City underdogs for Trophy opener
CITY go into tonight’s Checkatrade Trophy clash with Rotherham as underdogs.
The Blues’ under-21s team will travel to Yorkshire (kick-off 7pm) for their first venture in the revamped competition.
They have been drawn in Group F and will come up against the senior teams of Bradford City, Chesterfield and Rotherham.
All League One and League Two sides feature in the competition, which has been known as, among other things, the EFL Trophy, the Autoglass Trophy and Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.
City have joined a number of other Premier League clubs on the basis that they could be flexible over fixture dates.
They decided not to take part last season over a fear that the games could clash with youth internationals.
Rotherham, who beat Southend 5-0 in League One at the weekend, go into the clash at the New York Stadium as favourites.
Despite manager Paul Warne’s plan to change Rotherham’s starting line-up, the home side go in the game as a 5/4 shot for victory with one bookie. City’s youngsters are 7/4 for the win. Warne said: “They’re very, very athletic throughout the team. I will make changes for obvious reasons, but I will put a competitive side out because I have a good squad of players.
“I know what City’s threats are. We’ll prepare a team and try to be competitive. I want to win every game I get involved in.”