There were 18 goals and a 5-4 penalty shootout scoreline in the first three matches of 25/26 EFL Trophy group stage this week.
Bristol Rovers drew 4-4 with Tottenham Hotspur U21 after twice coming from behind (including from 3-0 down), with the League Two side winning 5-4 on penalties.
Bristol Rovers: Young, Senior (English 88), Moore, Mola, Hutchinson, Thomas, Ellison (Conteh 36), Harrison (Cavegn 46), Howley, Bilongo, Dewsbury
Subs: Southwood, Odumboni, Hill, Iwhiwhu
Goals: Harrison (45+2), Cavegn (54, 73), Hutchinson (69)
Booked: Howley (25), Thomas (26), Hutchinson (34)
Tottenham Hotspur U21: Archer, Olusesi, Russell-Denny, Thompson (Logan 74), Cassanova, Hardy, Byfield (Ashcroft 82), Williams-Barnett (Lehane 82), Akhamrich, Irow (Maguire, 68), Rowswell
Subs: Black, Arganese-McDermott, Egan-Riley,
Goals: Thompson (10, 58), Williams-Barnett (14), Akhamrich (16)
Booked: Olusesi (35), Byfield (76), Maguire (84)
Red: Archer (65)
Referee: Stephen Parkinson
Attendance: 1,067 (48 away)
SHORT HIGHLIGHTS
EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS
Bristol Rovers’ Rhys Carr said, per the club website: “My immediate reaction is that I am really disappointed with the first half in particular. We have to start games of football miles better than that—we know that—and we have to show that as well.
“To take some positives from it, we showed a little bit of character to get back into it. Fabrizio coming off the bench and getting his first couple of goals is a couple of positives to spin from that. But we can’t start games of football like that, or as open as that, so we’re disappointed, and that needs to be addressed—and we’ll look to put that right.”
On the first 15 minutes being disappointing: “Absolutely. I don’t know how to describe it other than that. You know, we’re working with the players, we’re trying to make them better—that’s our job as coaches: to get the team organised and make the players better. So we’ll get to work on doing that, so this doesn’t happen again.”
On the second half being much improved: “You saw the intensity in the game. You see that the energy went up. You saw the spaces were smaller. Yes, we tweaked things a little bit tactically, but it was definitely more energy out there in the second half as well.
“They did grab the game by the scruff of the neck a little bit. So, you know, you should probably be in a little more of a positive frame of mind than what we are—what I am—at the moment.”
“We have to start games of football miles better than that.”
Rhys Carr speaks after our @VertuTrophy fixture against Tottenham Hotspur U21s… pic.twitter.com/0YEopn64HK
— Bristol Rovers (@Official_BRFC) August 26, 2025
“It’s nice to win on penalties, but ultimately, we’ve got to be better.”
🗣️ Brad Young after our game against Tottenham Hotspur U21s… pic.twitter.com/6Zaa8ajlsf
— Bristol Rovers (@Official_BRFC) August 27, 2025
Elsewhere, Manchester City U21 proved too strong for Oldham, coming away with a 5-1 win in Northern Group E. City had three different goalscorers, with Mahamadou Sangaré (38′, 69′) and Ashton Muir (45’+2′, 83′) each scoring a brace while Justin Oboavwoduo also got on the scoresheet on the 42nd minute,
Oldham’s only goal of the game via a penalty scored by Luke Hannant on the 52nd minute.
Oldham: Donaghy, Charsley (Drummond 36’) Sutton, Hannant, Caprice (Howard 36’), Hawkes, Olson, Harratt, Hammond, Kay, Waters.
Sub: Hudson, Butterfield, Kershaw, Steele.
Man City: Brits, Samuel, Noble, Mfuni (Braithwaite 84’), McFarlane (Naylor 84’), Fapetu (Dada-Mascoll 79’), Muir, J. Heskey, Sangare (Warhurst 79’), Oboavwoduo, Lawrence.
Subs: Wint.
Shrewsbury Town overcame Chelsea U21 3-1 in Southern Group C, rallying from behind despite poor league form.
Chelsea (3-2-4-1): Gabriel Slonina; Kaiden Wilson, Harrison Murray-Campbell, Landon Emenalo (Genesis Antwi 63); Ollie Harrison, Jimi Tauriainen (Reggie Walsh h-t); Richard Olise, Leo Cardoso, Ryan Kavuma-McQueen (Jesse Derry 63), Kian Best (Harrison McMahon h-t); Shumaira Mheuka (c) (Chizaram Ezenwata 73)
Unused sub: Freddy Bernal
Scorer: Mheuka 10
Booked: Cardoso 21, Tauriainen 27
Shrewsbury Town: Elyh Harrison, Tom Anderson, Will Boyle, Sam Clucas (Malvind Benning 82), Tommy McDermott, Tom Sang (Harrison Biggins 82), Taylor Perry (Will Gray 86), Callum Stewart (Luca Hoole 51), Sam Stubbs, John Marquis (c), Isaac England
Unused subs: Toby Savin, Toto Nsiala
Scorers: McDermott 14, Marquis 65, Boyle 72
Booked: Perry 29, McDermott 61, Clucas 79, Boyle 88
Salop boss Michael Appleton said, per Shropshire Star: “Obviously we are delighted to get the win, it has been a long time coming and it is one we fully deserved.
“I was delighted with the players getting on the front foot and we could have stepped away after the goal, but we responded really, really well and scored a couple of good goals.
“We missed a lot of opportunities which is a down side but those opportunities came from being really aggressive, pressing and being on the front foot.
“I’ve told the players it is a different game when you play in the opposition half, and sometimes you have to realise that and be brave.
“If a piece of skill opens you up you take it on the chin, but we did well in possession, kept asking questions against an opposition who, lets face it, are a top team and put out one of the strongest sides they could.
“There were lots of positives and good performances tonight, the back three were in sync with each other, Tommy (McDermott) and Isaac (England) did well with each other and then TP and the front two were good, TP ran his socks off.”
On transfers: “Whether we have any in before Accrington, time will tell.
“I am quietly confident of one that could happen, but I think two, possibly three has to happen to make sure that we go between now and January and be competitive, and make sure we put ourselves in a position that is a lot healthier than what we are right now.”
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