Invited B Teams have been drawn into EFL Trophy groups, coming 24 hours after all the League One and Two teams were already drawn out.
The controversial tournament, which goes unsponsored for the 2020/21 season, was split as usual into northern and southern sections with invited clubs joining 48 EFL sides in one of eight groups.
The invited clubs include Aston Villa, Leeds United, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers for the north section, along with Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea, Fulham, Norwich City, Southampton, West Bromwich Albion and West Ham United for the south section.
So without further ado, this is how the full draw went now that Invited B Teams have been drawn into EFL Trophy groups…
NORTHERN SECTION GROUP A
CARLISLE UNITED
FLEETWOOD TOWN
SUNDERLAND
ASTON VILLA
NORTHERN SECTION GROUP B
MORECAMBE
ROCHDALE
SALFORD CITY
MAN UTD
NORTHERN SECTION GROUP C
BOLTON WANDERERS
CREWE ALEXANDRA
SHREWSBURY TOWN
NEWCASTLE
NORTHERN SECTION GROUP D
PORT VALE
TRANMERE ROVERS
WIGAN
LIVERPOOL
NORTHERN SECTION GROUP E
MANSFIELD TOWN
LINCOLN CITY
SCUNTHORPE UNITED
MAN CITY
NORTHERN SECTION GROUP F
BRADFORD CITY
DONCASTER ROVERS
OLDHAM ATHLETIC
WOLVES
NORTHERN SECTION GROUP G
ACCRINGTON STANLEY
BARROW
BLACKPOOL
LEEDS UNITED
NORTHERN SECTION GROUP H
GRIMSBY TOWN
HARROGATE TOWN
HULL CITY
LEICESTER CITY
SOUTHERN SECTION GROUP A
COLCHESTER
PORTSMOUTH
SOUTHEND
WEST HAM
SOUTHERN SECTION GROUP B
CRAWLEY TOWN
GILLINGHAM
IPSWICH TOWN
ARSENAL
SOUTHERN SECTION GROUP C
MK DONS
NORTHAMPTON
STEVENAGE
SOUTHAMPTON
SOUTHERN SECTION GROUP D
BRISTOL ROVERS
OXFORD UNITED
WALSALL
CHELSEA
SOUTHERN SECTION GROUP E
EXETER CITY
FOREST GREEN ROVERS
SWINDON TOWN
WEST BROM
SOUTHERN SECTION GROUP F
CHELTENHAM TOWN
NEWPORT COUNTY
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE
NORWICH CITY
SOUTHERN SECTION GROUP G
AFC WIMBLEDON
CHARLTON ATHLETIC
LEYTON ORIENT
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
SOUTHERN SECTION GROUP H
BURTON ALBION
CAMBRIDGE UNITED
PETERBOROUGH UNITED
FULHAM
On looking forward to the EFL Trophy, Wolves under-23 head coach James Collins said via their club website: “It’s a really positive competition for under-23 teams to be involved in. Often the first step on the journey for under-23 players is to go out on loan to a Football League club.
“It’s a good opportunity for them to see the standard they need to be performing at, plus you get tested in different ways.
“Sometimes the style is very different to what they would be used to at youth level, and also, they’re playing against ‘men’. I know it’s an old-fashioned thing to say, but it’s a tougher environment to develop in and it’s something young players very much need.
“I think the balance of the fixture programme is very good.”
James Collins talks players coming back, managing fitness and returning to action with a couple of wins.
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) August 18, 2020
After echoing what most coach/manager would say about their side entering the competition, Collins also spoke on Tuesday afternoon’s draw:
“It doesn’t matter who we’re drawn against, we’re going to have a very tough challenge. With the players we’ve got this year, it will be a very young group.
“It would have been easy for us as a club to have said we wouldn’t take part in that competition this year as it will be very tough for the boys. But the club understand that we’re trying to develop players and get them going head-to-head against men.
“Whoever we draw, it will be tough, but we’re really looking forwards to it and hope the boys will be able to step up to that challenge.”
Fans reacted after Invited B Teams drawn into EFL Trophy groups…
Funny thing is we will beat all 3 of these
— Toby Brannan (@TobyBrannan3) August 18, 2020
Gets out of the Football League so we don’t have to go to shitholes like Accrington and Blackpool.
Oh.
— Alexander Toon (C) ? (@AlexanderToon94) August 18, 2020
Two new grounds there in the unlikely event we are allowed. !
— lee (@montyoxymoron) August 18, 2020
The most depressing football day of the year: the group stage draw for the EFL Trophy. I’ll bet fans will be allowed back in for those games: some might even hit four figure attendances.
— Don’t Mention The Germs (@MAPRoberts) August 18, 2020
Oh my god could of had someone like leeds and it would of been an actually alright group now we have Leicester and its ruined it
— Wez Andrews (@wez_andrews95) August 18, 2020
That’s us out then
— Craig Symons (@Pocimop) August 18, 2020
boycott the Leicester game. it’s so stupid to have premier league youngsters in this competition.
— MG_Live (@TheReal_MGLive) August 18, 2020
Tedious, competition ruined and devalued. No one wants B teams, U23 or whatever you want to call them. Premier league can do one, it’s a line up of wallets and the fattest one wins the league. 25 foreigners with no connection to their community.
— LangleyMariner (@LangleyMariner) August 18, 2020
Will these be played behind closed doors like the previous seasons have? ?
— CiaránBoast (@CiaranBoast) August 18, 2020
— Owen Lang (@owenlang_) August 18, 2020
Just sack it off
— Jake Meeus – Jones (@JonesMeeus125) August 18, 2020
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