CHECK IT OUT

A look at how the Checkatrade Trophy group stages have panned out

THE Checkatrade Trophy group stages came to a close in midweek – and many will say ‘good riddance’.

Even before a ball was kicked, the competition had come under heavy fire. That was largely due to the fact Premier League academy sides were being invited into a competition that had previously provided League One and Two clubs the chance for Wembley glory.

Many supporters felt the tournament had been downgraded – and the controversy was further fuelled when a number of the big boys, including Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal, declined to take part.

In addition, there was a lack of enthusiasm for a group stage. One game was maybe palatable, but three?

It was always going to be a hard sell and confusion right from the start about the make-up of the academy teams – they had to field six players under the age of 21 – hardly helped matters.

The EFL tried to turn the tide – highlighting the fact that prize money had been massively increased, including prizes of £10,000 for a group stage win and £5,000 for a draw – but were never really able to get their message across after that early barrage of negative publicity.

One of the biggest problems has been the miniscule attendances at a host of games up and down the country. Look to the results on the far right and you can see the gates on match day three – the likes of 284 at West Brom U21s v Gillingham, 308 at Middlesbrough U21s against Shrewsbury and 368 at Newport v AFC Wimbledon.

Pictures of empty grounds have, sadly, often told the picture in the former Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

It is easy to criticise the tournament – and it’s highly unlikely the one-year pilot will be deemed a success at the end of the season – but there have been some successes.

One of the aims was to give young home-grown players a chance to play competitive men’s football and the EFL have stated that almost 250 English players aged 21 and under started for Category 1 academy teams in the first two match days. In addition, they said that a total of 24 young players (aged 15-18) made their debuts for League One and League Two sides on the opening match day.

Benefit

Blackburn Rovers U21s may well have finished bottom of their group with just one point to their name, bowing out with a loss on penalties against Oldham after a 2-2 draw, but assistant coach David Dunn still believes it has been of benefit.

“The competition has been a great experience for our young players, playing against first team opposition and being in a real game,” he said. “That’s what it’s about.

“It’s given them a good bit of expemanager rience that they’ll need if they’re going to go on and play in league football.

“I’m obviously going to be for the competition because it certainly helps our lads develop as players. I know it’s come under a little bit of criticism, however I think for us as a club it’s been a decent competition.”

And Peterborough United U18s Jack Collison also believes the tournament has been useful for the club’s young prospects. The League One side finished the group stage on a high note with a 2-1 win at Barnet, though it wasn’t enough to see them advance to the last 32. “It’s a shame we’re out,” said the former Wales international. “The competition has taken a little bit of stick, but it’s been great for us a club. “We have given a few boys their debuts and others have been involved travelling with the first team – they’ve seen what it’s like to be in and around that environment. “It’s fantastic for the boys that have been up there with

the first team. They have come back to us and are hungrier than before.”

Although there were some dead rubeek bers in midweek – including that Barnet game against Posh – there was some drama, too.

In Northern Group A, Cheltenham topped the table after a 90th-minute penalty winner from Amari MorganBolton, Smith against Bolton while Blackpool won a winner-takes-all penalty shoot out 5-4 against Everton U21s after a 1-1 draw to knock out the Toffees and book their place in the last 32.

Despite finishing bottom of South ern Group C, Chelsea U21s at least had the satisfaction of beating Oxford United 13-12 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Sunderland U21s struck twice late on against Notts County to win 2-1 in Northern Group F and pip the Magpies to second place behind Rochdale. Striker Harry Smith netted twice on his debut as Millwall won 3-1 at Luton to top Southern Group H.