EFL Cup 2016 - 17

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The 2016/17 EFL Cup Round One draw has been made.

In a first for British football, the EFL joined forces with Sky Sports to live stream the EFL Cup Round One draw as a Facebook Live event, providing millions of fans at home and abroad the chance to watch the draw unfold wherever they may be.

Taking place at 1pm on Wednesday 22nd June, fans eager to see where the road to Wembley begins for their club, could watch the stream on the official EFL Cup Facebook page, as well as Sky Sports’ Facebook page, skysports.com and the Sky Sports app.

The EFL Cup Round One draw is as follows:

Carlisle United v Port Vale
Rotherham United v Morecambe
Accrington Stanley v Bradford City
Rochdale v Chesterfield
Mansfield v Blackburn Rovers
Barnsley v Northampton Town
Cambridge United v Sheffield Wednesday
Derby County v Grimsby Town
Oldham Athletic v Wigan Athletic
Scunthorpe United v Notts County
Doncaster v Nottingham Forest
Burton Albion v Bury
Fleetwood Town v Leeds United
Sheffield United v Crewe Alexandra
Shrewsbury v Huddersfield Town
Preston North End v Hartlepool United
Blackpool v Bolton Wanderers
Peterborough United v AFC Wimbledon
Bristol Rovers v Cardiff City
Coventry City v Portsmouth
Luton Town v Aston Villa
Brighton & Hove Albion v Colchester United
Cheltenham Town v Charlton Athletic
Birmingham City v Oxford United
Southend United v Gillingham
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Crawley Town
Leyton Orient v Fulham
Ipswich Town v Stevenage
Wycombe Wanderers v Bristol City
Walsall v Yeovil Town
Exeter City v Brentford
Queens Park Rangers v Swindon Town
Barnet v Millwall
Reading v Plymouth Argyle
Newport Town v Milton Keynes Dons

All Round One matches are due to be played during the week commencing 8th August 2016.

Manchester City are the current holders of the EFL Cup, having beaten Liverpool in last season’s final in February. The 2016/17 EFL Cup Final, the 57th in the competition’s history, will take place at Wembley on Sunday 26th February 2017.

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First Round

Tuesday 9th August 2016

Home - Result - Away

Att. 1,936 Accrington 0 - 0 Bradford
Accrington Stanley win 11-10 on penalties.

Att. 1,410 Barnet 0 - 4 Millwall

Att. 4,455 Barnsley 1 - 2 Northampton

Att. 7,202 Birmingham 0 - 1 Oxford Utd

Att. 3,633 Blackpool 4 - 2 Bolton

Att. 6,895 Brighton 4 - 0 Colchester

Att. 4,170 Cambridge 2 - 1 Sheff Wed

Att. 3,363 Carlisle 2 - 1 Port Vale

Att. 2,106 Cheltenham 1 - 0 Charlton

Att. Coventry 3 - 2 Portsmouth

Att. 11,692 Derby 1 - 0 Grimsby

Att. 5,160 Doncaster 1 - 2 Forest

Att. 2,633 Exeter 1 - 0 Brentford

Att. 6,858 Ipswich 0 - 1 Stevenage

Att. 3,855 Leyton O. 2 - 3 Fulham

Att. 2,885 Mansfield 1 - 3 Blackburn

Att. 1,402 Newport 2 - 3 MK Dons

Att. 2,554 Oldham 2 - 1 Wigan

Att. 2,850 Peterboro. 3 - 2 AFC Wim'don

Att. 4,509 Preston 1 - 0 Hartlepool

Att. 6,979 Reading 2 - 0 Plymouth

Att. 1,436 Rochdale 3 - 1 Chesterfld

Att. 3,793 Rotherham 4 - 5 Morecambe

Att. 2,158 Scunthorpe 2 - 0 Notts Co.

Att. 8,305 Sheff Utd 1 - 2 Crewe

Att. 2,862 Shrewsbury 2 - 1 Huddersf.

Att. 2,816 Southend 1 - 3 Gillingham

Att. 2,699 Walsall 0 - 2 Yeovil

Att. 8,252 Wolves 2 - 1 Crawley

Att. 1,842 Wycombe 0 - 1 Bristol C


Wednesday 10th August 2016

Home - Result - Away

Att. 1,523 Burton 3 - 2 Bury

Att. 3,332 Fleetwood 2 - 2 Leeds
Leeds win 5 - 4 on penalties.

Att. 7,412 Luton 3 - 1 Villa

Att. 5,440 QPR 2 - 2 Swindon
QPR win 4 - 2 on penalties.

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The Round Two draw for this season’s EFL Cup took place on Wednesday 10th August 2016 on Sky Sports News HQ.


EFL teams that progressed from Round One were joined by Premier League sides not competing in Europe this season.

The 13 top flight teams – including Liverpool, Chelsea and Everton – were seeded, along with the Sky Bet Championship’s Newcastle United and Norwich City, plus 10 winners from the opening round of fixtures.

Here's a look at the Round Two draw in full:

Ties to be played during the week commencing 22nd August.

Queens Park Rangers v Rochdale
Scunthorpe United v Cardiff City/Bristol City*
Watford v Gillingham
Peterborough United v Swansea City
Everton v Yeovil Town
Millwall v Nottingham Forest
Sunderland v Shrewsbury Town
Luton Town v Leeds United
Chelsea v Bristol Rovers/Bristol City*
Burton Albion v Liverpool
Blackburn Rovers v Crewe Alexandra
Accrington Stanley v Burnley
Crystal Palace v Blackpool
Morecambe v AFC Bournemouth
Preston North End v Oldham Athletic
Oxford United v Brighton & Hove Albion
Reading v Milton Keynes Dons
Fulham v Middlesbrough
Newcastle United v Cheltenham Town
Exeter City v Hull City
Derby County v Carlisle United
Northampton Town v West Bromwich Albion
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Cambridge United
Stevenage v Stoke City
Norwich City v Coventry City

*The EFL Cup Round Two draw was made with 25 seeded teams being drawn against 25 unseeded teams. Seeds were based on last season’s final table standings. With one fixture to be played on Thursday night, Cardiff City will be a seeded team should they progress and Bristol Rovers a non-seeded team should they progress.

Having finished in 18th position last season, Bristol City’s status as a seeded or unseeded team is dependent upon which of Cardiff City or Bristol Rovers progress, and so consequently they have been drawn in two possible ties until the final Round One fixture is completed.

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Second Round −

Tuesday 23rd August 2016 −

Home - Result - Away

Att. 3,448 Blackburn 4 - 3 Crewe

Att. 6,450 Burton 0 - 5 Liverpool

Att. 39,276 Chelsea 3 - 2 Bristol R

Att. 9,860 Derby 1 - 1 Carlisle

Derby win 14-13 on penalties.

Everton 4 - 0 Yeovil

Att. 4,037 Exeter 1 - 3 Hull City

Att. 7,498 Luton 0 - 1 Leeds

Att. 4,009 Millwall 1 - 2 Forest

Att. 21,972 Newcastle 2 - 0 Cheltenham

Att. 5,516 Northampton 2 - 2 West Brom Albion

Northampton win 4 - 3 on penalties.

Att. 10,510 Norwich 6 - 1 Coventry

Att. 3,189 Oxford Utd 2 - 4 Brighton

Att. 7,533 Palace 2 - 0 Blackpool

Att. 4,727 Peterboro. 1 - 3 Swansea

Att. 5,075 Preston 2 - 0 Oldham

Att. 3,928 QPR 2 - 1 Rochdale

Att. 6,848 Reading 2 - 2 MK Dons

Reading win 4 - 2 on penalties.

Att. 2,397 Scunthorpe 1 - 2 Bristol C

Att. 3,363 Stevenage 0 - 4 Stoke City

Att. 7,004 Watford 1 - 2 Gillingham

Att. 9,500 Wolves 2 - 1 Cambridge


Wednesday 24th August 2016

Home - Result - Away

Att. 3,170 Accrington 1 - 0 Burnley

Att. 8,522 Fulham 2 - 1 Boro

Att. 2,542 Morecambe 1 - 2 Bournem'th

Att. 13,979 Sunderland 1 - 0 Shrewsbury

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Accrington Stanley, Gillingham and Northampton Town have been rewarded for their Round Two displays with more top-flight opposition in the EFL Cup.
Following respective wins over Burnley, Watford and West Bromwich Albion, the trio were all drawn against teams entering the fray in Round Three due to European commitments. Stanley and Gillingham face trips to the capital to take on West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur, while the Cobblers welcome Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United to Sixfields. Arsenal travel to four-time winners Nottingham Forest, and reigning champions Manchester City begin their title defence at Swansea City in ties commencing the week of 19th September 2016. There are another four all-Premier League ties, including Leicester City against Chelsea, while last year’s losing finalists Liverpool play Derby County at the iPro. QPR will host Sunderland and Preston North End visit AFC Bournemouth in the hope of adding to the numerous EFL cup upsets so far, while a further four all-Championship clashes complete the draw.

Round Three draw in full:

Nottingham Forest v Arsenal
Leeds United v Blackburn Rovers
Queens Park Rangers v Sunderland
West Ham United v Accrington Stanley
Southampton v Crystal Palace
Swansea City v Manchester City
Fulham v Bristol City
AFC Bournemouth v Preston North End
Tottenham Hotspur v Gillingham
Everton v Norwich City
Derby County v Liverpool
Northampton Town v Manchester United
Brighton & Hove Albion v Reading
Newcastle United v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Stoke City v Hull City
Leicester City v Chelsea

Ties to be played week commencing 19th September 2016.

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Third Round

Tuesday 20th September 2016

Home - Result - Away

Att. 7,595 Bournem'th 2 - 3 Preston

Att. 6,235 Brighton 1 - 2 Reading

Att. 26,245 Derby 0 - 3 Liverpool

Att. 29,550 Everton 0 - 2 Norwich

Att. 28,567 Forest 0 - 4 Arsenal

Att. 8,488 Leeds 1 - 0 Blackburn

Att. 29,899 Leicester 2 - 4 Chelsea

Att. 34,735 Newcastle 2 - 0 Wolves


Wednesday 21st September 2016

Home - Result - Away

Att. 6,017 Fulham 1 - 2 Bristol C

Att. 7,798 Northampton 1 - 3 Man Utd

Att. 14,301 QPR 1 - 2 Sunderland

Att. 14,080 Soton 2 - 0 Palace

Att. 10,550 Stoke City 1 - 2 Hull City

Att. 18,237 Swansea 1 - 2 Man City

Att. 26,244 Tottenham 5 - 0 Gillingham

Att. 39,877 West Ham 1 - 0 Accrington

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The draw for Round Four of the EFL Cup took place on Wednesday evening, and produced a number of mouth watering ties.

Manchester United will host rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford, in what will be the first clash between Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola in the competition.

Another derby drawn out was West Ham United against Chelsea at the London Stadium, while eight-time winners Liverpool were paired with Tottenham Hotspur.

Arsenal also welcome Reading to the Emirates Stadium, and there's an all-Premier League match-up between Southampton and Sunderland at St Mary's.

Elsewhere, Sky Bet Championship highflyers Norwich City and Newcastle United were drawn against Leeds United and Preston North End respectively, and two of Round Three's late winners, Bristol City and Hull City, will meet at Ashton Gate.

EFL Cup Round Four draw in full:

West Ham United v Chelsea
Manchester United v Manchester City
Arsenal v Reading
Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur
Bristol City v Hull City
Leeds United v Norwich City
Newcastle United v Preston North End
Southampton v Sunderland

Ties due to be played week commencing 24th October 2016.

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Fourth Round

Tuesday 25th October 2016

Home - Result - Away
 
Att. 59,865 Arsenal 2 - 0 Reading
 
Att. 16,149 Bristol C 1 - 2 Hull City
 
Att. 22,222 Leeds 2 - 2 Norwich

Leeds win 3 - 2 on penalties.

Att. 53,051 Liverpool 2 - 1 Tottenham
 
Att. 49,042 Newcastle 6 - 0 Preston

Wednesday 26th October 2016

Home - Result - Away
 
Att. 75,196 Man Utd 1 - 0 Man City
 
Att. 21,460 S'thampton 1 - 0 Sunderland
 
Att. 45,957 West Ham 2 - 1 Chelsea
 
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The draw for the Quarter-Final stage of the EFL Cup has been made.

Liverpool v Leeds United
Manchester United v West Ham United
Hull City v Newcastle United
Arsenal v Southampton

Quarter-Final ties are due to be played the week commencing 28th November 2016.

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Match report via TF....

On a cold Tuesday night, United descended on the arse end of the country, “Hull”. Even the word “Hull” reeks of ‘bang average’. What a naff place to have to endure the torture that was our heartbreaking cup exit.

We, a squashed car of five lads, arrived on that long road near the stadium full of dated pubs, kebab shops and off licenses. Literally every other building was an off license. Horrid. After some bang average food and a few bang average pints, we joined the other 2500 Mags gathering at the KC… did I mention that their stadium is also bang average.

Alas, we were there for the football, and we got plenty of that. 120 minutes. 2 hours.

Newcastle put out the expected strong side, with the one surprise inclusion of Lazaar at left back with Set-Piece Dummett dropped to the bench. We’ll come on to Matz Sels shortly but he had to start this game to ever have a chance of reviving his chances in England. Most clubs play their second choice keeper for cup games and Sels is meant to be good enough for that not to be an issue.

We started nervously which was surprising given the spine tingling noise coming from the Newcastle corner in the first 20 minutes. Hull are no better than us on or off paper and we gave them too much respect early on. It took a while for us to get into the game but once the lads realized what they were up against, we took control as we have in nearly every other game this season. Gayle was put through one on one by Shelvey midway through the first half but shot too early for an easy save. Other chances came from a number of set pieces, the closest of which fell for Ritchie near half time who fired inches over the bar. We should have been ahead at half time.

Second half was similar. We started slowly but had the better of the chances. There were a number of excellent saves from their keeper, who eventually got MOM, keeping out Gayle, Gouffran and Lazaar. I think it’s fair to acknowledge that although Hull are by no means a good side (they will go down), they were still a higher level of opposition than anybody we have played this season. As a result we looked tired by the 70th minute. Around this time, Diamé was drawing a lot of criticism from the stands which baffled me as he was the only player in my eyes who still had the energy to push on. He was let down by our midfield who were struggling to get up the pitch. Shelvey and Hayden are both good footballers. Neither had a bad game but both have a habit of sitting deep, just outside our box awaiting the ball. This left Diamé, Gouffran and later Atsu quite isolated up the pitch. As the game drew on it was getting harder to get forward and create chances. It was looking like penalties would be the only way by the 85th minute. However, just to further tease us, a stroke of luck (thanks to a stroke of stupidity) as Mbokani reacted to a strong challenge from Lascelles by putting his head into him. Red card and we had 10 men to play against in extra time.

Hull, to their credit, remained organized and limited our chances in the 30 minutes but we were in control and desperately pushing for a winner in open play. Cross after cross went into the box but were dealt with quite easily by their very deep defense. Alas, the breakthrough was made as ball (from a short corner!) was flicked to the far post where Diamé stabbed it in. He deserved the goal for a strong 120 minute performance. A scruffy goal but we thought that was it.

This is Newcastle United though and we just don’t get anything for free. Whilst still celebrating the goal and singing about Wembley for the first time in over a decade, Hull lumped the ball forward and after some sloppy defending it fell to a Hull player who shot straight at Sels. Sels elected to palm the ball out unconvincing straight into the path of Rob Snodgrass who slotted it past him to equalize. For fuck sake.

On reflection, over the two hours, Newcastle were by far the better team. We matched a PL team in all departments and created far more big chances. It just wasn’t our day in that respect. I won’t go into the penalties. We’d given as much as we had before the final whistle. We took 4 bad pens and they took 4 good ones. Apparently we’ve only ever won once on pens. We just looked spent and it was over before we knew it. Most importantly, we didn’t take our chances.

Sels hasn’t made a real save in the game and had a mare at the one crucial point. Unfortunately for him, that’s probably his United career done. This was his chance to start again and he will now only be remembered for this. Rafa can’t play him any more as the crowd will crucify him for any little mistake. We’ll never quite know what this signing was about or if he could have come good but I see Krul and Darlow as 1 and 2 next season in an ideal world. Bye Matz. Cheers.

So we’re out. Whilst still bitterly disappointed the morning after, it’s important to reflect on where we are as a club though. We outplayed a PL team in open play in a cup quarter final. We’re top of the league and have the best manager we’ve ever had at the helm. We’ll get over this fast because there’s so much more to come under this man.
Viva la Rafalution.

Newcastle United Sels 4, Anita 7 (Yedlin 6), Lascelles 8, Clark 7, Lazaar 7, Shelvey 7, Hayden 7, Gouffran 7, DIAME 8, Ritchie 6, Gayle 7

Our fans – 8

A decent crowd, we made plenty of noise and stayed with them to the end. That it was a Tuesday evening may have impacted on levels of alcohol consumption and thus overall crowd presence but it was still one of our better performances this season.

Their fans/club – 1

The half empty ground took something away from the occasion. Whilst it probably worked in their favour, it just doesn’t feel right to me to deny people the chance to watch their team in a quarter final in favour of an empty seat. They can fuck off. The ones that were there were a non-entity because of aforementioned empty seats

SIMON CAMPBELL

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Quarter Finals

Tuesday 29th November 2016

Home - Result - Away
 
Hull City 1 - 1 Newcastle
 
Hull win 3 - 1 on penalties.

Att. 52,012 Liverpool 2 - 0 Leeds

Wednesday 30th November 2016
 
Att. 59,013 Arsenal 0 - 2 S'thampton
 
Att. 65,269 Man Utd 4 - 1 West Ham

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The EFL Cup Semi-Final draw has been made and the dates and kick-off times have now been confirmed, with all four ties being shown live on Sky Sports.

Manchester United and Hull City will get the Semi-Finals started at 8pm on Tuesday 10th January when they clash at Old Trafford.

That will be followed by Southampton versus Liverpool at 7.45pm on Wednesday 11th January.

Anfield will then be the venue for the opening second leg, when Liverpool and Southampton clash under the lights for an 8pm kick-off on Wednesday 25th January.

The cameras will then travel to Hull for their second leg against Manchester United, which will be shown live on Sky Sports on Thursday 26th January, with kick-off at 7.45pm.

EFL Cup Semi-Final schedule

Tuesday 10th January 2017

Manchester United v Hull City (8pm – live on Sky Sports)

Wednesday 11th January 2017

Southampton v Liverpool (7.45pm – live on Sky Sports)

Wednesday 25th January 2017

Liverpool v Southampton (8pm – live on Sky Sports)

Thursday 26th January 2017

Hull City v Manchester United (7.45pm – live on Sky Sports)

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Semi-Finals

Tuesday 10th January 2017

Home - Result - Away
 
Att. 65,798

Man Utd 2 - 0 Hull City

Wednesday 11th January 2017

Home - Result - Away
 
Att.31,480

S'thampton 1 - 0 Liverpool
 

Wednesday 25th January 2017

Home - Result - Away
 
Att. 52,238

Liverpool 0 - 1 S'thampton
 
Southampton win 2 - 0 on aggregate

Thursday 26th January 2017

Home - Result - Away
 
Att.16,831

Hull City 2 - 1 Man Utd
 
Manchester United win 3 - 2 on aggregate

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Final

Sunday 26th February 2017

Home - Result - Away
 
Att.85,264

Man Utd 3 - 2 S'thampton
 
Manchester United won a thrilling 2017 EFL Cup Final, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s late goal securing a memorable 3 - 2 victory at Wembley.

Ibrahimovic, who was awarded the Alan Hardaker Trophy for his performance, had set the ball rolling in the first half with a fine free-kick, but that strike came against the run of play as Southampton started on the front foot.

The Saints showed their early intent with Ryan Bertrand and Cedric causing problems down the flanks with overlapping runs, but it was United who had the first shot on target — Paul Pogba’s fierce fourth-minute effort straight at Fraser Forster.

Seven minutes later, the Saints thought they had the lead when Manolo Gabbiadini tucked home from close range, but the Italian striker was ruled offside from Cedric’s low cross. Nathan Redmond was also proving a nuisance to the United defence, and he cut in from the left-hand side soon after before dragging his shot wide of the target.

Not long after, United went ahead. Oriol Romeu scythed down fellow Spaniard Ander Herrera around 20 yards out, and Ibrahimovic curled his set-piece over the wall and beyond the despairing Forster.

Southampton threatened an immediate response with Gabbiadini and Dusan Tadic both forcing saves out of David De Gea, and Marcos Rojo did well to avert the danger after a James Ward-Prowse corner led to panic in the box.

The Argentinian defender was then involved at the other end of the pitch, as United doubled their advantage with 38 minutes on the clock. Neat work on the left-hand side resulted with Rojo teeing up Jesse Lingard, and the midfielder coolly slotted into the far corner for his third Wembley goal with the Red Devils.

However, the Saints refused to lie down and they got their reward on the stroke of half-time. James Ward-Prowse was afforded space on the right, and Gabbiadini was on hand to tuck the ball home and reduce the arrears.

Half-time: Manchester United 2 - 1 Southampton

After the restart, Southampton started where they left off. Redmond forced De Gea into a save with a fierce back-post volley, and after successive corners, the game was all square when Gabbiadini brilliantly hooked home a loose ball from 12 yards out just three minutes into the second half.

It was United’s turn to respond, and they nearly did when Ibrahimovic got in behind the defence and forced Forster into another save. The ball stayed alive though, and a teasing Valencia cross looked like creating an opportunity, but Anthony Martial and Pogba got in each other’s way and the chance was gone.

Just after the hour Cedric burst forward again for Southampton and forced a corner, which Ward-Prowse put on the head of Romeu, but his header bounced off the post and to safety.

Manchester United picked up the pace after that let-off — the outstretched leg of Maya Yoshida brilliantly denied Lingard a shooting chance, and then the United midfielder should have restored the lead soon after, but fired over at the back post with what was his last action before being replaced by Marcus Rashford.

Rashford nearly made an immediate impact but was denied by the legs of Forster, however the England goalkeeper could do nothing in the 87th minute when United struck the game's decisive goal.

Moments after clearing a goalbound header at one end, Ibrahimovic led a United breakaway up the Wembley pitch. The counter attack was held up, but Mourinho’s men remained patient, and eventually Ander Herrera delivered the perfect cross for the Swede to head home a dramatic winner.

It was hard on Southampton, who were the better side for long spells of the match, but it was United’s day as they held the famous trophy aloft for the fifth time in their illustrious history.

Full-time: Manchester United 3 - 2 Southampton

Manchester United: De Gea; Rojo, Smalling (c), Bailly, Valencia, Herrera, Pogba, Martial (Fellaini 90’), Mata (Carrick 46’), Lingard (Rashford 77’); Ibrahimovic.
Subs not used: Romero, Blind, Young, Rooney.

Southampton: Forster; Bertrand, Yoshida, Stephens, Cedric; Tadic (Boufal 77’), Romeu, Davis (c) (Rodriguez 90’), Ward-Prowse, Redmond; Gabbiadini (Long 83’).
Subs not used: Hassen, Caceres, Hojbjerg, McQueen.

Referee: Andre Marriner.

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