Pink 96.9 fm your life, your music
Related Articles
Bradford City defeated Bury 2-1 in their opening group game of the Checkatrade EFL Trophy, despite substituting goalkeeper Colin Doyle after only three minutes in the clash Coral Windows Stadium.
The Bantams’ early substitution appeared to be a bid to bend the rules of the newly-formed competition, which state that League One and Two clubs must field a minimum of five first-team players – either the five highest appearance-makers in the team, five players who played the preceding fixture or five who play in the next league match – in games.
Coyle, who played in the 1-0 victory over Chesterfield on Saturday, started the game before running over to be replaced by smiling team-mate Rouven Sattelmaier within minutes of the whistle.
The EFL Trophy, which was formerly known as the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, has attracted criticism in his pilot year with MK Dons manager Karl Robinson branding it ‘rubbish’ over the ruling to field first team players.
‘How can we have a development trophy for Premier League teams who can do what they want, yet we can’t develop our own players in it?’ Robinson told the BBC.
The competition also features academy teams from Premier League clubs, with mixed results for those in action on Tuesday evening.
Premier League champions Leicester’s academy won their Group A clash 1-0 away to 10-man Grimsby Town while there was also a victory for Sunderland who defeated Hartlepool 1-0 with former Manchester United graduate Donald Love scoring the winner.
However, a late penalty saw Everton beaten 2-1 by Cheltenham, Stoke lost 3-1 to Morecambe after having Liam Edwards sent off, Middlesbrough went down 2-1 to Cambridge United courtesy of a Matty Elsdon own goal and West Ham lost 3-0 at Wycombe.
WHAT IS THE EFL TROPHY AND HOW DOES IT WORK
Clubs:
– 48 clubs from League One & Two.
– 16 invited Category One Academy teams.
Eligibility Criteria:
– EFL Clubs – a minimum of 5 ‘First Team’ players in the starting 11 as defined under the competition’s existing rules.
– Invited Clubs – 6 of the starting 11 to be U21 (as at June 30).
Group Stage:
– 16 groups of 4 teams organised on a regionalised basis.
– Groups to include one invited club and at least one club from each of Leagues One & Two.
– Clubs to play each other once, either home or away. Invited clubs will play one home game at the club’s first team stadium.
– Clubs will be awarded 3 points for a win and 1 point for a draw. In the event of a drawn game (after 90 minutes), a penalty shootout will be held with the winning team earning an additional point.
– The top two teams will progress to the Knockout Stage.
Knockout Stage:
– Round 2 (32 teams) will remain regionalised with each group winner being drawn at home to a second placed team from a different qualifying group.
– Round 3 (16 teams) and Round 4 (8 teams) will be ‘free’ draws.
– Semi-finals (4 teams) will be a ‘free’ draw and will consist of single ties played at the stadium of the club drawn first in each tie.
– If scores are level after 90 minutes in Rounds 2, 3 and 4, the game will be determined by the taking of penalties. The EFL will confirm arrangements for the Semi-Finals and Final in due course following further consultation.
