Capital One Cup derbies promise passion between northern rivals

The Capital One Cup is upon us once again, and brings football fans some tough and tasty ties with the first round featuring several feisty derbies between fierce rivals.

While the latter stages of this competition are usually reserved for the glitz and glamour of Premier League duels with a sprinkling of Championship underdog tenacity, the opening encounters often offer the chance to see something a little different.

Here, Coral writers run the rule over three exciting riveting rivalries between plucky northern competitors…

The two Northwest teams have had contrasting fortunes of late, with Bury brilliantly boosted by promotion into League One, where they will now tussle twice with Wigan, who were wretchedly relegated from the Championship last term.

While the Shakers announced their arrival in the third tier with a hard fought draw, the Latics, who have fallen a long way since being Premier League regulars and FA Cup winners in 2013, slumped to an opening defeat.

Perhaps Wigan, odds-on favourites for victory with Coral in 90 minutes at 10/11, will still be classed as the bigger fish, and have gotten the better of Bury in three of their past five battles. However, the historically successful Shakers hold the record in cup clashes, with four wins and two draws, so are worth a 3/1 punt to claim local bragging rights.