bookies may have Preston as a favourite to win the Trophy, however, they having trouble trying to pick tonight’s winner. Preston are 13/8 marginally ahead of Rochdale at 7/4 (or 14/8). It’s hard to split these two, however, home ground advantage is often a real key, so we’ll back Rochdale – they’re better value anyway.

Sheffield Utd are at home to Bradford and should be too strong if form is anything to go by. It’s interesting that these two (and Preston and Rochdale) have never progressed past the semi-finals in this competition. Bradford make their opponents work for a victory, so Sheffield won’t be taking this game lightly. At 4/9, Sheffield are poor value, however, we can’t see Bradford winning, and even the 7/1 on offer hasn’t swayed us.

Brentford are last years runner’s up, making it three finals now without a win. Bournemouth have been to the final twice for one win. Brentford are good value at 11/10 on home soil and look to be as good this year as last year. Bournemouth are performing and could well force a draw at 5/2, however, we’re sticking our head today and backing Bournemouth to win at 14/5.