2020–21 EFL Trophy

2020–21 EFL Trophy
Tournament details
CountryEngland
Wales
Teams64
Defending championsSalford City
Final positions
ChampionsSunderland (1st title)
Runner-upTranmere Rovers
Tournament statistics
Matches played127
Goals scored420 (3.31 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Harvey Saunders
Charlie Wyke
(5 goals each)

The 2020–21 EFL Trophy, known as the Leasing.com Trophy before 28 October 2020 and later the Papa John's Trophy for sponsorship reasons, was the 39th 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.[1]

Salford City were the defending champions; however, the 2020 final was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic until the day prior to the 2021 final. Hence, for most of the tournament, Portsmouth (who won the 2019 final and were also in the 2020 final) were the most recent champions.

Sunderland won the trophy for the first time after beating Tranmere Rovers 1–0 in the final.

Participating clubs

  • 48 clubs from League One and League Two.
  • 16 invited Category One Academy teams.
  • Expelled clubs were automatically eliminated from the tournament.
  • Category One teams relegated to League One missed out on having academies participate in the following tournament.

Four Premier League clubs with Category One academies did not participate: Burnley and Crystal Palace, both in their first full season of Category One status, and Everton and Tottenham Hotspur, who both played in the previous year's competition but declined to participate in this one. A fifth Premier League club's academy, Sheffield United, did not have Category One status. As a result, the academy of Championship-side Norwich City was invited instead.

League One League Two Academies
Clubs
Total 24 24 16

Eligibility criteria for players

For EFL clubs[2]
  • Minimum of four qualifying outfield players in their starting XI. A qualifying outfield player was one who met any of the following requirements:
    • Any player who started the previous or following first-team fixture.
    • Any player who was in the top 10 players at the club who had made the most starting appearances in league and domestic cup competitions that season.
    • Any player with forty 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 could play any eligible goalkeeper in the competition.

Competition format

Group stage
  • Sixteen groups of four teams were organised on a regionalised basis.
  • All groups included one invited club.
  • All clubs played each other once, either home or away (Academies played all group matches away from home).
  • Clubs were awarded three points for a win and one point for a draw.
  • In the event of a drawn game (after 90 minutes), a penalty shoot-out was held with the winning team earning an additional point.
  • Clubs expelled from the EFL were knocked out of the tournament automatically.
  • The top two teams progressed to the knockout stage.
Knockout stage
  • Round 2 and 3 of the competition were drawn on a regionalised basis.
  • In Round 2, the group winners were seeded and the group runners-up were unseeded in the draw.
  • In Round 2, teams who played in the same group as each other in the group stage were kept apart from each other.[3]

Group stage

Northern Section

Group A

Pos Div Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L1 Fleetwood Town 3 3 0 0 0 8 2 +6 9 Advance to Round 2
2 L1 Sunderland 3 2 0 0 1 14 6 +8 6
3 L2 Carlisle United 3 1 0 0 2 7 9 −2 3
4 ACA Aston Villa U21 3 0 0 0 3 2 14 −12 0
Source: EFL.com
1 September 2020 (2020-09-01) Carlisle United 1–3 Fleetwood Town Carlisle
19:00 BST Touré 36' Red card 90' Report Camps 44'
Saunders 57', 68'		 Stadium: Brunton Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Ben Speedie
8 September 2020 (2020-09-08) Sunderland 8–1 Aston Villa U21 Stadium of Light
19:00 BST Wyke 15', 50'
Feeney 21'
Scowen 75'
Power 77'
Graham 82'
Dobson 84'
O'Brien 90'		 Report Vassilev 47' (pen.) Attendance: 0
Referee: Carl Boyeson
6 October 2020 (2020-10-06) Fleetwood Town 3–0 Aston Villa U21 Highbury Stadium
19:45 BST Saunders 3', 4', 15' Attendance: 0
Referee: Peter Wright
6 October 2020 (2020-10-06) Sunderland 5–3 Carlisle United Stadium of Light
19:45 BST Maguire 26', 54'
Hume 37'
Wyke 69'
Diamond 90+1'		 Alessandra 6' (pen.)
Mellish 72', 82'		 Attendance: 0
10 November 2020 (2020-11-10) Fleetwood Town 2–1 Sunderland Highbury Stadium
19:45 GMT McKay 51'
Duffy 59'		 McFadzean 15' Attendance: 0
17 November 2020 (2020-11-17) Carlisle United 3–1 Aston Villa U21 Brunton Park
19:00 GMT Obiero 32'
Touré 55'
Reilly 68'		 Sohna 82' Attendance: 0

Group B

Pos Div Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L2 Salford City 3 2 0 0 1 4 7 −3 6 Advance to Round 2
2 ACA Manchester United U21 3 1 1 0 1 6 4 +2 5
3 L1 Rochdale 3 1 0 1 1 3 3 0 4
4 L2 Morecambe 3 1 0 0 2 5 4 +1 3
Source: EFL.com
8 September 2020 (2020-09-08) Morecambe 1–2 Rochdale Globe Arena
19:45 BST Lavelle 23' Report Tavares 86'
Newby 90+3'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Samuel Barrott
9 September 2020 (2020-09-09) Salford City 0–6 Manchester United U21 Moor Lane
19:45 BST Report Mejbri 8'
Puigmal 19'
Helm 46', 73'
McCann 70'
Elanga 74'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Peter Wright
29 September 2020 (2020-09-29) Rochdale 0–0
(4–5 p)		 Manchester United U21 Spotland Stadium
19:45 BST Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Martin Coy
Penalties
Morley soccer ball with red X
Newby soccer ball with check mark
Tavares soccer ball with check mark
Keohane soccer ball with check mark
Rathbone soccer ball with check mark
Hopper soccer ball with red X		 Mejbri soccer ball with check mark
McCann soccer ball with check mark
Wellens soccer ball with red X
Hansen-Aarøen soccer ball with check mark
Elanga soccer ball with check mark
Hugill soccer ball with check mark
29 September 2020 (2020-09-29) Salford City 2–0 Morecambe Moor Lane
19:45 BST Wilson 45'
Hunter 90+2'		 Report Attendance: 0
Referee: James Bell
10 November 2020 (2020-11-10) Rochdale 1–2 Salford City Spotland Stadium
19:00 GMT Attendance: 0
18 November 2020 (2020-11-18) Morecambe 4–0 Manchester United U21 Globe Arena
18:30 GMT Attendance: 0

Group C

Pos Div Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L1 Shrewsbury Town 3 3 0 0 0 9 4 +5 9 Advance to Round 2
2 L1 Crewe Alexandra 3 2 0 0 1 7 6 +1 6
3 L2 Bolton Wanderers 3 1 0 0 2 6 7 −1 3
4 ACA Newcastle United U21 3 0 0 0 3 2 7 −5 0
Source: EFL.com
8 September 2020 (2020-09-08) Bolton Wanderers 2–3 Crewe Alexandra University of Bolton Stadium
19:00 BST Delaney 53'
Miller 75'		 Report Mandron 15', 89' (pen.)
Dale 66'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Anthony Backhouse
22 September 2020 (2020-09-22) Shrewsbury Town 3–0 Newcastle United U21 New Meadow
17:30 BST High 11'
Barnett 18'
Cummings 55'		 Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Scott Oldham
29 September 2020 (2020-09-29) Crewe Alexandra 1–0 Newcastle United U21 Gresty Road
19:00 BST Pickering 66' Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Robert Lewis
6 October 2020 (2020-10-06) Shrewsbury Town 2–1 Bolton Wanderers New Meadow
19:00 BST Attendance: 0
10 November 2020 (2020-11-10) Crewe Alexandra 3–4 Shrewsbury Town Gresty Road
19:00 GMT Attendance: 0
17 November 2020 (2020-11-17) Bolton Wanderers 3–2 Newcastle United U21 University of Bolton Stadium
19:00 GMT Attendance: 0

Group D

Pos Div Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L2 Port Vale 3 2 1 0 0 7 3 +4 8 Advance to Round 2
2 L2 Tranmere Rovers 3 1 1 1 0 5 4 +1 6
3 L1 Wigan Athletic 3 1 0 1 1 9 6 +3 4
4 ACA Liverpool U21 3 0 0 0 3 5 13 −8 0
Source: EFL.com
8 September 2020 (2020-09-08) Port Vale 0–0
(4–3 p)		 Tranmere Rovers Vale Park
19:00 BST Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Declan Bourne
Penalties
Whitehead soccer ball with check mark
Cullen soccer ball with check mark
Conlon soccer ball with red X
Trickett-Smith soccer ball with red X
Rodney soccer ball with check mark
Fitzpatrick soccer ball with check mark		 Banks soccer ball with check mark
Khan soccer ball with red X
Morris soccer ball with check mark
O'Connor soccer ball with check mark
Payne soccer ball with red X
Walker-Rice soccer ball with red X
22 September 2020 (2020-09-22) Wigan Athletic 6–1 Liverpool U21 DW Stadium
19:45 BST Naismith 47'
Jolley 59', 66'
Crankshaw 79', 90'
Garner 81' (pen.)		 Report Clarkson 44' Attendance: 0
Referee: Andy Haines
29 September 2020 (2020-09-29) Tranmere Rovers 3–2 Liverpool U21 Prenton Park
19:00 BST Vaughan 74', 75'
Payne 90'		 Report Cain 50'
Longstaff 83'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Scott Oldham
6 October 2020 (2020-10-06) Wigan Athletic 1–3 Port Vale DW Stadium
19:45 BST Pearce 79' Report Robinson 13', 30'
Montaño 55'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Samuel Barrott
10 November 2020 (2020-11-10) Port Vale 4–2 Liverpool U21 Vale Park
19:00 GMT Cullen 12'
Hurst 19'
McKirdy 61'
Rodney 64'		 Report Millar 11', 34' Attendance: 0
Referee: Thomas Bramall
11 November 2020 (2020-11-11) Tranmere Rovers 2–2
(3–1 p)		 Wigan Athletic Birkenhead
18:30 GMT Woolery 45+1'
Morris 72'		 Report Keane 19'
McHugh 45+3'		 Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Ben Speedie
Penalties
Ferrier soccer ball with red X
Lloyd soccer ball with check mark
Smith soccer ball with red X
Banks soccer ball with check mark
Morris soccer ball with check mark		 James soccer ball with check mark
Joseph soccer ball with red X
Perry soccer ball with red X
Crankshaw soccer ball with red X

Group E

Pos Div Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 ACA Manchester City U21 3 2 0 1 0 8 1 +7 7 Advance to Round 2
2 L1 Lincoln City 3 1 2 0 0 5 3 +2 7
3 L2 Mansfield Town 3 1 0 0 2 3 7 −4 3
4 L2 Scunthorpe United 3 0 0 1 2 2 7 −5 1
Source: EFL.com
8 September 2020 (2020-09-08) Mansfield Town 0–3 Manchester City U21 Field Mill
18:00 BST Report Bernabé 25'
Delap 89', 90+1'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Tom Nield
8 September 2020 (2020-09-08) Lincoln City 1–1
(4–2 p)		 Scunthorpe United Sincil Bank
19:00 BST Anderson 80' Report Cordner 38' Attendance: 0
Referee: James Oldham
Penalties
Howarth soccer ball with check mark
Montsma soccer ball with check mark
Scully soccer ball with check mark
Jones soccer ball with check mark		 Jarvis soccer ball with red X
Vincent soccer ball with check mark
Hippolyte soccer ball with red X
Gilliead soccer ball with check mark
29 September 2020 (2020-09-29) Scunthorpe United 0–4 Manchester City U21 Glanford Park
19:00 BST Report Knight 17', 63'
Edozie 58', 66'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: James Adcock
6 October 2020 (2020-10-06) Mansfield Town 1–3 Lincoln City Field Mill
19:00 BST Menayese 72' Report Soule 31'
Scully 49'
Archibald 62'		 Attendance: 0
10 November 2020 (2020-11-10) Scunthorpe United 1–2 Mansfield Town Glanford Park
19:00 GMT Attendance: 0
17 November 2020 (2020-11-17) Lincoln City 1–1
(4–3 p)		 Manchester City U21 Sincil Bank
19:00 GMT Attendance: 0

Group F

Pos Div Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L2 Oldham Athletic 3 3 0 0 0 9 1 +8 9 Advance to Round 2
2 ACA Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 3 1 1 0 1 3 6 −3 5
3 L2 Bradford City 3 0 0 2 1 2 4 −2 2
4 L1 Doncaster Rovers 3 0 1 0 2 1 4 −3 2
Source: EFL.com
8 September 2020 (2020-09-08) Doncaster Rovers 0–0
(4–1 p)		 Bradford City Keepmoat Stadium
19:30 BST Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Seb Stockbridge
Penalties
Whiteman soccer ball with check mark
Okenabirhie soccer ball with check mark
Coppinger soccer ball with check mark
Williams soccer ball with check mark		 Guthrie soccer ball with check mark
Pritchard soccer ball with red X
Longridge soccer ball with red X
15 September 2020 (2020-09-15) Oldham Athletic 4–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 Boundary Park
19:45 BST Rowe 42'
Grant 85'
McAleny 88', 90+1'		 Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Graham Salisbury
6 October 2020 (2020-10-06) Bradford City 1–1
(3–5 p)		 Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 Valley Parade
19:30 BST Report Attendance: 0
Penalties
Pritchard soccer ball with check mark
Hosannah soccer ball with check mark
Shanks soccer ball with red X
Scales soccer ball with check mark		 Samuels soccer ball with check mark
Hoever soccer ball with check mark
Shabani soccer ball with check mark
Corbeanu soccer ball with check mark
Sanderson soccer ball with check mark
6 October 2020 (2020-10-06) Oldham Athletic 2–0 Doncaster Rovers Boundary Park
19:45 BST Attendance: 0
10 November 2020 (2020-11-10) Doncaster Rovers 1–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 Keepmoat Stadium
19:00 GMT Attendance: 0
10 November 2020 (2020-11-10) Bradford City 1–3 Oldham Athletic Valley Parade
19:30 GMT Attendance: 0

Group G

Pos Div Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L1 Accrington Stanley 3 2 1 0 0 9 1 +8 8 Advance to Round 2
2 L1 Blackpool 3 1 1 1 0 4 1 +3 6
3 L2 Barrow 3 0 1 1 1 2 3 −1 3
4 ACA Leeds United U21 3 0 0 1 2 2 12 −10 1
Source: EFL.com
8 September 2020 (2020-09-08) Accrington Stanley 7–0 Leeds United U21 Crown Ground
19:00 BST Uwakwe 5', 22', 72'
Burgess 14'
Charles 30'
Cassidy 38', 55'		 Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Ben Toner
8 September 2020 (2020-09-08) Blackpool 0–0
(5–3 p)		 Barrow Bloomfield Road
19:00 BST Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Martin Coy
Penalties
Yates soccer ball with check mark
Lubala soccer ball with check mark
Anderson soccer ball with check mark
Ward soccer ball with check mark
Kemp soccer ball with check mark		 Quigley soccer ball with check mark
Brown soccer ball with red X
Gribbin soccer ball with check mark
Taylor soccer ball with check mark
5 October 2020 (2020-10-05) Barrow 2–2
(4–3 p)		 Leeds United U21 Holker Street
19:45 BST Angus 62'
Taylor 80'		 Report Dean 11', 38' Attendance: 0
Referee: Marc Edwards
Penalties
Angus soccer ball with check mark
James soccer ball with check mark
Taylor soccer ball with red X
Hird soccer ball with red X
Kay soccer ball with check mark
Taylor soccer ball with check mark		 Summerville soccer ball with check mark
Shackleton soccer ball with red X
Galloway soccer ball with check mark
Gibbon soccer ball with red X
Dean soccer ball with check mark
Jenkins soccer ball with red X
6 October 2020 (2020-10-06) Accrington Stanley 1–1
(4–3 p)		 Blackpool Crown Ground
19:00 BST Bishop 79' Report Anderson 10' Attendance: 0
Referee: Ben Speedie
Penalties
Bishop soccer ball with red X
Charles soccer ball with check mark
Sykes soccer ball with check mark
Pritchard soccer ball with check mark
Scully soccer ball with check mark		 Yates soccer ball with check mark
Robson soccer ball with check mark
Anderson soccer ball with check mark
Ward soccer ball with red X
Kemp soccer ball with red X
10 November 2020 (2020-11-10) Barrow 0–1 Accrington Stanley Holker Street
19:45 GMT Attendance: 0
11 November 2020 (2020-11-11) Blackpool 3–0 Leeds United U21 Bloomfield Road
19:45 GMT Attendance: 0

Group H

Pos Div Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L1 Hull City 3 2 0 0 1 6 2 +4 6 Advance to Round 2
2 ACA Leicester City U21 3 2 0 0 1 6 5 +1 6
3 L2 Harrogate Town 3 1 0 1 1 5 5 0 4
4 L2 Grimsby Town 3 0 1 0 2 3 8 −5 2
Source: EFL.com
8 September 2020 (2020-09-08) Hull City 1–2 Leicester City U21 KCOM Stadium
17:30 BST Lewis-Potter 66' Report Wright 50'
Hirst 90+5'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Ross Joyce
8 September 2020 (2020-09-08) Grimsby Town 2–2
(5–4 p)		 Harrogate Town Blundell Park
19:45 BST Gibson 36' (pen.)
Boyd 74'
Khouri Red card 90'		 Report Kiernan 81'
Lokko 86'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: David Hunt
Penalties
Gibson soccer ball with check mark
Taylor soccer ball with check mark
Edwards soccer ball with check mark
Starbuck soccer ball with check mark
Jackson soccer ball with check mark		 Thompson soccer ball with check mark
Martin soccer ball with check mark
Beck soccer ball with check mark
Burrell soccer ball with check mark
Kerry soccer ball with red X
6 October 2020 (2020-10-06) Harrogate Town 3–1 Leicester City U21 Keepmoat Stadium[a]
19:45 BST Attendance: 0
10 November 2020 (2020-11-10) Grimsby Town 1–3 Leicester City U21 Blundell Park
19:45 GMT Attendance: 0
10 November 2020 (2020-11-10) Harrogate Town 0–2 Hull City Wetherby Road
19:45 GMT Attendance: 0
17 November 2020 (2020-11-17) Hull City 3–0 Grimsby Town KCOM Stadium
19:45 BST Attendance: 0
  1. ^ Match played at Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster due to ongoing pitch renovations at Wetherby Road.

Southern Section

Group A

Pos Div Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 ACA West Ham United U21 3 3 0 0 0 5 1 +4 9 Advance to Round 2
2 L1 Portsmouth 3 2 0 0 1 5 1 +4 6
3 L2 Colchester United 3 1 0 0 2 6 4 +2 3
4 L2 Southend United 3 0 0 0 3 2 12 −10 0
Source: EFL.com
8 September 2020 (2020-09-08) Southend United 1–3 West Ham United U21 Roots Hall
17:30 BST Humphrys 13' Report Odubeko 2', 84'
Coventry 90+1'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: David Rock
8 September 2020 (2020-09-08) Portsmouth 2–0 Colchester United Fratton Park
19:00 BST Harness 37', 38' Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Craig Hick
29 September 2020 (2020-09-29) Colchester United 0–1 West Ham United U21 Colchester Community Stadium
19:00 BST Report Coventry 61' Attendance: 0
Referee: Sam Purkiss
6 October 2020 (2020-10-06) Southend United 0–3 Portsmouth Roots Hall
19:45 BST Attendance: 0
10 November 2020 (2020-11-10) Colchester United 6–1 Southend United Colchester Community Stadium
19:30 GMT Attendance: 0
10 November 2020 (2020-11-10) Portsmouth 0–1 West Ham United U21 Fratton Park
19:45 GMT Attendance: 0

Group B

Pos Div Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 ACA Arsenal U21 3 2 1 0 0 5 3 +2 8 Advance to Round 2
2 L1 Gillingham 3 1 0 1 1 3 4 −1 4
3 L2 Crawley Town 3 1 0 0 2 4 4 0 3
4 L1 Ipswich Town 3 1 0 0 2 3 4 −1 3
Source: EFL.com
8 September 2020 (2020-09-08) Gillingham 2–1 Crawley Town Priestfield Stadium
17:30 BST Coyle 40'
Oliver 50'		 Report Ferguson 78' Attendance: 0
Referee: Paul Howard
8 September 2020 (2020-09-08) Ipswich Town 1–2 Arsenal U21 Portman Road
19:45 BST Nolan 26' Report Lewis 45+1'
Balogun 54'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Neil Hair
6 October 2020 (2020-10-06) Ipswich Town 2–0 Gillingham Portman Road
19:00 BST Dobra 57' Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Charles Breakspear
13 October 2020 (2020-10-13) Crawley Town 1–2 Arsenal U21 Broadfield Stadium
19:45 BST Watters 37' Report McEneff 15'
Azeez 55'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Alan Young
10 November 2020 (2020-11-10) Crawley Town 2–0 Ipswich Town Broadfield Stadium
19:00 GMT Galach 17', 55' Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Sam Purkiss
10 November 2020 (2020-11-10) Gillingham 1–1
(2–4 p)		 Arsenal U21 Priestfield Stadium
19:00 GMT Coyle 56' Report Cîrjan 6' Attendance: 0
Referee: Will Finnie
Penalties
Coyle soccer ball with check mark
Samuel soccer ball with red X
McKenzie soccer ball with red X
Eccles soccer ball with check mark		 Balogun soccer ball with check mark
Moller soccer ball with check mark
Cottrell soccer ball with check mark
Cîrjan soccer ball with check mark

Group C

Pos Div Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L1 Milton Keynes Dons 3 2 0 0 1 7 5 +2 6 Advance to Round 2
2 L1 Northampton Town 3 1 1 0 1 6 3 +3 5
3 L2 Stevenage 3 1 0 1 1 4 4 0 4
4 ACA Southampton U21 3 1 0 0 2 3 8 −5 3
Source: EFL.com
8 September 2020 (2020-09-08) Milton Keynes Dons 3–1 Northampton Town Stadium MK
19:00 BST Poole 34'
Nombe 74'
Sorinola 77'		 Report Mills 13' Attendance: 0
Referee: Christopher Pollard
22 September 2020 (2020-09-22) Stevenage 2–1 Southampton U21 Broadhall Way
19:45 BST Dinanga 45+3'
Marsh 90+2'		 Report Slattery 37' Attendance: 0
Referee: Alan Young
6 October 2020 (2020-10-06) Northampton Town 5–0 Southampton U21 Sixfields Stadium
19:45 BST Attendance: 0
6 October 2020 (2020-10-06) Stevenage 2–3 Milton Keynes Dons Broadhall Way
19:45 BST Attendance: 0
11 November 2020 (2020-11-11) Milton Keynes Dons 1–2 Southampton U21 Stadium MK
19:45 GMT Attendance: 0
17 November 2020 (2020-11-17) Northampton Town 0–0
(4–2 p)		 Stevenage Sixfields Stadium
19:30 GMT Attendance: 0

Group D

Pos Div Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L1 Oxford United 3 2 1 0 0 4 2 +2 8 Advance to Round 2
2 L1 Bristol Rovers 3 1 0 2 0 7 6 +1 5
3 L2 Walsall 3 0 1 1 1 3 4 −1 3
4 ACA Chelsea U21 3 0 1 0 2 5 7 −2 2
Source: EFL.com
8 September 2020 (2020-09-08) Bristol Rovers 2–2
(2–4 p)		 Walsall Memorial Stadium
19:45 BST Mehew 16' Ayunga 71' Jules 29' Gordon 64' Attendance: 0
Penalties
Kelly soccer ball with red X
Harries soccer ball with red X
Hare soccer ball with check mark
Ayunga soccer ball with check mark		 Norman soccer ball with check mark
McDonald soccer ball with check mark
Holden soccer ball with red X
Lavery soccer ball with check mark
Gordon soccer ball with check mark
8 September 2020 (2020-09-08) Oxford United 2–1 Chelsea U21 Kassam Stadium
19:45 BST Agyei 17'
Osei 45+2'		 Report Russell 53' Attendance: 0
Referee: Trevor Kettle
29 September 2020 (2020-09-29) Walsall 1–1
(3–5 p)		 Chelsea U21 Bescot Stadium
19:45 BST McDonald 53' Report Simeu 69' Attendance: 0
Referee: Brett Huxtable
Penalties
Norman soccer ball with red X
Holden soccer ball with check mark
Adebayo soccer ball with check mark
Lavery soccer ball with check mark		 Russell soccer ball with check mark
Flabema soccer ball with check mark
Ballo soccer ball with check mark
Simeu soccer ball with check mark
Maatsen soccer ball with check mark
6 October 2020 (2020-10-06) Oxford United 1–1
(4–3 p)		 Bristol Rovers Kassam Stadium
19:00 BST Osei 89' Report Mehew 12' Attendance: 0
Referee: Neil Hair
Penalties
Osei soccer ball with check mark
Agyei soccer ball with red X
McGuane soccer ball with check mark
Hall soccer ball with check mark
Brannagan soccer ball with check mark		 Leahy soccer ball with check mark
Upson soccer ball with red X
Hare soccer ball with check mark
Hargreaves soccer ball with check mark
Baldwin soccer ball with red X
10 November 2020 (2020-11-10) Walsall 0–1 Oxford United Bescot Stadium
19:45 GMT Attendance: 0
18 November 2020 (2020-11-18) Bristol Rovers 4–3 Chelsea U21 Memorial Stadium
19:45 GMT Attendance: 0

Group E

Pos Div Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L2 Exeter City 3 3 0 0 0 11 5 +6 9 Advance to Round 2
2 L2 Forest Green Rovers 3 1 0 0 2 5 4 +1 3
3 L1 Swindon Town 3 1 0 0 2 6 7 −1 3
4 ACA West Bromwich Albion U21 3 1 0 0 2 3 9 −6 3
Source: EFL.com
8 September 2020 (2020-09-08) Exeter City 3–2 Forest Green Rovers St James Park
17:30 BST Ajose 45+1'
Jay 57'
Key 67'		 Report Stevens 5', 51' Attendance: 0
Referee: Sam Allison
8 September 2020 (2020-09-08) Swindon Town 2–3 West Bromwich Albion U21 County Ground
19:45 BST Smith 72'
Caddis 75'		 Report Dyce 27'
Windsor 47'
Gardner-Hickman 74'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Chris Sarginson
6 October 2020 (2020-10-06) Forest Green Rovers 3–0 West Bromwich Albion U21 The New Lawn
19:45 BST Attendance: 0
6 October 2020 (2020-10-06) Swindon Town 3–4 Exeter City County Ground
19:00 BST Attendance: 0
10 November 2020 (2020-11-10) Forest Green Rovers 0–1 Swindon Town The New Lawn
19:00 GMT Attendance: 0
17 November 2020 (2020-11-17) Exeter City 4–0 West Bromwich Albion U21 St James Park
19:45 GMT Attendance: 0

Group F

Pos Div Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L2 Cheltenham Town 3 3 0 0 0 4 0 +4 9 Advance to Round 2
2 ACA Norwich City U21 3 2 0 0 1 8 3 +5 6
3 L1 Plymouth Argyle 3 1 0 0 2 5 6 −1 3
4 L2 Newport County 3 0 0 0 3 1 9 −8 0
Source: EFL.com
8 September 2020 (2020-09-08) Newport County 0–1 Cheltenham Town Rodney Parade
19:00 BST Report Reid 70' Attendance: 0
Referee: James Adcock
8 September 2020 (2020-09-08) Plymouth Argyle 2–3 Norwich City U21 Home Park
19:45 BST Lolos 39' (pen.)
Telford 63'		 Report Hondermarck 26'
Omotoye 54'
Dennis 67'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Andy Davies
6 October 2020 (2020-10-06) Newport County 0–5 Norwich City U21 Rodney Parade
19:00 BST Attendance: 0
6 October 2020 (2020-10-06) Cheltenham Town 2–0 Plymouth Argyle Whaddon Road
19:45 BST Attendance: 0
10 November 2020 (2020-11-10) Plymouth Argyle 3–1 Newport County Home Park
19:00 GMT Attendance: 0
10 November 2020 (2020-11-10) Cheltenham Town 1–0 Norwich City U21 Whaddon Road
19:00 GMT Attendance: 0

Group G

Pos Div Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L2 Leyton Orient 3 2 0 0 1 6 5 +1 6 Advance to Round 2
2 L1 AFC Wimbledon 3 2 0 0 1 4 3 +1 6
3 L1 Charlton Athletic 3 1 1 0 1 5 4 +1 5
4 ACA Brighton & Hove Albion U21 3 0 0 1 2 3 6 −3 1
Source: EFL.com
1 September 2020 (2020-09-01) AFC Wimbledon 2–1 Charlton Athletic Loftus Road[a]
17:30 BST Roscrow 46'
Thomas 58'		 Report Oztumer 21' Attendance: 0
Referee: Carl Brook
8 September 2020 (2020-09-08) Leyton Orient 3–2 Brighton & Hove Albion U21 Brisbane Road
19:00 BST Ling 36'
Johnson 55'
Wilkinson 90+5'		 Report Wilson 84', 88' Attendance: 0
Referee: Sam Purkiss
22 September 2020 (2020-09-22) AFC Wimbledon 2–0 Brighton & Hove Albion U21 Broadfield Stadium[b]
18:00 BST Robinson 20'
Roscrow 87'		 Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Craig Hicks
30 September 2020 (2020-09-30) Charlton Athletic 1–1
(4–1 p)		 Brighton & Hove Albion U21 The Valley
19:00 BST Morgan 48' Report Lapslie 30' (o.g.) Attendance: 0
Referee: Lee Swabey
Penalties
Vennings soccer ball with check mark
Morgan soccer ball with check mark
Henry soccer ball with check mark
Davison soccer ball with check mark		 Spong soccer ball with red X
Yapi soccer ball with check mark
Vukoje soccer ball with red X
6 October 2020 (2020-10-06) Leyton Orient 2–0 AFC Wimbledon Brisbane Road
19:00 BST Angol 33'
Wilkinson 74'		 Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Sam Allison
10 November 2020 (2020-11-10) Charlton Athletic 3–1 Leyton Orient The Valley
19:00 GMT Aouachria 12'
Mingi 64'
Maddison 74'		 Report Dennis 67' Attendance: 0
Referee: Charles Breakspear
  1. ^ Match played at Loftus Road in White City, London due to ongoing construction at Plough Lane.
  2. ^ Match played at Broadfield Stadium in Crawley due to ongoing construction at Plough Lane.

Group H

Pos Div Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L2 Cambridge United 3 2 1 0 0 7 3 +4 8 Advance to Round 2
2 L1 Peterborough United 3 1 1 1 0 8 6 +2 6
3 L1 Burton Albion 3 0 1 1 1 6 8 −2 3
4 ACA Fulham U21 3 0 0 1 2 3 7 −4 1
Source: EFL.com
8 September 2020 (2020-09-08) Peterborough United 3–3
(5–4 p)		 Burton Albion London Road Stadium
19:00 BST Clarke 3'
Reed 23'
Mason 68'		 Report Lawless 44'
Powell 52', 55'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Will Finnie
Penalties
Burrows soccer ball with check mark
Hamilton soccer ball with check mark
Reed soccer ball with check mark
Eisa soccer ball with check mark
Clarke soccer ball with check mark		 Bostwick soccer ball with check mark
Fox soccer ball with check mark
Powell soccer ball with check mark
O'Toole soccer ball with check mark
Gilligan soccer ball with red X
8 September 2020 (2020-09-08) Cambridge United 2–0 Fulham U21 Abbey Stadium
19:45 BST Knowles 24'
Mullin 84'		 Report Attendance: 862[4]
Referee: Darren Drysdale
6 October 2020 (2020-10-06) Burton Albion 2–4 Cambridge United Pirelli Stadium
19:45 BST Akins 3'
Powell 4'		 Report Knibbs 27'
Hannant 31', 86'
Darling 79'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Ross Joyce
6 October 2020 (2020-10-06) Peterborough United 4–2 Fulham U21 London Road Stadium
19:45 BST Eisa 24'
Szmodics 49'
Clarke 56'
Boyd 76'		 Report Harris 52'
Tiehi 72'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Trevor Kettle
10 November 2020 (2020-11-10) Burton Albion 1–1
(4–1 p)		 Fulham U21 Pirelli Stadium
19:45 GMT Edwards 34' Report Hemmings 10' (o.g.) Attendance: 0
Referee: Robert Lewis
Penalties
Hemmings soccer ball with check mark
Lawless soccer ball with check mark
Hart soccer ball with check mark
Gilligan soccer ball with check mark		 Biereth soccer ball with red X
Harris soccer ball with red X
Pajaziti soccer ball with check mark
10 November 2020 (2020-11-10) Cambridge United 1–1
(3–1 p)		 Peterborough United Abbey Stadium
19:45 GMT Worman 86' Report Clarke 48' Attendance: 0
Referee: John Busby
Penalties
Dunk soccer ball with check mark
Knowles soccer ball with check mark
Dallas soccer ball with check mark		 Burrows soccer ball with red X
Hamilton soccer ball with check mark
Tasdemir soccer ball with red X
Eisa soccer ball with red X

Round 2

Northern section

8 December 2020 (2020-12-08) Hull City 0–0
(3–2 p)		Crewe AlexandraKingston upon Hull
17:30 GMT Report Stadium: KCOM Stadium
Attendance: 0
Penalties
8 December 2020 (2020-12-08) Shrewsbury Town1–4 Lincoln City Shrewsbury
19:00 GMT Tracey 44' Report Scully 18'
Elbouzedi 40'
Howarth 67'
Grant 78' (pen.)		 Stadium: New Meadow
8 December 2020 (2020-12-08) Salford City3–3
(5–6 p)		 Leicester City U21 Salford
19:00 GMT Thomas-Asante 24'
Dieseruvwe 55', 78'		 Report Muskwe 64', 69'
Flynn 83'		 Stadium: Moor Lane
Attendance: 0
Penalties
8 December 2020 (2020-12-08) Port Vale 2–1Wolverhampton Wanderers U21Burslem
19:00 GMT McKirdy 30'
Mills 80'		 Report Perry 20' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 0
8 December 2020 (2020-12-08) Tranmere Rovers 2–1Manchester City U21Birkenhead
19:00 GMT Lloyd 27'
Banks 88' (pen.)		 Report Delap 17' Stadium: Prenton Park
8 December 2020 (2020-12-08) Accrington Stanley 3–2Manchester United U21Accrington
19:00 GMT Burgess 8'
Pritchard 67', 85'		 Report Pellistri 39'
Elanga 61'		 Stadium: Crown Ground
Attendance: 0
Referee: Thomas Bramall
8 December 2020 (2020-12-08) Oldham Athletic1–2 Sunderland Oldham
19:00 GMT Grant 13' Report Maguire 30'
Scowen 64'		 Stadium: Boundary Park
Attendance: 0
8 December 2020 (2020-12-08) Fleetwood Town 0–0
(5–4 p)		BlackpoolFleetwood
19:45 GMT Report Stadium: Highbury Stadium
Attendance: 0
Penalties

Southern section

8 December 2020 (2020-12-08) AFC Wimbledon 3–0Arsenal U21Wimbledon, London
18:00 GMT
Report Stadium: Plough Lane
Referee: Christopher Pollard
8 December 2020 (2020-12-08) Milton Keynes Dons 6–0Norwich City U21Milton Keynes
19:00 GMT
Report Stadium: Stadium MK
Referee: Will Finnie
8 December 2020 (2020-12-08) Peterborough United 3–0West Ham United U21Peterborough
19:00 GMT
Report Stadium: London Road Stadium
Referee: Paul Howard
8 December 2020 (2020-12-08) Oxford United 1–1
(4–1 p)		Forest Green RoversOxford
19:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Kassam Stadium
Referee: Craig Hicks
Penalties
8 December 2020 (2020-12-08) Exeter City1–2 Northampton Town Exeter
19:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: St James Park
Referee: Carl Brook
8 December 2020 (2020-12-08) Cheltenham Town0–3 Portsmouth Cheltenham
19:00 GMT Report
Stadium: Whaddon Road
Referee: Kevin Johnson
8 December 2020 (2020-12-08) Leyton Orient1–2 Bristol Rovers Leyton, London
19:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Brisbane Road
Attendance: 574
Referee: Alan Young
8 December 2020 (2020-12-08) Cambridge United 2–0GillinghamCambridge
19:45 GMT
Report Stadium: Abbey Stadium
Referee: David Rock

Round 3

Northern section

12 January 2021 Sunderland 2–0Port ValeSunderland
18:00 GMT O'Brien 21'
McGeady 90+7' (pen.)		 Stadium: Stadium of Light
Referee: Declan Bourne
12 January 2021 Lincoln City 4–0Accrington StanleyLincoln
19:00 GMT Elbouzedi 32'
Gotts 53'
Johnson 62'
Grant 90+2'		 Stadium: Sincil Bank
Referee: Chris Sarginson
12 January 2021 Hull City 3–2Fleetwood TownKingston upon Hull
17:30 GMT Wilks 78'
Lewis-Potter 80'
Coyle 90+4'		 Madden 8'
Burns 53'		 Stadium: KCOM Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Ross Joyce
13 January 2021 Tranmere Rovers 4–2Leicester City U21Birkenhead
19:30 GMT Ferrier 4'
Lloyd 37', 45+1'
Blackett-Taylor 53'		 Wakeling 36'
Suengchitthawon 56'		 Stadium: Prenton Park
Referee: Marc Edwards

Southern section

12 January 2021 Bristol Rovers0–1 AFC Wimbledon Bristol
19:00 GMT Rudoni 61' Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Referee: John Busby
12 January 2021 Northampton Town0–2 Milton Keynes Dons Northampton
19:45 GMT Walker 27', 83' (pen.) Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Referee: Craig Hicks
12 January 2021 Oxford United 1–0Cambridge UnitedOxford
19:45 GMT Hall 74' Stadium: Kassam Stadium
Referee: Charles Breakspear
12 January 2021 Peterborough United 5–1PortsmouthPeterborough
19:45 GMT Taylor 15'
Clarke-Harris 29'
Kent 45+1'
Dembélé 52'
Hamilton 87'		 Harrison 90+2' Stadium: London Road Stadium
Referee: Robert Lewis

Quarter-finals

2 February 2021 Milton Keynes Dons0–3 Sunderland Milton Keynes
18:30 GMT Report Lewington 12' (o.g.)
McGeady 76'
Wyke 82'		 Stadium: Stadium MK
Attendance: 0
Referee: Thomas Bramall
2 February 2021 Tranmere Rovers 2–1Peterborough UnitedBirkenhead
19:00 GMT Lloyd 38'
Lewis 82'		 Clarke-Harris 90+1' (pen.) Stadium: Prenton Park
2 February 2021 Oxford United 3–1AFC WimbledonOxford
19:00 GMT Winnall 13', 29'
Shodipo 52'		 Chislett 78' Stadium: Kassam Stadium
2 February 2021 Hull City1–1
(3–4 p)		 Lincoln City Kingston upon Hull
19:45 GMT Docherty 60' Anderson 7' Stadium: KCOM Stadium

Semi-finals

16 February 2021 Oxford United0–2 Tranmere Rovers Oxford
18:00 GMT Report
Stadium: Kassam Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Craig Hicks
17 February 2021 Sunderland 1–1
(5–3 p)		Lincoln CitySunderland
18:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Stadium of Light
Attendance: 0
Referee: Ben Toner

Final

Main article: 2021 EFL Trophy Final
Sunderland1–0Tranmere Rovers
 Report
Attendance: 0
Referee: Charles Breakspear

References

  1. ^ "About The Competition". EFL.com. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  2. ^ The Bolton News: "Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt plans changes for Crewe EFL Trophy clash"
  3. ^ "EFL Trophy explained". Premier League. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  4. ^ "Fans return to competitive football as Cambridge beat Fulham Under-21s". Yahoo News. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.