Crystal Palace Under-21s have a historic opportunity in the EFL Trophy when they travel to Newport County on Tuesday evening, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 GMT. A victory in south Wales would secure the Young Eagles’ place in the knockout stages for the first time since the Academy entered the competition.
Palace currently sit third in Group E with three points, behind Newport County on four and Plymouth Argyle on five. Darren Powell’s side opened the campaign with a 2-1 win against Swindon Town, with Caleb Kporha and Seb Williams on target, before suffering a 5-1 defeat away to Plymouth.
The result at Rodney Parade will determine whether Palace can finally progress beyond the group phase. The club has participated in every edition since the 2021/22 season but has not previously advanced to the knockout rounds.
Powell sees the fixture as an important test for his players against senior opposition. The competition, now titled the Jersey Mike’s Trophy, features 48 League One and League Two clubs alongside 16 Category One academies, giving young players the chance to compete against experienced professionals.
The Palace head coach has urged his squad to concentrate on producing the performance needed to win, while embracing the significance of the occasion. He also believes the match will offer another valuable assessment of which players can handle the demands of senior football.
Newport County v Crystal Palace Under-21s will be available to watch live in the UK on Sky Sports+, through the Sky Sports app and on NOW. Live commentary will also be provided via Palace’s Academy X page, with a match report and reaction to follow after the final whistle.
