Cheltenham Town vs Exeter City Predictions

Cheltenham Town vs Exeter City predictions for Wednesday’s EFL Cup. Cheltenham Town face Exeter City at Whaddon Road on Wednesday in the EFL Cup first round, with both League One sides aiming to progress in the competition. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.

 EFL Cup | Aug 13 2025 at 7:45 pm UK at Whaddon Road

Cheltenham Town vs Exeter City Predictions

Will Cheltenham Finally Break Exeter’s Hold in the Cup?

• Cheltenham have lost both league games this season without scoring, highlighting their current attacking struggles ahead of this cup tie.
• Exeter’s 4-1 win over Blackpool at the weekend showed their ability to punish defensive lapses, scoring four times from just six shots on target.
• Cheltenham have been knocked out in the first round of the EFL Cup in each of the last three seasons, including against Exeter in 2022.

Best Bet for Cheltenham Town vs Exeter City

Whaddon Road will be the stage for one of the more intriguing ties in this week’s EFL Cup first round as Cheltenham Town host Exeter City. It’s the only Southern Section fixture to be played on Wednesday, which means all eyes will be on Gloucestershire when the sides take to the pitch. The hosts badly need a lift after a miserable start to their League Two campaign, while Exeter will arrive buoyed by a thumping league win over Blackpool and keen to underline their status as favourites to progress.

Cheltenham’s early season form has been far from inspiring, with back-to-back league defeats without finding the net. Michael Flynn’s side were second best in both games, and that has left some fans already dreading a season-long relegation scrap. On the flip side, the cup offers a chance to briefly park league worries and find some belief.

Exeter, meanwhile, have their own long-term concerns in League One but will travel with confidence after putting four past Blackpool at the weekend. Gary Caldwell’s men may not treat the competition as their top priority, but they will see it as an ideal platform to build momentum – especially against a side they have repeatedly beaten in recent years.

---

Best Bet for This Match: Exeter City to Win

Here at BettingTips4You, we pride ourselves on giving you just one clear recommendation per game – no scattergun approach, no confusion, just the selection we believe has the most value. For this match, the standout choice is Exeter to win.

The reasons are compelling. Cheltenham are in a rut: two games, zero goals, and no sign yet of the fluent football Flynn will want to see. Injuries haven’t helped – Taine Anderson remains sidelined, and their new-look backline is still finding its feet. Even with George Harmon and Jakubas Mazionis adding fresh legs, the cohesion isn’t there yet. Jake Bickerstaff could make his full debut, but that’s a lot of pressure for a young forward to carry in a struggling attack.

Exeter, on the other hand, have multiple players in form. Jake Doyle-Hayes made an instant impact on debut against Blackpool, linking midfield and attack with composure. The likely front line of Aitchison, Wareham, and Brierley offers variety – pace, movement, and creativity – which will stretch Cheltenham’s defensive unit. Yes, Exeter have their own absentees in Pedro Borges, Andrew Oluwabori, and others, but they have enough depth to cope.

Cheltenham’s recent meetings with Exeter – including that infamous 7-0 defeat here two years ago – will be playing on minds, whether they admit it or not. Confidence counts for a lot in the early rounds of the cup, and Exeter’s belief will be far greater than Cheltenham’s right now.

As BettingTips4You.com expert Graham Hartshorn summed it up:

“Form and mentality matter in knockout football. Cheltenham look fragile, Exeter look ready to seize control – I can only see the visitors taking this one.”

A 2-0 Exeter win feels like the most likely outcome: solid enough at the back to keep Cheltenham at bay, and clinical enough in attack to get the job done without fuss.

Selected Bookmakers Offers