Crystal Palace Under-21s will start their 2026/27 EFL Trophy campaign against Swindon Town at the County Ground on Tuesday, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 BST. Darren Powell’s side have yet to lose this season, having collected two wins and a draw from their opening three matches.
The Young Eagles began with a 1-1 draw at Arsenal in Premier League 2, where Zavier Gozo scored, before Benji Casey and Adler Nascimento found the net in a 2-0 victory at Aston Villa. Palace then produced an impressive 2-1 success over Paris Saint-Germain in the Premier League International Cup, with Nascimento scoring a superb free-kick and Seb Williams adding a half-volley. Harry Lee also saved a penalty in the first half. Nascimento has now scored in consecutive competitive matches after finding the net five times during pre-season.
Swindon currently sit ninth in League Two with 10 points from six matches. Aaron Drinan is their leading scorer with five goals, including a hat-trick in the 3-1 win over Colchester United. The striker scored 28 times in all competitions last season, earning selection in the PFA League Two Team of the Year. Swindon’s latest game ended in a 4-0 defeat at York City, meaning Palace will face a side seeking an immediate response.
The EFL Trophy features League One and League Two clubs alongside 16 Category One academies, including Palace. Its 64 teams are divided into 16 regional groups, with the top two progressing to the knockout rounds. Group matches level after 90 minutes go directly to penalties, with the winning team receiving an extra point. Palace’s Academy previously defeated Swindon 2-0 in the 2022/23 competition, with John-Kymani Gordon scoring both goals.
Ian Holloway, who previously managed Crystal Palace, is now part of the Swindon setup. The Robins are also dealing with injuries to several players, including Ryan Tafazolli, Ollie Clarke and Louis Millard. EFL Trophy regulations require League One and League Two teams to include at least four qualifying first-team players in their starting line-up, providing Powell’s squad with a demanding test.
Tickets for Palace supporters are available from £2, with no increase for purchases made on matchday. The fixture can also be streamed in the UK via Sky Sports+, the Sky Sports app and NOW. Live commentary and post-match coverage will be available through Palace’s Academy channels, with highlights to follow on Palace TV+.
