Lincoln City 2 : 0 Notts County
Lincoln City ran out 2-0 comfortable winners in the EFL trophy to Notts County as they progressed through to the knockout stages of the competition.
In front of just over 2,000 fans at the LNR stadium on Tuesday, both sides made changes to their starting line ups calling upon younger players from their respective squads in what was an interesting night for both sides to see how far their young players have progressed towards preparing for regular first team football.
With County key striker Macaulay Langstaff in their starting XI, it was an opportunity for him to impress against League one opposition as he had already adapted to life in the football league having scored 50 plus goals to get the Magpies promoted from the National League.
However, up against the experienced TJ Eyoma, Adam Jackson and Paudie O’Connor, it proved to be a difficult night for the visiting strikers with limited service and opportunity.
They did start brighter in the game and if Langstaff had been more alert in the fourth minute, it could have been the visitors that took an early lead.
A deep corner to the far post was headed back across goal by Jim O’Brien, uncharacteristically, Langstaff wasn’t alert to the opportunity as the ball bounced harmlessly across the face of goal with keeper right rooted to his line.
Serving as a shot in the arm to the home side, Lincoln’s youthful energy in attack and midfield started to press higher up the pitch. County’s possession game fell away poorly, giving the ball away from defensive positions which paved the way for the home side to apply pressure.
Lincoln threatened twice but just couldn’t apply the finishing touch without an experienced striker on the pitch. The Imps did get their rewards in the sixth minute in a manner which would not have pleased Magpies’ Head Coach Luke Williams.
Coventry City loanee Jack Burroughs could hardly believe his luck as he scored his first Lincoln goal, being allowed to carry the ball a full 40 yards from the right hand side without a Notts defender to oppose him.
With the Magpies’ backline in two minds whether to come across or to mark the strikers in the box, Burroughs took full advantage of the indecision as he drove into the box to slot calmy past Stone in goal.
Notts continued to play their possession football but struggled to make any real impact on the stingy Lincoln defence. Naive at times, after winning free kicks in good positions just outside the edge of the box, they were guilty of trying to over think those situations, squandering their limited first half opportunities.
Going slightly more direct earlier in the second period, a couple of dangerous opportunities fell to the visiting striker Adebayo who could not capitalise. A stooping header at the far post could only find the advertising boards and when found unmarked at the back post moments later, he carelessly missed the flight of the ball when well positioned.
Lincoln weathered the pressure with hard work. They remained well organised to quell Notts possession and keep them at arms length. It was youngster Jack Vale that extended Lincoln’s lead on 67 minutes. Following a neat passage of play on the counter, Yale receive the ball on the left hand side of the box with plenty of work still to do.
As he drove into the area, he weaved his way in between two Notts defenders before composing himself to smartly roll the ball past Stone and into the empty net. The goal was to be Yale’s last moment of the match, using up his last burst of energy on the evening having tirelessly worked his socks off against the opposing centre halves.
Fellow youngster, Dylan Duffy also impressed in midfield with a host of smart touches and box to box running which bought plaudits from his from his manager at the final whistle. Before retiring with cramp, the left footed Duffy attempted an audacious 45 yard lob which didn’t fall too far away from the relieved Magpies keeper.
Lincoln should have wrapped things up in the final minute with an almost carbon copy of their first goal. Burroughs was again given the freedom of Lincolnshire to run into the box with no Notts County defenders in sight. He once again bore down but this time couldn’t apply the the finish to increase the Imps two goal advantage.
At full time, Imps manager Tom Shaw, was delighted with his players application, particularly his youngsters performances across the pitch.
“I have so much admiration for this group. The results we have had is a disappointing one on Saturday but the admiration I have for this group of players we have got 70% of our forward line on available and I think that gets forgotten a little bit. So what would Man City look like without that Liverpool?
“About three quarters of the forward line it affects any group of players and lads have had some big results in the league with a very excited fixture on Saturday. A Disappointing one on Saturday that we have to we have to swallow. But tonight they’ve bounced back and show big character personality and I think they’re brilliant group of players.
“I think they have massive potential. We’ve got our feet on the ground and we know we’ve got loads of work on as a group but tonight has given us off a really nice platform for the weekend”
Lincoln host Port Vale on Saturday hoping to put a couple of defeats in the league behind them but having progressed into the knockout stages, they could be pitted against the likes of Nottingham Forest and Derby County’s Under 21’s teams.
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Rotherham United are close to becoming the first northern team to win an EFL double after they beat Sutton United 4-2 in the Papa John’s Trophy final.
The Millers were 2-1 down against the League Two outfit until the 96th minute when Jordi Osei-Tutu scored to send the final to extra time. Paul Warne’s side soon showed too much for Sutton and went on to score twice in the extra 30 minutes to win the EFL Trophy for the second time in their history.
Should they now go on to win the League One title they will be only the fifth team to win the cup and win their respective domestic league for that season, and the first northern side in the English football league to do so.
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Rotherham break Sutton hearts in the 96th minute
Rotherham went into Sunday’s final at Wembley Stadium as the favourites to lift the trophy, with Sutton competing in their first ever season in the EFL. Despite the latter performing very well so far in League Two, the Millers currently occupy the top spot in League One and are close to returning to the Championship.
However, it was the Us who struck first. Will Randall was able to win possession when Rotherham striker Michael Smith failed to clear a cross from David Ajiboye. He soon laid it into the path of Donovan Wilson who had far too much time and space on the edge of the area, and fired home into the bottom right corner.
With half-time approaching, the Millers were able to respond through Ben Wiles. Joshua Kayode did well to bring the ball down and feed it to his teammate, with the midfielder proceeding to take two touches and fire it into the roof of the net from range.
The EFL newcomers refused to give up though and they took the lead once again shortly after the break. Captain Craig Eastmond showed great patience as his first attempt on goal was blocked by Michael Ihiekwe, but he was able to convert on the rebound.
Sutton held on for the majority of the second half, with Rotherham struggling to find an equaliser. However in the sixth minute of added time substitute Osei-Tutu saw his shot on goal deflect into the top right corner, sparking jubilant scenes from the South Yorkshire faithful.
Extra time was required, and Rotherham scored in the 96th minute once again to take the lead for the first time all day. Chiedozie Ogbene lined up a shot in space from outside the box and fired a superb effort past Sutton goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis.
Ihiekwe then made it game, set and match eight minutes from time as he headed in from a Shane Ferguson corner, with referee Seb Stockbridge blowing the whistle for full time around ten minutes later. Rotherham had overcome their sub-par performance in the 90 minutes to win their second EFL trophy thanks to their efforts in extra time.
Seven games left to secure the double
With the Millers currently at the top of the League One table, there is a chance that they could secure an EFL double come the end of the campaign. Although second placed Wigan Athletic have a game in hand and will overtake them with just a point, Rotherham could achieve something only four sides have been able to do.
Warne’s side could be the fifth team to win the EFL Trophy in the same season they have won their respective league. Such an achievement would also make them the first northern side to achieve such a feat.
The first EFL outfit to secure such a double were Wolverhampton Wanderers back in the 87/88 campaign, the EFL Trophy’s fifth season in existence. They won the League Two title after beating Burnley in the cup final. Next were Birmingham City who were Champions of League One, and victorious against Carlisle United in the EFL Trophy final in the 94/95 season.
MK Dons were also able to complete the double in the 07/08 campaign, beating Grimsby Town in the final and being crowned League Two Champions. Finally, Bristol City’s 14/15 season saw them finish first in League One and lift the cup after victory against Walsall.
Rotherham could therefore join an exclusive club by the end of April, with an instant return to the Championship looking very likely. However, if you look at how Birmingham and Bristol City fared in the following seasons, the Millers may not have the best of campaigns next year.
After winning the the double in 1995, the Blues finished 15th in the second division of English football. The Robins also suffered a similar fate as they secured an 18th placed finish in 2016. Although neither side were relegated, should Rotherham win the league, it is unlikely they will experience the same level of success this season in the next campaign.
When compared to Wolves and MK Dons, it is clear that the step up from League One to the Championship is bigger than that from League Two to the division above; Wolves sealed a back-to-back promotion and the Dons finished third in their following season, missing out on the Championship via the play-off semi-finals against Scunthorpe United.
The Millers have seven games to complete a superb season, with the South Yorkshire outfit already having the taste of success after their win against Sutton.
If they are able to fend off the challenge from the Latics and be crowned Champions of the third division for the third time in their history, Rotherham will join a small group of EFL double winners and be the first northern team to do so.
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Rotherham United and Sutton United prepare to compete for the Papa John’s Trophy at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
The Millers sit top of the third division as it stands, with their promotion to the Championship almost inevitable after a superb season in Sky Bet League One to date.
The Us are currently tenth in Sky Bet League Two and just two points outside of the play-off spots, a remarkable achievement considering it is their first-ever season in the English Football League.
While both sides will remain focused on securing promotion to the leagues above them, they will both have the chance to win some silverware at the home of English football, a special occasion for both sets of fans.
Rotherham aiming for their second EFL Trophy title
In the league, it has been so far so good for Rotherham, who currently occupy the top spot in League One, albeit second-placed Wigan have two games in hand over them.
With 24 wins and 80 points so far they are on course for an instant return to the Championship, having finished second bottom of the second division last season.
Such impressive form in League One has also been visible to see in their Papa John’s trophy run, and they have seen a vast improvement from the last time they competed in the competition when they failed to make it out of the group stages in the 19/20 campaign.
The Millers were drawn into Northern Group E with Manchester City U21s, Doncaster Rovers and Scunthorpe United, and eventually finished at the top of the standings.
A 6-0 win away at Donny kicked off their EFL Trophy campaign in dominant fashion, before they beat the Iron 4-1 on their home turf. Paul Warne’s side then made it three wins from three as they were 5-0 victors over the Premier League youth side, with Kieran Sadlier scoring a hat-trick. They topped the table with nine points and with a goal difference of 14.
In the second round, they were drawn against Sky Bet League Two outfit Port Vale and secured their progression via a penalty shootout. Next up in the third round were fellow League One side Crewe Alexandra, with Rotherham winning 4-2 away from home.
The quarter-finals beckoned and they were tasked with overcoming Cambridge United at the New York Stadium, with the hosts requiring penalties once again after a 1-1 draw to make their way into the last four. In the semi-finals, Hartlepool United stood between them and a trip to Wembley, but the Millers battled hard and progressed to the final as they won 5-4 on penalties.
Warne was asked on Friday about his side being favourites for the cup, but he was quick to play down such assumptions ahead of their first-ever meeting against Sutton.
“Wigan were favourites when they went into their game with Sutton as well.
“Playing at Wembley is a real leveller and Sutton’s players will be well up for it. They’ve been amazing in their first year in the EFL and are going for back to back promotions and have full belief in the way they play.
“They are in really good form and the whole town has got right behind them for this final.”
Sadlier is their top scorer in the competition this season with four goals to his name, as well as three assists. He is shortly followed by Will Grigg, Freddie Ladapo and Michael Smith who all have three goals apiece.
Rotherham last won the EFL Trophy back in 1996 when they beat Shrewsbury Town in the final at Wembley, thanks to a brace from Nigel Jemson. Their best finish since then was the final of the Northern Section in 2009, but they lost to Scunthorpe 3-0 on aggregate.
A trip to the home of English football is far from unfamiliar to them either, with their last outing coming in 2018 when they were promoted to the Championship via the League One play-off final against Salop.
Sutton hoping underdog status can help them secure victory
National League football was a weekly occurrence for Sutton last year but they now find themselves in a domestic cup final, partly down to their participation in League Two. The Us gained promotion to the Football League in May 2021 and have performed very well in the fourth division of English football, as they sit 10th with seven games remaining.
Promotion to League One is also a genuine possibility for them as they are just two points outside of the play-offs and five points adrift of the automatic spots. Manager Matt Gray is in his third season in charge of the side, and he could lead them to glory once again should they claim victory on Sunday.
Southern Group B was the group Sutton would be drawn in alongside Crystal Palace U21s, Portsmouth and AFC Wimbledon. A 3-0 win against the Palace academy would kickstart their campaign, followed by 2-0 and 1-0 victories against Pompey and the Wombles respectively.
Their impressive performances secured a top of the table finish with six goals scored and zero conceded. League Two strugglers Stevenage would be their next opponents in the competition and after a 0-0 draw at Gander Green Lane, the hosts were able to win 4-3 on penalties.
Essex-based side Colchester Town would soon make the trip down to south London but they were also knocked out of the cup by Sutton, with the latter winning 2-1 on home soil.
A third consecutive home game in the tournament would follow and this time it was fellow fourth division side Harrogate Town who would be their next opponents, with Sutton sealing their spot in the semi-finals thanks to a Craig Eastmond winner in the 80th minute.
Former Premier League outfit Wigan Athletic would prove to be their biggest test of the season to date but that didn’t faze the EFL newcomers, who beat the Latics 7-6 on penalties to reach the final.
Donovan Wilson leads their goalscoring charts in the competition with two goals, with a whole host of his teammates all following with one goal each. They have only conceded twice in the entire tournament, which could bode well for them in the final.
It will be their first appearance at Wembley since 1981 when they lost to Bishop’s Stortford 1-0 in the FA Trophy final, so the Sutton faithful will be hoping to have a better outcome this time around.
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]]>Prost International attended their play-off final win against Shrewsbury Town in which the Millers were victorious over the Shrews, with their 2-1 extra-time win courtesy of a brace from captain Richard Wood sending them to the Championship.
We also revealed the emergence of ‘Rey Mysterio Yorkshire’, who was in attendance at Wembley and helped to spur his team on as they clinched the glory of promotion to the second division of English football.
The question is though, will he be there once again to help his side win another piece of silverware on Sunday?
Photo courtesy of Steve Clare, who last spotted the masked man in 2018
Rotherham will face Sutton United in the final of the Papa John’s Trophy on Sunday afternoon, having reached Wembley via a somewhat challenging route. The current Sky Bet League One table toppers may be looking to seal an instant return to the Championship, but they will no doubt also have their sights set on a trophy lift at Wembley.
They will face League Two outfit Sutton United, who are competing in their first ever season in the English Football League after their first placed finish in the National League last year, thus securing promotion to the fourth division.
A trophy win around 16 miles from their home ground of Gander Green Lane would be an added bonus to their already successful campaign.
After this season’s competition began in August a new winner will be crowned on an early April afternoon at Wembley Stadium, with one of the two sides taking the trophy off of current holders Sunderland.
However Rotherham may have the added bonus of their WWE inspired fan, whose previous support helped them reach the Championship nearly four years ago.
If Millers fans can help identify the masked hero from that triumphant day for Rotherham, and know if he will be in attendance for Sunday’s final, please let us know on Twitter @ProstInt
Please follow live coverage on @ProstInt live from Wembley on Sunday.
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]]>Leam Richardson’s Wigan Athletic side have double success firmly in their sights as we approach the end of this season, flying high in League One and just 90 minutes away from a trip to Wembley in the Papa John’s Trophy.
Last Friday, the Latics took a point away at Rotherham United in a 1-1 draw, with frontman Stephen Humphrys on target again midway through the first half at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.
Although his former Rochdale teammate Ollie Rathbone scored for the table-topping Millers to deny the visitors all three points, a title lift for Wigan is still very much achievable with a third of their campaign remaining.
Games in hand
That statement is made in the knowledge that Richardson’s side currently sit six points behind Rotherham, but have two games in hand on Paul Warne’s side and three on third-placed MK Dons who already trail the Latics by three points.
In fact, Wigan have only played 30 games to date and that total is the fewest of any team in the third tier. Re-arranged games at home to Fleetwood Town and Accrington Stanley are to come as well as away trips to Crewe Alexandra and Portsmouth.
Added to this, should they reach the final of the Papa John’s Trophy, the Latics’ home game against Bolton Wanderers on April 2nd will also have to be re-arranged. Similarly though, Rotherham will have to find a new date for their trip to Portsmouth should they earn a trip to Wembley as they are also in the semi-finals of the competition.
With so many games in hand, the pressure will not be on Wigan in the first instance and it will in fact be on the Millers who are being hunted down. If Rotherham slip up at any point, Richardson’s side will have the opportunity to make ground and eventually overtake them.
Of course, the argument is there that if the Millers do not slip up by the time Wigan’s games in hand come around, then the pressure is back on the Latics. In the same vein, there is a discussion to be had around the ‘burnout’ of players with so many matches in a short space of time.
That extra bit of energy should not be difficult to find though when silverware is up for grabs.
Looking ahead at the fixtures
Football like most sports is never clear-cut and is definitely not always ‘as it should be’ on paper, but it is inevitable those assumptions that are going to be made and the assumption is that Wigan should be beating most of their remaining opponents in the league this season.
With 16 games left for the Latics, nine of the teams they are set to face are currently in 12th place or lower. Included in those are Morecambe and Crewe, both of whom are in the relegation zone and look in real trouble.
Rotherham meanwhile take on seven teams who are 12th or lower at present between now and the end of the season.
With 14 games left, that is exactly half of their opposition but that includes Shrewsbury Town twice as the Millers face Steve Cotterill’s side in quick succession. For reference, Salop currently sit 18th in the league, four points off the bottom four.
While these statistics are a good indication of who Wigan ‘should’ be beating, the Latics will undoubtedly fancy their chances against anyone in the division given just how much of a frontrunner they are now and have been all season.
The Squad
In truth, with the squad that Richardson has assembled at the DW Stadium, anything but promotion should and will be deemed as a failure.
One-time FA Cup winners, Wigan only received an amount of £500,000 for one player, Kyle Joseph, over the summer and winter transfer windows but brought in 20 players including recognised names such as Max Power, James McClean and Charlie Wyke. The latter of course suffered a cardiac arrest and is not in action at the moment.
Midfielder Graeme Shinnie was picked from liquidation-threatened Derby County last month, with out of favour Josh Magennis being taken from Hull City to bolster Wigan’s attacking options.
All of the above and many more within the squad have vast experience of the third division and higher so the Latics’ success this season comes as no surprise whatsoever.
Relegated from the Premier League in 2013, Wigan are far from a return to the promised land but promotion this season would obviously take them one step closer.
Cup Glory
For all involved at the club and their supporters, the FA Cup final win against Manchester City in 2013 is undoubtedly the most famous victory in Wigan’s history.
Only a few weeks later, they were brought back down to earth with Premier League relegation, and after a penalty shootout semi-final defeat in the FA Cup to Arsenal the following season, the Latics have never returned to the ‘home of football’.
However this season, they more than likely will. A home tie against Football League newcomers Sutton United in the last four stands between Wigan and a day out at Wembley despite playing a much-changed side throughout the competition.
That perhaps shows the strength in depth at the DW Stadium and just why double delight could well be on the cards.
They could go up against fellow League One title challengers Rotherham on the grand stage, with the Millers also up against League Two opposition in Hartlepool United in the last four of the competition.
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With the draw for the last four of the Papa John’s Trophy now confirmed, Rotherham United and Wigan Athletic, the two remaining former winners, have avoided one another and could yet meet in the final at Wembley.
The semi-final ties are to be played in the week commencing March 7th and here is a brief look over the two fixtures.
Hartlepool United vs Rotherham United
Winners of the competition in 1996, League One side Rotherham face a trip to the North East to take on League Two newcomers Hartlepool in the last four.
The two clubs are not exactly strangers, coming up against each other on more than 70 occasions, though have not met since 2013.
Coincidentally, that meeting also came in the Football League Trophy with the Millers winning 2-1 at the Suit Direct Stadium. Meanwhile, the Pools came out on top in the meeting prior to that with a 3-1 win in the same competition back in 2006.
Sitting top of the third tier, Rotherham reached the semi-finals following a penalty shootout victory over Cambridge United earlier this week. Hartlepool, who are 16th in League Two, overcame Charlton Athletic in the same manner.
Paul Warne’s Millers will go into the tie as favourites but will be under no illusions as to what Graeme Lee’s Hartlepool are able to achieve when they come up against opponents from a higher division.
To get to the last four, the Pools have beaten Morecambe, Sheffield Wednesday and Bolton Wanderers as well as Charlton, with all four teams currently in League One.
Wigan Athletic vs Sutton United
Leam Richardson’s Wigan sit a point behind Rotherham in the League One table, but have two games in hand and are arguably the favourites to win the Papa John’s Trophy for the third time after successes in both 1985 and 1999.
In the last four, they welcome Sutton to the DW Stadium who are currently enjoying a first-ever campaign in the Football League after winning the National League title last season and are currently fourth, outside of the automatic promotion places on goal difference.
The Latics themselves only joined the Football League in 1978, not so long ago compared to some of their fellow EFL teams at present, but are now unbeaten in 19 matches in all competitions and are just 90 minutes from a day out at Wembley.
They saw off Arsenal under-21s in the quarter-finals, winning 1-0, while Matt Gray’s U’s beat fellow fourth-tier outfit Harrogate Town by the same margin.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the game between the two clubs in March will represent the first-ever meeting at any level.
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Eight has become four in the Papa John’s Trophy with the semi-final line-up of the competition now confirmed after Tuesday’s night’s quarter-final ties across the country.
Two sides from League One and two from League Two are now just 90 minutes, plus the possibility of a penalty shootout, away from the final and a trip to Wembley. Here’s are a round-up of how the quarter-final ties panned out.
Hartlepool United 2-2 Charlton Athletic (5-4 on penalties)
Promoted up from the National League via the play-off final last season, Hartlepool’s cup heroics this term roar on with another superb victory.
Prior to last night, Graeme Lee’s side had already beaten opponents from a higher division on four occasions. They knocked Wycombe Wanderers and Blackpool out of the FA Cup, as well as eliminating Sheffield Wednesday and Bolton Wanderers from the Papa John’s Trophy.
Now that number is up to five with a victory over League One Charlton at the Suit Direct Stadium providing the biggest upset of the quarter-finals.
Joe Grey and Luke Molyneux were on the scoresheet over the 90 minutes for the North-East based side, with the latter one of five Pools players to convert successfully when the penalty shootout came around.
Experienced midfielder Elliot Lee was the guilty party for the visitors on the night, missing his penalty and paying the price for it.
Hartlepool did not get to play at Wembley in last year’s play-off final, but they are within touching distance now.
Sutton United 1-0 Harrogate Town
As with Hartlepool, Sutton are also new boys to the Football League after winning the National League title in the last campaign.
They are flying high in League Two, sitting in fourth in the league table, and are still going strong in the Papa John’s Trophy after securing their place in the last four with a win over Harrogate.
In a tight encounter between two teams who ply their trade in the same division, U’s midfielder Craig Eastmond netted 10 minutes from time to secure the win for Matt Gray’s side.
They are now unbeaten in seven outings in all competitions and are the only club of the four remaining in the competition flying the flag for the south.
The journey time from Gander Green Lane to Wembley is not a long one but Gray and his side would undoubtedly make that journey a thousand times over for a shot at silverware on the big stage.
Rotherham United 1-1 Cambridge United (8-7 on penalties)
Another meeting between two sides in the same division came at the AESSEAL New York Stadium as Rotherham overcame fellow League One outfit Cambridge, though it took penalties for that to happen.
The Millers were a Championship club last season and have pedigree in this competition, winning it in 1996 at the Old Wembley. In contrast, Cambridge earned promotion from League Two in the last campaign and have focused more this season on successfully avoiding the drop, which they look to be doing comfortably.
Both sides rotated their squads for the meeting in Yorkshire with Wes Harding’s opener for the hosts cancelled out by Paul Digby’s leveller prior to the half-time whistle.
That is how it stayed come full-time and the two sides prepared for a penalty shootout. Cambridge goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov was recently in the spotlight for his heroics in goal during the side’s FA Cup win at Newcastle United.
He turned sharp-shooter this time around after converting a spot-kick. Even that was not enough to foil Rotherham though as Paul Warne’s side tucked home seven in a row before Cambridge’s Adam May missed.
Rotherham won both the 2014 and 2018 League One play-off finals at Wembley, and they would not say no to another trip this term, though promotion will remain the main target.
Wigan Athletic 1-0 Arsenal Under-21s
Perhaps the least surprising result of the four games at this stage of the Papa John’s Trophy, League One table-toppers Wigan got the better of Arsenal’s academy side at the DW stadium.
Interestingly, the Gunners were pulled out of the hat first in this draw, but as per competition rules, the Football League side always play hosts when up against an academy outfit.
Now unbeaten in 18 games across all competitions, Leam Richardson made the most of the opportunity to rotate his Latics squad against the youthful Gunners.
Son of former Liverpool player turned pundit Jamie Carragher, James Carragher started at the back for Wigan though they also included some regular first-teamers from the off including Max Power and Thelo Aasgaard.
In the end, Divin Baningime scored the winner to knock the only remaining academy side out of the competition, meaning it remains the case that only Chelsea (2017/18) have provided an under-21 team that has made it into the last four of the Football League Trophy.
Before the quarter-final tie, many favoured the Latics to go on and win the competition. With their current form and squad, all roads seem to point to success. Notably, they have won it twice before in both 1985 and 1999.
The draw for the semi-finals of the Papa John’s Trophy will be made on Saturday evening (January 29) live on Sky Sports following the conclusion of Peterborough United vs Sheffield United (5:30pm kick-Off).
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Arsenal’s Under-21s side will aim to become just the second-ever academy team to reach the semi-finals of the Papa John’s Trophy when they visit League One table toppers Wigan Athletic on Tuesday evening.
Outside of Football League clubs, only Chelsea’s academy have managed to produce a team to date which reached the last four of the competition, that coming in 2018 when the Blues lost on penalties to eventual winners Lincoln City.
Coincidentally, it was Chelsea’s Under-21s who the Gunners blew away in the last round to reach the last eight, claiming a 4-1 win at the Emirates with four different scorers on the night including Marcelo Flores and Omari Hutchinson.
And when the draw for the quarter-finals came around, Arsenal were the first name out of the hat, but they are not allowed to play on home turf as they are against a Football League team, so it will be them who have to make the trip to Wigan’s DW stadium rather than the Latics heading to North London.
The Task ahead
While the young Gunners are 180 minutes from a day out on the big stage at Wembley, taking the first step has come against, arguably, the favourites for the competition at this stage.
Relegated from the Premier League in 2013 after winning their one-major honour to date a few weeks earlier, Wigan currently top the League One table on goal difference and have four league games in hand on some of their closest promotion rivals.
Leam Richardson’s side are unbeaten in 17 matches in all competitions dating back to late-October last year and are still fighting strong in this season’s FA Cup as well as their exploits in both League One and the Football League Trophy.
It was a resounding 6-0 win away at League Two strugglers Oldham Athletic in the last round of this competition for the Latics to set up Tuesday’s meeting with Arsenal’s Academy, and many will undoubtedly expect the League One side to make light work of the Gunners.
Attendance at the DW
Since the introduction of academy sides into the Football League Trophy back in the 2016/17 campaign, attendances at games in the competition have dropped across the board with some supporters even choosing to boycott matches involving youth teams.
In their last EFL Trophy home game against Shrewsbury Town in November, Wigan recorded an attendance of 1,121 – that figure included away fans making the journey from Shropshire.
Compare that to the fixture at the DW against the same opponents in the league just a few weeks later, and there were 8,098 in attendance.
It isn’t expected that there will be many travelling supporters from North London ahead of Tuesday night’s 7pm kick-off. Given that the hosts have chosen to open only the West Stand for the clash, it would appear that another low attendance could be on the cards.
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Over the course of the last five months, Matty Daly has very clearly developed and blossomed as a footballer and his exposure to game time, it has to be said, has been key to this.
Daly’s exposure to Premier League games at such a young age serves as a great starting point to not only his career but this piece.
The now 20-year-old gained his first involvements in a Huddersfield Town senior squad at the tail end of the side’s Premier League story. After confirmation of their relegation earlier that month, young manager Jan Siewert trialled some of the young talents that he had available to him, Daly being one of those.
Whilst failing to get a contribution in either of his two Premier League games, it is hard to be looked at in-depth given the midfielder was just 18 at the time.
Under Siewert, no further chances came as the German was sacked early in the Terriers’ return to the Championship, and under new boss Danny Cowley, Daly was again shown a few chances to impress from the bench but was never given a clear run of games, even after scoring a late winner against Charlton Athletic in December 2019.
When the Cowley’s were sacked, the same happened again for the youngster under Carlos Corberán, chances came mainly from the bench, but Daly managed to start a game, his first in a blue and white shirt at senior level.
It was clear that a loan spell was needed as the starlet was not getting the playing time that could warrant the player’s progression, and with the midfielder’s last appearance for Huddersfield coming in February 2021, fuel was only added to the rumours that the 20-year-old would depart on loan in the summer.
To take you to the end of July though, Hartlepool may not have always been the destination for the 20-year-old as he spent time on trial with Rotherham United, however, his move to the North East was to be the eventual destination for the former England under-18s player.
On his arrival, former Hartlepool manager Dave Challinor spoke about the chance for him to develop during a full season and the importance it could play in the progression of a player with exposure to a high level from a young age.
“(He’s) someone who’s highly thought of and has not had a loan spell that has got him a lot of experience […] it’s the time for him to kick on and hopefully his quality will shine through”
Challinor very quickly showed his faith in the young loanee, starting him in nine games and giving the youngster cameos from the bench three times before he departed the club for Stockport County.
However, under new manager Graeme Lee, it is clear to see the trend has continued and the faith in Daly has only grown, starting 10 of a possible 14 games since Challinor’s departure and it is clear to see why.
Tuesday night’s game in the Papa John’s Trophy serves as a key indicator of Daly’s progression since he joined the Poolies on loan. Hartlepool opted for a different system from the regular 5-3-2 that has been optimised in recent times due to the excellent wing-backs the side have available and instead utilised a 4-3-3, which in attacking phases looked more like a 4-2-3-1.
Daly took his position just behind the striker and this created a diamond of attacking players who looked dangerous consistently throughout the game and looked to pounce on any Bolton mistake.
Pools’ attacks on Tuesday mainly came through the targeting of Bolton’s centre-halves, George Johnston and highly-rated captain Ricardo Santos.
This was done through lofted passes that looked to find the space in behind a defence that excelled in duels. So the idea of playing over the defence rather than through the defence seemed to work out with Hartlepool’s front three of Luke Molyneux, Joe Grey and Olufela Olomola more often than not picking up the ball from these long balls.
This often lead to situations where the ball was held out wide and then worked into the box. Hartlepool’s danger rarely came from other areas, and in the attacks, Pools seemed to have a system in which the three in attack would operate in two zones, the wing and the box, meaning that there were always at least two players in the box.
This, however, is where Daly would come in. Often the 20-year-old was left unmarked, making intelligent runs into the box, rarely getting picked up, and had two solid chances in the first half that were both saved well by Joel Dixon.
The goal that separated the two sides on Tuesday night is what truly shows Daly’s development. Dixon, up until the 83rd minute, was close to capping an overall good performance with a clean sheet.
However, the Bolton shot-stopper seemed to lack confidence playing out from the back on the day and was caught out after attempting to play a long pass. As he changed his mind and tried to play it short, the loose ball was picked up by a pressing Daly who rounded the goalkeeper and put the ball away.
Pools manager Graeme Lee praised his young midfielder and said that the finish took a lot and was not as simple as just dispossessing the goalkeeper.
“He got gifted the ball, but he still had a lot of work to do to round the goalkeeper and be composed enough to slot the ball in the back of the net […] it’s just clever play from Matty [Daly]. He’s read the situation; he wins it and his composure to finish it is fantastic.”
By no means is Matty Daly a finished product, however, the young loanee’s performances in cup competitions this year serve as a great update on his development at Hartlepool.
With confident performances becoming the norm, especially against those sides in higher divisions, it shows that Daly has certainly developed, and with another six months to go with the Poolies, with performances as they are, there is a chance that the youngster could see himself amongst the ranks of Huddersfield’s senior team once again.
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A campaign which began so promisingly for Bolton Wanderers now looks concerningly bleak after defeat at Hartlepool United in the Papa John’s Trophy.
Fielding a strong starting eleven and going up against a side from a division below who had made eight changes to their own team respectively, Bolton went into the tie as strong favourites. In spite of that, a late blunder from goalkeeper Joel Dixon gifted Pools striker Matty Daly the only goal of the evening and saw the Trotters crash out of the competition at the round of 16 stage.
Also crashing out of the FA Cup after a humiliating 5-3 loss against National League outfit Stockport County in November and losing their place in the Carabao Cup back in August with a penalty shootout defeat to local rivals Wigan Athletic, the Whites now have just the remainder of their League One season to focus on.
Promoted from League Two on the final day of last season at the first time of asking, Ian Evatt’s side were within one point of the play-offs in the third tier after a thumping 4-1 win at Charlton Athletic and a 2-1 home victory against Shrewsbury Town in early October.
Since then, there has been little to cheer about for team’s supporters though with failure in cup competitions added to by a worrying slip down the League One standings.
At the midway point of the campaign having played 23 league matches, the Trotters now sit 17th in the division and some of the teams behind Evatt’s side have multiple games-in-hand. Winless in both October and December, the question remains – ‘what’s next?’ for the Wanderers.
January Signings
To gain promotion in the last campaign, Bolton made a whole host of new additions in the January transfer window and recovered from sitting 19th in mid-February to finish third.
Some of those signings are still present in the side today, and though a turnaround of a similar nature isn’t at all likely given the quality on show from different clubs in the third tier this season, it is evident that the Whites squad requires further development.
Striker Dion Charles has already arrived from Accrington Stanley while young defender Marlon Fossey has also joined on loan from Fulham. Both of those players started at Hartlepool and showed glimpses of what they will be able to offer.
Manager Ian Evatt has already stated publicly that he is in the market for three more insertions by the time the transfer window slams shut, but the Papa John’s Trophy exit may well have brought more question marks over various positions which need strengthening. This includes a goalkeeper if not to take Dixon’s place, then to challenge the 28-year-old.
Survival
It’s also fair to say that Bolton’s main aim now should be to get enough points on the board to ensure they aren’t sucked into a relegation dogfight.
The last time they picked up three points against any team who currently sit above them in the league table was in fact that Shrewsbury game on October 2, which will be a worrying statistic for Evatt and his colleagues.
It’s not difficult to see where one of their main issues lie either and that’s putting the ball in the back of the net. Bolton netted 18 goals across their first ten league games of the season. In the 13 matches that have followed to date, they’ve managed just 12.
Overall, in League One action, they’ve failed to net on 11 occasions too, so either existing players must step up or reinforcements are needed.
A return to Ireland for forward Eoin Doyle has been heavily rumoured just five days into January, and new frontman Charles is also under investigation by the Football Association for historical tweets of both a homophobic & racial nature.
If Doyle does exit, and Charles receives a ban, then it must be said that options for Evatt will be thin on the ground in the final third.
Building blocks
For all the negativity surrounding Bolton now though, positives can be taken from this season providing that the Whites do start to pick up points and eventually survive the drop.
After nearly being liquidated in the summer of 2019, the club earned promotion to the third tier and would be planning for a second consecutive season there. Chairwoman Sharon Brittan has openly stated that she wants to help guide the club back to at least the Championship, and that’s no small order.
Slow progression may help the club in the long run to get back to where it wants to be, and a steady first campaign back in League One may not be the worst thing.
Though proving frustrating for Wanderers fans who travel the country to watch their side, including the 369 who made the long journey to Hartlepool, it could all be worth it in the end.
‘Rome wasn’t built in a day,’ after all.
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