The 2018–19 EFL Trophy, known as the Checkatrade Trophy for sponsorship reasons, was the 37th season in the history of the competition, a knock-out tournament for English football clubs in League One and League Two of the English football system, and also including 16 Premier League and Championship "Academy teams" with Category One status.

2018–19 EFL Trophy
Checkatrade Trophy
Tournament details
CountryEngland
Wales
Teams64
Defending championsLincoln City
Final positions
ChampionsPortsmouth (1st title)
Runner-upSunderland
Tournament statistics
Matches played97
Goals scored313 (3.23 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Dom Telford (7 goals)

Lincoln City were the defending champions, but were eliminated in the second round by Accrington Stanley. Portsmouth won the competition for the first time, defeating Sunderland in front of an EFL Trophy record attendance in the final.

Participating clubs edit

Of the sixteen invited Category One academies, fourteen competed in the 2017–18 competition; only Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers did not participate. Arsenal rejected an invitation to compete in each of the previous two tournaments,[1] while Wolves were not invited to compete in 2017–18 competition after fielding a side in the 2016–17 edition.

Reading and Sunderland's academy sides missed out after participation in the previous two years; Sunderland's first team competed for the first time since the 1987–88 competition, however, following their relegation to League One. Barnsley and Burton Albion both returned to the competition after relegation; they last competed in the 2015–16 season, when Barnsley won the trophy.

Macclesfield Town competed for the first time since the 2011–12 edition, following their promotion from the National League. Fellow promoted side Tranmere Rovers returned after a four year hiatus.

Liverpool and Manchester United both rejected an invitation to compete for the third successive season.[2]

League One League Two Academies[3]
Clubs
Total 24 24 16

Eligibility criteria for players edit

For EFL Clubs[4]
  • Minimum of four qualifying outfield players in their starting XI. A qualifying outfield player will be one who meets any of the following requirements:
    • Any player who started the previous or following first-team fixture
    • Any player who is in the top 10 players at the club, who have made the most starting appearances in league and domestic cup competitions that season
    • Any player with 40 or more first-team appearances in their career
    • Any player on loan from a Premier League club or any EFL Category One Academy club.
  • A club can play any eligible goalkeeper in the competition
For invited teams
  • Minimum of six players in the starting line-up who played at under-21 level, as at 30 June 2018.
  • Teams may only include two players on the team sheet, aged over 21, who have made forty or more senior appearances, as at 30 June 2018.
    • A senior appearance will be defined as having played in a professional first-team fixture. A non-playing substitute does not count.

Competition format edit

Group stage
  • Sixteen groups of 4 teams would be organised on a regionalised basis.
  • All groups would include one invited club.
  • All clubs would play each other once, either home or away (Academies play all group matches away from home).
  • Clubs would be awarded three points for a win and one point for a draw.
  • In the event of a drawn game (after 90 minutes), a penalty shootout would be held with the winning team earning an additional point.
  • The top two teams would progress to the Knockout Stage.
Knockout stage
  • Round 2 and 3 of the competition would be drawn on a regionalised basis.
  • In Round 2, the group winners should be seeded and the group runners-up shall be unseeded in the draw.
  • In Round 2, teams who played in the same group as each other in the group stage would be kept apart from each other.

Group stage and Knockout rounds edit

Northern Section edit

Group A edit

Pos Lge Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L1 Sunderland 3 2 1 0 0 4 1 +3 8 Round 2
2 ACA Stoke City U21 3 1 1 1 0 3 2 +1 6
3 L2 Carlisle United 3 1 0 1 1 5 6 −1 4
4 L2 Morecambe 3 0 0 0 3 3 6 −3 0
Source: EFL.com
4 September 2018 (2018-09-04) Carlisle United 3–2 Morecambe Carlisle
19:45 BST Glendon   13'
Gillesphey   38'
Yates   76'
Report Oliver   6'
Piggott   24'
Stadium: Brunton Park
Attendance: 1,213
Referee: Andy Haines
4 September 2018 (2018-09-04) Sunderland 0–0
(4–2 p)
Stoke City U21 Sunderland
19:45 BST Report Stadium: Stadium of Light
Attendance: 7,644
Referee: Martin Coy
Penalties
9 October 2018 (2018-10-09) Morecambe 1–2 Stoke City U21 Morecambe
19:45 BST Oswell   26' Report Shenton   9'
Campbell   57'
Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 512
Referee: Anthony Backhouse
9 October 2018 (2018-10-09) Sunderland 3–1 Carlisle United Sunderland
19:45 BST Kimpioka   3'
Robson   34'
Honeyman   63'
Report Nadesan   22' Stadium: Stadium of Light
Attendance: 8,112
Referee: Ben Toner
13 November 2018 (2018-11-13) Carlisle United 1–1
(4–5 p)
Stoke City U21 Carlisle
19:45 BST Sowerby   23' Report Campbell   34' Stadium: Brunton Park
Attendance: 882
Referee: Martin Coy
Penalties
13 November 2018 (2018-11-13) Morecambe 0–1 Sunderland Morecambe
19:45 BST Report Maja   90+1' Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 2,377
Referee: Paul Marsden

Group B edit

Pos Lge Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L1 Rochdale 3 2 0 1 0 6 3 +3 7 Round 2
2 L2 Bury 3 2 0 0 1 6 4 +2 6
3 ACA Leicester City U21 3 0 2 0 1 5 6 −1 4
4 L1 Fleetwood Town 3 0 0 1 2 3 7 −4 1
Source: EFL.com
4 September 2018 (2018-09-04) Rochdale 2–1 Bury Rochdale
19:45 Clough   16'
Matty Gillam   19'
Report Lavery   70' (pen.) Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 1,582
Referee: Carl Boyeson
11 September 2018 (2018-09-11) Fleetwood Town 2–2
(6–7 p)
Leicester City U21 Fleetwood
19:45 Long   33'
McAleny   49'
Report Loft   81', 90+6' Stadium: Highbury Stadium
Attendance: 504
Referee: Peter Wright
Penalties
9 October 2018 (2018-10-09) Fleetwood Town 0–2 Rochdale Fleetwood
19:45 Report Williams   16'
Cannon   16'
Stadium: Highbury Stadium
Attendance: 669
Referee: Ross Joyce
16 October 2018 (2018-10-16) Bury 2–1 Leicester City U21 Bury, Greater Manchester
19:45 Telford   4', 67' Report Shade   21' Stadium: Gigg Lane
Attendance: 454
Referee: Ollie Yates
7 November 2018 (2018-11-07) Rochdale 2–2
(3–4 p)
Leicester City U21 Rochdale
19:45 Andrew   6'
McNulty   17'
Report Pașcanu   28'
Loft   66'
Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 615
Referee: Thomas Bramall
Penalties
13 November 2018 (2018-11-13) Bury 3–1 Fleetwood Town Bury, Greater Manchester
19:45 Telford   21' (pen.)
Dagnall   32'
Adams   37'
Report Dempsey   11' Stadium: Gigg Lane
Attendance: 554
Referee: Anthony Backhouse

Group C edit

Pos Lge Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L1 Accrington Stanley 3 2 0 0 1 8 5 +3 6 Round 2
2 L2 Macclesfield Town 3 1 1 0 1 6 8 −2 5
3 L1 Blackpool 3 1 0 1 1 7 7 0 4
4 ACA West Bromwich Albion U21 3 1 0 0 2 4 5 −1 3
Source: EFL.com
4 September 2018 (2018-09-04) Macclesfield Town 3–3
(5–3 p)
Blackpool Macclesfield
19:45 Blissett   14'
Rose   35', 78' (pen.)
Report   31' Guy
  90' O'Sullivan
  90+4' O'Connor
Stadium: Moss Rose
Attendance: 639
Referee: Chris Sarginson
Penalties
9 October 2018 (2018-10-09) Accrington Stanley 4–1 Macclesfield Town Accrington
19:45 Finley   35'
Zanzala   63'
Fitzpatrick   82' (o.g.)
Barlaser   90+5'
Report Vincenti   58' Stadium: Crown Ground
Attendance: 900
Referee: Thomas Bramall
9 October 2018 (2018-10-09) Blackpool 1–2 West Bromwich Albion U21 Blackpool
19:45 Davies   45' Report Azaz   3'
Bradley   76'
Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 717
Referee: Paul Marsden
6 November 2018 (2018-11-06) Accrington Stanley 2–1 West Bromwich Albion U21 Accrington
19:45 Clark   49'
Sykes   90+2'
Report Leko   62' Stadium: Crown Ground
Attendance: 772
Referee: Peter Wright
13 November 2018 (2018-11-13) Blackpool 3–2 Accrington Stanley Blackpool
19:45 Dodoo   30', 41'
Gnanduillet   67'
Report Hall   17', 90+1' (pen.) Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 781
Referee: Oliver Yates
13 November 2018 (2018-11-13) Macclesfield Town 2–1 West Bromwich Albion U21 Macclesfield
19:45 Stephens   19'
Arthur   24'
Report Tulloch   14' Stadium: Moss Rose
Attendance: 411
Referee: Scott Oldham

Group D edit

Pos Lge Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L1 Shrewsbury Town 3 2 1 0 0 9 2 +7 8 Round 2
2 ACA Manchester City U21 3 2 0 1 0 6 2 +4 7
3 L2 Crewe Alexandra 3 1 0 0 2 6 9 −3 3
4 L2 Tranmere Rovers 3 0 0 0 3 3 11 −8 0
Source: EFL.com
28 August 2018 (2018-08-28) Shrewsbury Town 1–1
(3–1 p)
Manchester City U21 Shrewsbury
19:00 Angol   51' Report Touaizi   90+2' Stadium: New Meadow
Attendance: 1,838
Referee: Paul Marsden
Penalties
4 September 2018 (2018-09-04) Tranmere Rovers 3–4 Crewe Alexandra Birkenhead
19:45 Harris   45+4'
Stockton   45+10'
Mullin   46'
Report Porter   20', 85'
Nicholls   73'
Jones   86'
Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 2,174
Referee: Graham Salisbury
25 September 2018 (2018-09-25) Crewe Alexandra 1–4 Manchester City U21 Crewe
19:30 Nicholls   51' Report Dele-Bashiru   2'
Gonzalez   22'
Richards   78' (pen.)
Ogunby   90'
Stadium: Gresty Road
Attendance: 810
9 October 2018 (2018-10-09) Shrewsbury Town 6–0 Tranmere Rovers Shrewsbury
19:00
Report Stadium: New Meadow
Attendance: 1,379
30 October 2018 (2018-10-30) Tranmere Rovers 0–1 Manchester City U21 Birkenhead
19:00 Report Matondo   49' Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 747
13 November 2018 (2018-11-13) Crewe Alexandra 1–2 Shrewsbury Town Crewe
19:30 Bowery   79' Report
Stadium: Gresty Road
Attendance: 823

Group E edit

Pos Lge Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L2 Port Vale 3 3 0 0 0 5 1 +4 9 Round 2
2 L1 Walsall 3 2 0 0 1 6 4 +2 6
3 ACA Middlesbrough U21 3 1 0 0 2 2 5 −3 3
4 L1 Burton Albion 3 0 0 0 3 1 4 −3 0
Source: EFL.com
4 September 2018 (2018-09-04) Burton Albion 1–2 Walsall Burton upon Trent
19:45 Myers-Harness   89' Report Morris   9'
Gordon   28'
Stadium: Pirelli Stadium
Attendance: 724
Referee: Rob Lewis
9 October 2018 (2018-10-09) Walsall 3–1 Middlesbrough U21 Walsall
19:00
Report Ward   67' Stadium: Bescot Stadium
Attendance: 702
9 October 2018 (2018-10-09) Port Vale 1–0 Burton Albion Stoke-on-Trent
19:45 Miller   65' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 601
16 October 2018 (2018-10-16) Port Vale 2–0 Middlesbrough U21 Stoke-on-Trent
19:45
Report Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 554
7 November 2018 (2018-11-07) Burton Albion 0–1 Middlesbrough U21 Burton upon Trent
19:00 Report Hackney   87' Stadium: Pirelli Stadium
Attendance: 202
13 November 2018 (2018-11-13) Walsall 1–2 Port Vale Walsall
19:00 Johnson   45+1' Report
Stadium: Bescot Stadium
Attendance: 878

Group F edit

Pos Lge Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L1 Barnsley 3 2 1 0 0 5 3 +2 8 Round 2
2 L2 Oldham Athletic 3 2 0 0 1 8 5 +3 6
3 ACA Everton U21 3 0 0 2 1 4 5 −1 2
4 L1 Bradford City 3 0 1 0 2 3 7 −4 2
Source: EFL.com
4 September 2018 (2018-09-04) Oldham Athletic 1–2 Barnsley Oldham
19:30 Surridge   31' Report Adeboyejo   44'
Moncur   82'
Stadium: Boundary Park
Attendance: 1,786
Referee: Seb Stockbridge
25 September 2018 (2018-09-25) Bradford City 1–1
(6–5 p)
Everton U21 Bradford
19:30 Miller   90+2' Sambou   79' Stadium: Valley Parade
Attendance: 902
Referee: Paul Marsden
Penalties
9 October 2018 (2018-10-09) Bradford City 1–4 Oldham Athletic Bradford
19:30 Brünker   49' Lang   10'
Maouche   26'
Surridge   57', 77'
Stadium: Valley Parade
Attendance: 1,015
Referee: Seb Stockbridge
30 October 2018 (2018-10-30) Oldham Athletic 3–2 Everton U21 Oldham
19:30 Clarke   53'
Miller   57'
Benteke   80'
Report Markelo   6'
Lavery   24'
Stadium: Boundary Park
Attendance: 1,004
Referee: Darren Drysdale
6 November 2018 (2018-11-06) Barnsley 1–1
(4–2 p)
Everton U21 Barnsley
19:30 Hedges   40' Report Sambou   53' Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 2,300
Referee: Matthew Donohue
Penalties
13 November 2018 (2018-11-13) Barnsley 2–1 Bradford City Barnsley
19:30 Moncur   28', 64'
Jackson   77'
Report Ball   8' Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 2,925

Group G edit

Pos Lge Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 ACA Newcastle United U21 3 3 0 0 0 8 3 +5 9 Round 2
2 L2 Notts County 3 1 0 0 2 5 6 −1 3
3 L1 Doncaster Rovers 3 1 0 0 2 5 7 −2 3
4 L2 Grimsby Town 3 1 0 0 2 4 6 −2 3
Source: EFL.com
4 September 2018 (2018-09-04) Doncaster Rovers 1–3 Newcastle United U21 Keepmoat Stadium
19:00 Marquis   45+7' Report Allan   14'
Roberts   65'
Sørensen   86'
Attendance: 1,544
Referee: Matt Donohue
4 September 2018 (2018-09-04) Grimsby Town 2–1 Notts County Blundell Park
19:45 M. Rose   69' (pen.)
Hessenthaler   88'
Report Alessandra   12' Attendance: 746
Referee: Tom Nield
9 October 2018 (2018-10-09) Doncaster Rovers 2–0 Grimsby Town Keepmoat Stadium
19:30 May   23', 57' (pen.) Attendance: 1,420
Referee: Michael Salisbury
9 October 2018 (2018-10-09) Notts County 0–2 Newcastle United U21 Meadow Lane
19:45 Roberts   10' (pen.)
Sørensen   56'
Attendance: 1,139
13 November 2018 (2018-11-13) Grimsby Town 2–3 Newcastle United U21 Blundell Park
19:45 Hooper   9'
Cook   54'
Roberts   19'
Sørensen   26'
Longstaff   78'
Attendance: 547
14 November 2018 (2018-11-14) Notts County 4–2 Doncaster Rovers Meadow Lane
19:45 Dennis   15', 40', 64' (pen.)
Boldewijn   26'
May   50', 70' Attendance: 915

Group H edit

Pos Lge Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L2 Mansfield Town 3 3 0 0 0 7 4 +3 9 Round 2
2 L2 Lincoln City 3 0 1 1 1 4 5 −1 3
3 L1 Scunthorpe United 3 0 1 1 1 3 4 −1 3
4 ACA Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 3 0 1 1 1 3 4 −1 3
Source: EFL.com
4 September 2018 (2018-09-04) Lincoln City 1–2 Mansfield Town Sincil Bank
19:45 Rhead   6' Butcher   8'
Walker   72'
Attendance: 4,205
4 September 2018 (2018-09-04) Scunthorpe United 0–0
(4–2 p)
Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 Glanford Park
19:45 Attendance: 874
Penalties
9 October 2018 (2018-10-09) Mansfield Town 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 Field Mill
19:45 Mellis   4'
Benning   47'
Pedro Gonçalves   75' Attendance: 1,112
9 October 2018 (2018-10-09) Scunthorpe United 1–1
(1–3 p)
Lincoln City Glanford Park
19:45 Colclough   56' Anderson   84'
Wilson   90+2'
Attendance: 1,878
Penalties
6 November 2018 (2018-11-06) Lincoln City 2–2
(4–5 p)
Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 Sincil Bank
19:45 Green   23', 42' Report Ashley-Seal   42'
Giles   45+3'
Attendance: 2,723
Penalties
13 November 2018 (2018-11-13) Mansfield Town 3–2 Scunthorpe United Field Mill
19:45 Blake   21'
Butcher   55'
Elsnik   90'
El-Mhanni   75'
Dales   90'
Attendance: 928

Southern Section edit

Group A edit

Pos Lge Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L1 Portsmouth 3 3 0 0 0 8 2 +6 9 Round 2
2 ACA Tottenham Hotspur U21 3 1 0 1 1 7 4 +3 4
3 L1 Gillingham 3 1 0 0 2 2 9 −7 3
4 L2 Crawley Town 3 0 1 0 2 2 4 −2 2
Source: EFL.com
4 September 2018 (2018-09-04) Crawley Town 1–1
(5–3 p)
Tottenham Hotspur U21 Crawley
19:45 N'Gala   59' Report Harrison   49' Stadium: Broadfield Stadium
Attendance: 1,403
Referee: Tim Robinson
Penalties
4 September 2018 (2018-09-04) Portsmouth 4–0 Gillingham Portsmouth
19:45 Clarke   41'
Close   43'
Pitman   55' (pen.)
Wheeler   90+1'
Report Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 2,011
Referee: Alan Young
9 October 2018 (2018-10-09) Crawley Town 0–1 Portsmouth Crawley
19:45 Report Donohue   37' Stadium: Broadfield Stadium
Attendance: 1,268
Referee: Gavin Ward
9 October 2018 (2018-10-09) Gillingham 0–4 Tottenham Hotspur U21 Charlton, London
19:45 Report Roles   44'
Maghoma   57'
Brown   83'
Duncan   90+3' (pen.)
Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 308
Referee: Anthony Coggins
13 November 2018 (2018-11-13) Gillingham 2–1 Crawley Town Gillingham
19:45 List   59'
Stevenson   88'
Report Poleon   18' Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 473
Referee: Darren Drysdale
13 November 2018 (2018-11-13) Portsmouth 3–2 Tottenham Hotspur U21 Portsmouth
19:45 Green   50'
Evans   69'
Hawkins   81'
Report Patterson   20'
White   90'
Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 3,138
Referee: James Linington

Group B edit

Pos Lge Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L2 Cambridge United 3 2 0 0 1 8 4 +4 6 Round 2
2 L1 Southend United 3 2 0 0 1 6 3 +3 6
3 L2 Colchester United 3 1 0 0 2 3 5 −2 3
4 ACA Southampton U21 3 1 0 0 2 2 7 −5 3
Source: EFL.com
4 September 2018 (2018-09-04) Colchester United 0–2 Southampton U21 Colchester Community Stadium
19:45 Barnes   26'
Obafemi   90+4'
Attendance: 532
Referee: Charles Breakspear
4 September 2018 (2018-09-04) Southend United 3–1 Cambridge United Roots Hall
19:45 McCoulsky   55', 64'
Hutchinson   87'
Lambe   53' Attendance: 1,421
Referee: Gavin Ward
9 October 2018 (2018-10-09) Cambridge United 4–0 Southampton U21 Abbey Stadium
19:00 Azeez   16' (pen.), 37', 88'
Brown   50'
Attendance: 469
Referee: Trevor Kettle
9 October 2018 (2018-10-09) Colchester United 2–0 Southend United Colchester Community Stadium
19:45 Kent   39'
Collins   49'
Attendance: 1,516
Referee: Roger East
13 November 2018 (2018-11-13) Cambridge United 3–1 Colchester United Abbey Stadium
19:00 Azeez   32', 81'
Osadebe   90+3'
Pell   90+2' Attendance: 598
Referee: Anthony Coggins
14 November 2018 (2018-11-14) Southend United 3–0 Southampton U21 Roots Hall
19:45 Bunn   12'
Kyprianou   17'
Bwomono   24'
Attendance: 983
Referee: John Busby

Group C edit

Pos Lge Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 ACA Chelsea U21 3 2 0 0 1 9 3 +6 6 Round 2
2 L2 Newport County 3 2 0 0 1 5 1 +4 6
3 L2 Swindon Town 3 2 0 0 1 4 4 0 6
4 L1 Plymouth Argyle 3 0 0 0 3 0 10 −10 0
Source: EFL.com
7 August 2018 (2018-08-07) Swindon Town 0–4 Chelsea U21 Swindon
19:45 Brown   16', 58'
Musonda   30' (pen.)
Ugbo   89'
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 1,569
Referee: Brett Huxtable
11 September 2018 (2018-09-11) Swindon Town 1–0 Newport County Swindon
19:45 Doughty   77' (pen.) Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 1,301
Referee: Anthony Coggins
25 September 2018 (2018-09-25) Newport County 3–0 Chelsea U21 Newport
19:45 Matt   36', 46'
Semenyo   90+1'
Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 1,525
Referee: Kevin Johnson
9 October 2018 (2018-10-09) Plymouth Argyle 0–3 Swindon Town Plymouth
19:30 Richards   16'
Anderson   38'
Woolery   82'
Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 1,906
Referee: Brett Huxtable
30 October 2018 (2018-10-30) Plymouth Argyle 0–5 Chelsea U21 Plymouth
19:30 Brown   20'
Songo'o   37' (o.g.)
Taylor-Crossdale   74'
Anjorin   86'
Redan   89'
Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 1,504
Referee: Anthony Coggins
13 November 2018 (2018-11-13) Newport County 2–0 Plymouth Argyle Newport
19:45 Semenyo   35'
Harris   45'
Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 962
Referee: Brett Huxtable

Group D edit

Pos Lge Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L2 Exeter City 3 2 1 0 0 4 0 +4 8 Round 2
2 L1 Bristol Rovers 3 2 0 0 1 4 2 +2 6
3 L2 Yeovil Town 3 1 0 1 1 4 2 +2 4
4 ACA West Ham United U21 3 0 0 0 3 0 8 −8 0
Source: EFL.com
4 September 2018 (2018-09-04) Yeovil Town 0–0
(3–4 p)
Exeter City Yeovil
19:45 BST Report Stadium: Huish Park
Attendance: 1,518
Referee: Trevor Kettle
Penalties
18 September 2018 (2018-09-18) Bristol Rovers 2–0 West Ham United U21 Bristol
19:45 BST Jakubiak   57'
Lockyer   82'
Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 1,021
25 September 2018 (2018-09-25) Exeter City 2–0 West Ham United U21 Exeter
19:45 BST Forte   20', 30' Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 1,114
Referee: Brett Huxtable
9 October 2018 (2018-10-09) Bristol Rovers 2–0 Yeovil Town Bristol
19:45 BST Jakubiak   50'
Rodman   85'
Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 1,179
6 November 2018 (2018-11-06) Yeovil Town 4–0 West Ham United U21 Yeovil
19:45 GMT Johnson   11' (o.g.)
Akinola   48' (o.g.)
James   65'
Mahmoutovic   83'
Report Stadium: Huish Park
Attendance: 720
Referee: Brett Huxtable
13 November 2018 (2018-11-13) Exeter City 2–0 Bristol Rovers Exeter
19:45 GMT Forte   50'
Randall   81'
Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 873

Group E edit

Pos Lge Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L2 Cheltenham Town 3 2 0 0 1 8 6 +2 6 Round 2
2 ACA Arsenal U21 3 2 0 0 1 8 7 +1 6
3 L2 Forest Green Rovers 3 1 0 1 1 6 4 +2 4
4 L1 Coventry City 3 0 1 0 2 1 6 −5 2
Source: EFL.com
4 September 2018 (2018-09-04) Forest Green Rovers 4–0 Cheltenham Town Nailsworth
19:30 BST Grubb   14'
Campbell   48'
Williams   85'
Pearce   90'
Report Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 1,074
Referee: Lee Swabey
12 September 2018 (2018-09-12) Coventry City 0–3 Arsenal U21 Coventry
19:45 Report Smith Rowe   4'
Nketiah   77'
Willock   90'
Stadium: Ricoh Arena
Attendance: 2,375
9 October 2018 (2018-10-09) Coventry City 1–1
(4–2 p)
Forest Green Rovers Coventry
19:45 Hiwula   3' Report Pearce   68' Stadium: Ricoh Arena
Attendance: 1,341
Penalties
30 October 2018 (2018-10-30) Cheltenham Town 6–2 Arsenal U21 Cheltenham
19:45 Clements   8'
Boyle   32'
Maddox   48', 50'
Mooney   84'
Broom   90'
Report Burton   7'
John-Jules   35'
Gilmour   62' (pen.)
Stadium: Whaddon Road
Attendance: 1,431
7 November 2018 (2018-11-07) Forest Green Rovers 1–3 Arsenal U21 Nailsworth
19:00 Grubb   62' Report Willock   39' (pen.), 42'
John-Jules   85'
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 1,602
13 November 2018 (2018-11-13) Cheltenham Town 2–0 Coventry City Cheltenham
19:45 Maddox   33'
Boyle   48'
Stadium: Whaddon Road
Attendance: 1,296

Group F edit

Pos Lge Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L1 Oxford United (Q) 3 2 0 0 1 7 2 +5 6 Round 2
2 L2 Northampton Town (Q) 3 2 0 0 1 4 2 +2 6
3 L1 Wycombe Wanderers (E) 3 2 0 0 1 3 4 −1 6
4 ACA Fulham U21 (E) 3 0 0 0 3 1 7 −6 0
First match(es) will be played: 4 September 2018. Source: EFL.com
(E) Eliminated; (Q) Qualified to the phase indicated
4 September 2018 (2018-09-04) Northampton Town 0–1 Wycombe Wanderers Sixfields Stadium
19:45 Report Kashket   11' Attendance: 1,053
4 September 2018 (2018-09-04) Oxford United 3–0 Fulham U21 Kassam Stadium
19:45 Smith   31'
Holmes   58'
Spasov   58' (pen)
Stahl   50' Attendance: 1,116
18 September 2018 (2018-09-18) Wycombe Wanderers 2–1 Fulham U21 High Wycombe
19:45 Samuel   3'
Kashket   90+4'
Report Thompson   54' Stadium: Adams Park
Attendance: 595
9 October 2018 (2018-10-09) Oxford United 1–2 Northampton Town Kassam Stadium
19:45 Henry   24' Van Veen   55'
Pierre   65'
O'Toole   90'
Attendance: 929
6 November 2018 (2018-11-06) Northampton Town 2–0 Fulham U21 Sixfields Stadium
19:45 Pierre   17'
Hoskins   20'
Attendance: 1,059
6 November 2018 (2018-11-06) Wycombe Wanderers 0–3 Oxford United High Wycombe
19:45 Report Brannagan   1'
Browne   31'
Smith   53'
Stadium: Adams Park
Attendance: 1,313

Group G edit

Pos Lge Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 ACA Swansea City U21 (Q) 3 2 0 0 1 2 5 −3 6 Round 2
2 L1 AFC Wimbledon (Q) 3 1 1 0 1 6 3 +3 5
3 L1 Charlton Athletic (E) 3 1 0 1 1 10 3 +7 4
4 L2 Stevenage (E) 3 1 0 0 2 5 12 −7 3
First match(es) will be played: 4 September 2018. Source: EFL.com
(E) Eliminated; (Q) Qualified to the phase indicated
28 August 2018 (2018-08-28) Stevenage 5–0 Swansea City U21 Stevenage
19:45 Kennedy   44' (pen.), 45+1'
Guthrie   69' (pen.), 81', 90+1'
Report Stadium: Broadhall Way
Attendance: 470
Referee: Kevin Johnson
4 September 2018 (2018-09-04) Charlton Athletic 2–2
(2–4 p)
AFC Wimbledon Charlton
19:45 BST Sarr   43'
Mascoll   84'
Report Hartigan   27'
Soares   49'
Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 1,244
Referee: K. Johnson
Penalties
Ajose  
Morgan  
Lapslie  
Hackett-Fairchild  
Appiah  
Hartigan  
Pinnock  
Hanson  
18 September 2018 (2018-09-18) AFC Wimbledon 0–1 Swansea City U21 Kingston upon Thames
19:45 Report Lewis   90' Stadium: Kingsmeadow
Attendance: 306
9 October 2018 (2018-10-09) Stevenage 0–8 Charlton Athletic Stevenage
19:45 BST Report Pratley   25'
Stevenson   27', 59', 74' (Pen.)
Ajose   34'
Vetokele   48', 58'
Lapslie   87'
Stadium: Broadhall Way
Attendance: 793
Referee: L. Swabey
6 November 2018 (2018-11-06) AFC Wimbledon 4–0 Stevenage Kingston upon Thames
19:45 Appiah   1'
Wordsworth   28'
Garratt   68'
Egan   79'
Report Stadium: Kingsmeadow
Attendance: 304
Referee: Gavin Ward
13 November 2018 (2018-11-13) Charlton Athletic 0–1 Swansea City U21 Charlton
19:45 GMT Report Marić   55' Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 740
Referee: C. Breakspear

Group H edit

Pos Lge Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L1 Luton Town 3 2 0 0 1 6 3 +3 6 Round 2
2 L1 Peterborough United 3 1 0 2 0 7 6 +1 5
3 ACA Brighton & Hove Albion U21 3 1 1 0 1 6 6 0 5
4 L2 Milton Keynes Dons 3 0 1 0 2 5 9 −4 2
Source: Sky Sports
4 September 2018 (2018-09-04) Luton Town 2–1 Brighton & Hove Albion U21 Kenilworth Road
19:45 Jarvis   5'
Grant   79'
Report Connolly   86' Attendance: 1,318
Referee: John Busby
4 September 2018 (2018-09-04) Milton Keynes Dons 3–3
(6–5 p)
Peterborough United Stadium MK
19:45 Aneke   6', 45+1'
Healey   33'
Report Cooper   56'
Walker   87'
Godden   90'
Attendance: 2,404
Referee: Brett Huxtable
9 October 2018 (2018-10-09) Luton Town 3–0 Milton Keynes Dons Kenilworth Road
19:45 Sheehan   17'
Lualua   29'
Grant   60'
Attendance: 875 (208 away)
Referee: Craig Hicks
9 October 2018 (2018-10-09) Peterborough United 2–2
(4–5 p)
Brighton & Hove Albion U21 ABAX Stadium
19:45 Godden   29'
Cummings   52'
Report Connolly   71'
J. Davies   80'
Attendance: 1,872
Penalties
13 November 2018 (2018-11-13) Milton Keynes Dons 2–3 Brighton & Hove Albion U21 Stadium MK
19:45 Agard   6'
Hancox   41'
Connolly   23', 69', 76' Attendance: 1,018 (63 Away)
13 November 2018 (2018-11-13) Peterborough United 2–1 Luton Town ABAX Stadium
19:45 Daniel   19'
Toney   36'
O'Malley   73' (o.g.) Attendance: 2,107
Referee: Andy Woolmer

Knockout Stage

Round 2 edit

The round 2 draw took place on 16 November with ties due to be played from the week beginning 3 December. Teams were drawn in a regionalised format, with the proviso that no teams from the same Group Stage group can meet. To ensure this, group winners from groups A to D were drawn against group runners-up from groups E to H in the same section, and vice versa. Teams listed 1st are at home and won their group in Round 1.

If scores are level after 90 minutes in Rounds 2, 3, and 4, the game will be determined by the taking of penalties.

Northern Section edit

4 December 2018 Newcastle United U21 (ACA) 1–1
(5–3 p)
Macclesfield Town (L2)Newcastle upon Tyne
19:00 GMT Sørensen   23' Wilson   84' Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 1,126
Referee: Ben Toner
Penalties
Bailey  
Roberts  
Gibson  
Watts  
Sangare  
Smith  
Stephens  
Lowe  
Wilson  
4 December 2018 Barnsley (L1)3–3
(3–5 p)
Manchester City U21 (ACA) Barnsley
19:30 GMT Adeboyejo   17'
Williams   61'
Lindsay   65'
Matondo   45+2'
Poveda   59', 74'
Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 3,070
Referee: Oliver Yates
Penalties
Moore  
Mowatt  
Thiam  
Brown  
Sandler  
Richards  
Matondo  
Poveda  
Pozo  
4 December 2018 Accrington Stanley (L1) 2–2
(4–2 p)
Lincoln City (L2)Accrington
19:45 GMT Brown   8'
Clark   71'
Green   7'
McCombe   61'
Stadium: Wham Stadium
Attendance: 746 (154 away)
Referee: Anthony Backhouse
Penalties
Hall  
Zanzala  
McConville  
Barlaser  
Clark  
Gordon  
Chapman  
Green  
Rhead  
4 December 2018 Mansfield Town (L2)0–1 Bury (L2) Mansfield
19:45 GMT Telford   35'
Dawson   85'
Stadium: One Call Stadium
Attendance: 1,029 (27 away)
Referee: Robert Lewis
4 December 2018 Port Vale (L2) 4–0Stoke City U21 (ACA)Stoke-on-Trent
19:45 GMT Pope   6'
Montaño   40', 42'
Hannant   66'
Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 7,940
Referee: Seb Stockbridge
4 December 2018 Sunderland (L1) 2–0Notts County (L2)Sunderland
19:45 GMT Jones   22' (o.g.)
Sinclair   73' (pen.)
Report Stadium: Stadium of Light
Attendance: 8,580
Referee: Graham Salisbury
11 December 2018 Rochdale (L1) 2–0Oldham Athletic (L2)Rochdale
19:00 GMT Rafferty   90+2' (pen.)
Adshead   90+3'
Maouche   51' Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 1,854
Referee: Oliver Langford
5 December 2018 Shrewsbury Town (L1) 2–1Walsall (L1)Shrewsbury
19:45 GMT Gillied   24'
Loft   72'
Stadium: New Meadow
Attendance: 1857 (239 Away)
Referee: Peter Wright

Southern Section edit

4 December 2018 Chelsea U21 (ACA) 2–1AFC Wimbledon (L1)London
19:00 GMT Brown   37' (pen.)
Redan   47'
Wordsworth   70'   88' Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 1,906
Referee: Charles Breakspear
4 December 2018 Exeter City (L2)0–2 Peterborough United (L1) Exeter
19:15 GMT Toney   67'
Cummings   77'
Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 746
Referee: Alan Young
4 December 2018 Cambridge United (L2)1–1
(2–4 p)
Northampton Town (L2) Cambridge
19:45 GMT Maris   9' van Veen   89' Stadium: Abbey Stadium
Attendance: 648
Referee: Brett Huxtable
Penalties
Azeez  
Brown  
Amoo  
Lambe  
van Veen  
Taylor  
Foley  
Waters  
McWilliams  
4 December 2018 Cheltenham Town (L2) 1–1
(7–6 p)
Newport County (L2)Cheltenham
19:45 GMT Addai   68' Amond   18' Stadium: Whaddon Road
Attendance: 739
Referee: Andy Woolmer
Penalties
Thomas  
Forster  
Tozer  
Clements  
Jones  
Mooney  
Field  
Amond  
Butler  
Labadie  
Sheehan  
Semenyo  
Demetriou  
Harris  
4 December 2018 Portsmouth (L1) 2–1Arsenal U21 (ACA)Portsmouth
19:45 GMT Pitman   10'
Green   83'
Saka   66' Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 3,109
Referee: Thomas Bramall
5 December 2018 Luton Town (L1)1–1
(2–4 p)
Southend United (L1) Luton
19:45 GMT Read   81' McLaughlin   88' Stadium: Kenilworth Road
Attendance: 1,545
Referee: Darren Drysdale
Penalties
Jones  
Sheehan  
Jarvis  
Hylton  
Mantom  
Kightly  
McLaughlin  
McCoulsky  
5 December 2018 Swansea City U21 (ACA)1–2 Bristol Rovers (L1) Swansea
19:45 GMT Garrick   54' Craig   58'
Jakubiak   89'
Stadium: Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 699
Referee: Chris Sarginson
18 December 2018 Oxford United (L1) 3–0Tottenham Hotspur U21 (ACA)Oxford
19:45 GMT Raglan   12'
Smith   18'
McMahon   48'
Stadium: Kassam Stadium
Attendance: 1,422
Referee: Kevin Johnson

Round 3 edit

The draw for round 3 was held on Saturday, 8 December. Northern and Southern section teams were still segregated this round and will be brought together in the next round (the quarter-finals). No seeding is used from this point: all teams within their denoted section are in a blind draw.

Northern Section edit

8 January 2019 Rochdale (L1)2–4 Manchester City U21 (ACA) Rochdale
McNulty   4'
Dooley   29'
Bolton   50'
Braaf   67', 82'
Richards   84'
Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 2,176
8 January 2019 Sunderland (L1) 4–0Newcastle United U21 (ACA)Sunderland
19:45 Watts   49' (o.g.)
Wyke   52'
Maguire   78'
Kimpioka   86'
Report Stadium: Stadium of Light
Attendance: 16,654
Referee: Tony Harrington
8 January 2019 Accrington Stanley (L1)2–4 Bury (L2) Accrington
Clark   10'
Kee   38'
Telford   55', 74'
Maynard   57'
Mayor   84'
Stadium: Crown Ground
Attendance: 1,136
8 January 2019 Port Vale (L2) 1–1
(4–3 p)
Shrewsbury Town (L1)Stoke-on-Trent
Pope   83' Sears   63' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 1,355
Penalties

Southern Section edit

8 January 2019 Southend United (L1)0–2 Portsmouth (L1) Southend-on-Sea
Report Dennis   2'
Evans   45+1'
Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 1,649
8 January 2019 Cheltenham Town (L2)1–1
(1–4 p)
Oxford United (L1) Cheltenham
Dawson   64' Report Brannagan   45+1' Stadium: Whaddon Road
Attendance: 1,288
Penalties
8 January 2019 Northampton Town (L2)1–2 Bristol Rovers (L1) Northampton
Crooks   76' Report Broadbent   45'
Payne   58'
Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 1,312
9 January 2019 Chelsea U21 (ACA)1–3 Peterborough United (L1) London
Nartey   45' Report Dembélé   65'
Toney   72'
Maddison   74'
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 2,671

Round 4 / Quarter-finals edit

Quarter-final pairings are determined by means of an unseeded draw. There are no further segregated sections of the draw.

22 January 2019 Portsmouth (L1) 1–0Peterborough United (L1)Portsmouth
19:00 Wheeler   85' Report Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 3,313
22 January 2019 Bristol Rovers (L1) 3–0Port Vale (L2)Bristol
19:45 Clarke   16'
Nichols   62' (pen.)
Rodman   68'
Report Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 2,016
22 January 2019 Bury (L2) 5–2Oxford United (L1)Bury
19:45 Telford   16'
Thompson   26'
Moore   41'
Mayor   55', 76'
Report Henry   24' (pen.)
Carruthers   51'
Stadium: Gigg Lane
Attendance: 1,238
22 January 2019 Sunderland (L1) 2–0Manchester City U21 (ACA)Sunderland
19:45 Watmore   22'
Gooch   65'
Report Stadium: Stadium of Light
Attendance: 14,679
Referee: Michael Salisbury

Semi-finals edit

The four winners from the quarter-finals will contest the semi-finals, with the pairings determined by an unseeded draw. Matches will be played as one leg, and will advance directly to penalties if the teams are tied after 90 minutes.[5]

26 February 2019 Bury (L2)0–3 Portsmouth (L1) Bury
19:45
Stadium: Gigg Lane
Attendance: 3,900
5 March 2019 Bristol Rovers (L1)0–2 Sunderland (L1) Bristol
19:45
Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 6,699

Final edit

The two winners from the semi-finals, Portsmouth and Sunderland, contested the final at Wembley Stadium on 31 March 2019. Portsmouth won 5–4 on penalties following a 2–2 draw after extra time to win their first EFL trophy.

Portsmouth2–2 (a.e.t.)Sunderland
Thompson   82'
Lowe   114'
Report McGeady   38', 119'
Penalties
Evans  
Pitman  
Brown  
Lowe  
Hawkins  
5–4   McGeady
  Cattermole
  Gooch
  Power
  O'Nien
Attendance: 85,021
Referee: Dean Whitestone

References edit

  1. ^ "Tottenham and Man City enter Checkatrade Trophy". BBC Sport. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  2. ^ "Checkatrade Trophy: Arsenal become latest Premier League side to enter under-21 team". BBC Sport. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  3. ^ "Invited Under-21 teams confirmed for 2018/19 Checkatrade Trophy". English Football League. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  4. ^ "Under-21s to enter Checkatrade Trophy". Arsenal Football Club. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  5. ^ "EFL Official Website -". Archived from the original on 2018-05-18. Retrieved 2019-01-10.

External links edit