Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas has delivered his verdict on tonight's EFL Cup clash between Premier League side Crystal Palace and Tony Pulis' high-flying Middlesbrough.

The two meet in the last sixteen of the League Cup, but neither are seeing the goals flow with regularity, which Nicholas believes will lead to a low-scoring game.

A lack of goals has been a feature of Middlesbrough's season so far with the typical Pulis team leaking few and scoring fewer. Coming up against a similar side will only result in one thing, as Nicholas wrote in his Sky Sports column.

"Crystal Palace got a good result against Arsenal but they scored two penalties and I just don't see where the goals are coming from in this team. Tony Pulis, in my opinion, has never really taken this competition seriously as it was all about survival at West Brom and now promotion at Middlesbrough."

Despite Pulis not prioritising the competition, former Celtic striker Nicholas does see success for the Championship side though. Just.

"I don't see too many goals in this because there could be a load of changes but just because of Palace's problems scoring goals I think the home side could pinch this one."

The Verdict

I'm not so sure this will be a home win but there's one certainty; it won't be a classic.

Neither side will prioritise the game, even at the last sixteen stage. It'll be two cagey reserve sides trying not to get beaten in front of a low crowd.

How exciting.....

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