Seven minutes added on... C'MON PALACE!!!

Gibbard fizzes the ball into Angibeaud, whose touch tees him up to stroke past the onrushing 'keeper...

The Young Eagles continue to threaten with their pacey, free-flowing counter-attacks, enjoying a sustained spell in the final third as Newport withstand wave after wave of pressure. Benamar is particularly influential down the left, combining neatly with his team-mates before whipping in some seriously dangerous deliveries.

Gibbard lays off Walker-Smith’s long throw for Okoli, whose first-time strike is charged down!

Okoli’s clever ball over the top finds Walker-Smith, who hooks narrowly wide of the mark...

He denies Brennan from range before keeping out Gwengwe’s rebound!

The hosts look a different side following the introductions of Smith and Brennan at half-time, and it takes them just a few minutes to draw level. Shaquille Gwengwe cuts the ball back into the danger zone and Crole gets a touch, albeit a miscued one, which is enough to send it beyond Lee.

The Young Eagles start and end the half in the ascendancy, producing some excellent football and looking particularly dangerous on the break.

Newport have had their moments – with George King’s goal-line clearance, which clipped the crossbar, perhaps the biggest scare – but Palace have otherwise created numerous opportunities and tested Turner on several occasions.

Plenty of encouragement for the Eagles heading into the second half!

There have been a couple more scares for the Young Eagles. Garner flashes an effort narrowly wide of the far post, leaving Lee scrambling, before Evans is gifted another opportunity when a miscued clearance falls kindly into his path. This time, though, he misses the empty net!

A brilliant move from Williams, Sealey, and Judd sees the latter's lashed effort to the right of the area denied - so close!

Angibeaud, Okoli, and Sealey have all had efforts denied by Newport 'keeper Jake Turner in the last few moments - Palace are growing in confidence here!

An outrageous acrobatic clearance from George King somehow diverts Sassi’s goalbound header onto the crossbar!

Gozo’s whipped free-kick almost sneaks into the far corner - so, so, so close!

Sealey's inswinging corner ensues a pinball-like scramble in the area and Judd is alive to turn home on the swivel - what a start from the Young Eagles!

Sealey lays off Okoli but the resulting effort from distance is tame and straight at the 'keeper.

... who are almost architects of their own downfall. They've been moving the ball well, but Harry Lee's stray pass finds Kieron Evans just outside the area. Thankfully, his effort is blocked before he can make Palace pay.

Chuks Okoli wins possession and slips through Sealey and his pull-back almost finds the onrushing Gozo for the close-range shot.

Amaari Sealey gets the ball rolling in south Wales.

Come on you Palace!!

Here we go! Both sides emerge from the tunnel and take their places for the pre-match formalities. One final look around Rodney Parade, and we're almost ready for kick-off.

Come on, Palace!

That's the end of the warm-up, and the Young Eagles head back inside for their final preparations. Kick-off is almost upon us!

Powell makes five changes from the defeat to Southampton. Taha Majni replaces Nat Kalembo on the right of the back three, while Jasper Judd comes in for the injured Caleb Kporha at wing-back.

Chuks Okoli joins Seb Williams in midfield, with first team star Zavier Gozo and Amaari Sealey also coming into the attack to flank David Angibeaud. Kai-Reece Adams-Coleman and Joe Gibbard drop to the bench, while Adler Nascimento misses out through injury.

The lads have arrived at Rodney Parade, ready for business ahead of tonight's decisive clash with Newport!

The Young Eagles head to south Wales looking to bounce back from Monday's 5-2 defeat to Southampton in Premier League 2 – the top level of Academy football for Category One clubs – and get their campaign back on track.

Powell's side had responded to three successive defeats with an impressive 4-1 victory over Leeds United, as Adler Nascimento struck a superb hat-trick and 16-year-old Nat Kalembo added a stunning long-range effort.

Now, with their EFL Trophy hopes on the line, Palace need another big performance.

The Young Eagles make an encouraging start to 2026/27, recording impressive results against Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain before opening their EFL Trophy campaign with a 2-1 victory over League One side Swindon Town.

Caleb Kporha and Seb Williams are on target that night, but a heavy 5-1 defeat to Plymouth Argyle leaves Powell's side needing a result at Newport to keep their hopes of progression alive…

Now known as the Jersey Mike’s Trophy, the competition brings together League One and League Two clubs and 16 Category One academies, including Palace’s Under-21s.

The 64 teams are divided into 16 regional groups of four, with the top two in each group progressing to the knockout stages. Victory earns three points, while a draw after 90 minutes leads to a penalty shootout, with the winners claiming an additional point.

Knockout matches also go straight to penalties if level after 90 minutes, with extra time reserved for the Wembley final if required.

The Young Eagles sit third in Group E on three points, behind Newport County on four and Plymouth Argyle on five. Swindon Town are bottom without a point and can no longer qualify.

Victory would guarantee Palace a place in the knockout stages. Three points would take Darren Powell's side to six and secure a top-two finish.

A draw would leave Palace relying on other results. A penalty-shootout defeat would mean elimination, while victory from the spot would take the Young Eagles to five points, level with Plymouth but still behind Newport.

Palace would then need Swindon to beat Plymouth by at least eight goals to have a chance of finishing above the Pilgrims – an extremely unlikely scenario...

Welcome to Rodney Parade, where Crystal Palace Under-21s know victory over Newport County will secure their place in the EFL Trophy knockout stages for the first time in Academy history.

It's the Young Eagles' final Southern Group E fixture, with everything to play for. Kick-off is at 19:00 BST, and we'll bring you all the build-up and live updates right here.

Come on, Palace!