Under-21s learn EFL Trophy group stage opponents

The draw for the group stage of the 2023/24 EFL Trophy has been made, with our Under-21s placed into Southern Group D alongside Cambridge United, Colchester United and Peterborough United.

Also drawn into Southern Group D of last season's competition, we met Peterborough in last term's group stage, falling 3-0 at the Weston Homes Stadium. The campaign before, we travelled to Cambridge United where we were edged 1-0 in Southern Group A.

We have also previously met Colchester United in the competition. Making the trip to north Essex in the 2019/20 campaign, we defeated the U's 6-5 on penalties in Southern Group A, having earned a 1-1 in normal time at the JobServe Community Stadium.

The draw for this season’s group stage was conducted today by Danny Cowley and Club Ambassador Michael Dawson, placing the 16 invited Under-21 teams from Premier League and Championship clubs into the previously-drawn groups of EFL sides.

We will face each of the other three clubs in our group away from home, with dates and ticket information to be confirmed in due course.

The competition, which gives young players a chance to test themselves competitively against senior EFL sides, is initially split into northern and southern sections, each with eight groups. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stages.

EFL Trophy southern section draw

Group A: Forest Green Rovers, Shrewsbury Town, Walsall, Brighton U21s
Group B: Charlton Athletic, Crawley Town, Sutton United, Aston Villa U21s
Group C: AFC Wimbledon, Stevenage, Wycombe Wanderers, Crystal Palace U21s
Group D: Cambridge United, Colchester United, Peterborough United, Spurs U21s
Group E: Gillingham, Leyton Orient, Portsmouth, Fulham U21s
Group F: Milton Keynes Dons, Northampton Town, Oxford United, Chelsea U21s
Group G: Exeter City, Reading, Swindon Town, Arsenal U21s
Group H: Bristol Rovers, Cheltenham Town, Newport County, West Ham United U21s