Crystal Palace Under-21s travel to the Lamex Stadium on Tuesday evening for a decisive EFL Trophy showdown against League One high-flyers Stevenage, as both sides contest the final fixture of Southern Group E.
With knockout qualification hanging by a thread, the young Eagles will be hoping to defy the odds and end their campaign on a high by securing qualification.
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Palace U21s find themselves at the foot of the group heading into the final matchday, with one point from two games. While results haven’t gone our way, the performances have been full of grit and determination.
In the opening fixture, Darren Powell’s side played out a thrilling 3-3 draw against Bromley, with Zach Marsh netting a brace and Adler Nascimento scoring a sublime long-range curling strike.
Despite the strong showing, Palace were edged out 4-3 in the penalty shootout, meaning Bromley claimed the bonus point on offer.
Next up came a gritty battle with AFC Wimbledon. The young Eagles showed defensive discipline and character but ultimately fell to a 3-1 defeat. Asher Agbinone provided the highlight, calmly converting from the spot to grab a consolation.
These results leave Palace on one point with a -2 goal difference, behind Bromley (2 points, -1 GD), Wimbledon (3 points, -2 GD), and group leaders Stevenage (6 points). Stevenage have already secured their place in the Round of 32 as group winners and will be seeded in the next stage.
As usual, three points are awarded for a win and one point for a draw. However, in the group stage, a draw goes straight to a penalty shootout, with a bonus point awarded to the shootout winner.
The top two teams in each group advance to the Round of 32, with group winners seeded and runners-up unseeded. The Round of 32, Round of 16, and quarter-finals are regionalised, and the final is typically played in April at Wembley.
To have any chance of qualifying for the Round of 32, Palace must beat Stevenage in 90 minutes by at least two goals and hope that the match between AFC Wimbledon and Bromley ends in a draw, with Bromley winning the subsequent penalty shootout.
If this happens, Palace, Wimbledon, and Bromley would each finish on four points, but Palace would progress thanks to a superior goal difference.
A loss or a draw and win on penalties will of course not be enough for Palace to qualify. The same applies if either Wimbledon or Bromley win their match in 90 minutes.
In the league, Powell’s side recently enjoyed a strong run with back-to-back victories over Tottenham and Leeds, followed by a hard-fought draw away at West Brom.
That momentum was briefly halted in a 4-1 defeat to Manchester United, but the young Eagles responded impressively with a 3-1 home win over Birmingham City.
Palace currently sit 12th in Premier League 2, part of a tightly packed mid-table alongside Wolves, Leeds, and Aston Villa.
Stevenage have made an impressive start to their League One campaign, currently sitting second in the table with 25 points and a game in hand. Just behind leaders Cardiff, they remain firmly in contention in what’s shaping up to be a fiercely competitive title race.
Their climb to the summit was capped by a memorable 2-0 victory over Luton Town, played in front of their largest home crowd since the iconic 1998 FA Cup clash with Newcastle United.
However, their seven-game unbeaten run came to an end on Saturday with a narrow 1-0 defeat away at Lincoln City – a result that knocked them off top spot.
That defeat followed an eventful start to the season, which began with a dramatic 3-2 opening-day win over Blackpool. It laid the foundation for a strong early push up the table.
Since earning Football League status in 2010 with a Conference-winning campaign, Stevenage have gradually built their presence in the EFL. That journey included a three-year stint in League One before relegation in 2014.
Under Steve Evans, Boro returned to the third tier in 2023 and have since enjoyed consistent progress, finishing 14th in 2024 and climbing to 9th last season.
This year, however, they’ve shifted gears. A narrow 1-0 win over Rotherham kicked off their home form, though they were quickly knocked out of the Carabao Cup after a 3-1 loss to Charlton Athletic in the first round.
Unshaken, they bounced back in the league with a composed 2-0 win over Northampton, courtesy of goals from Dan Kemp and Gassan Ahadme. Jamie Reid’s late double against Carlisle kept their perfect league record intact, before a 1-0 defeat to Huddersfield ended that streak.
Chem Campbell’s first-half strike against Wycombe restored their place in the automatic promotion spots, and they resumed after the international break with a 1-1 draw away at Mansfield.
Jordan Roberts’ late winner against Exeter fired them back into second place, and a thrilling 3-2 win over Leyton Orient soon after saw them claim top spot. That position was further cemented with a convincing 2-0 victory over Luton to start October.
However, they couldn’t find a response in Lincolnshire last weekend, leaving empty-handed after a narrow defeat at the LNER Stadium.
In the EFL Trophy – known officially as the Vertu Motors Trophy – Stevenage have been decisive and secured passage to the knockouts.
Their opening group match saw them dismantle AFC Wimbledon 5-1 in a ruthless performance that underlined their attacking strength and squad depth. A heavily rotated side still produced goals from Gassan Ahadme (twice), Phoenix Patterson, Jean-Luc Lubala, and Harvey White.
In their second outing, Stevenage secured qualification with a 2-1 win over Bromley, confirming their place in the knockout stages with a game to spare. Across their two matches, they’ve scored seven goals and conceded just two – an impressive return.
Marschall, James-Wildin, Houghton, Sweeney, Kemp, Goode, Freestone, White, Reid, Campbell, Lubala
Given they’ve already progressed, Boro are likely to make changes for Tuesday's clash, especially with a top-of-the-table showdown against Bradford looming on Saturday. Still, their depth and cohesion will make them formidable opponents, regardless of who features.
Stevenage come into the fixture in strong form.
Before the setback against Lincoln, they had recorded back-to-back league victories and were unbeaten in five matches across all competitions – including an impressive four-game winning streak.
That narrow defeat to the Imps will no doubt fuel their determination to bounce back immediately.
Defensively, they’ve been the standout side in League One, conceding just nine goals in ten matches, while scoring 17 – placing them in the division’s top five attacking sides.
In the EFL Trophy, their 5-1 and 2-1 wins speak volumes. Seven goals scored, two conceded, and six points secured. This is a side confident at both ends of the pitch – and with the luxury of rotation.
Palace, by contrast, face a huge challenge, but with the pressure off and nothing to lose, they have the opportunity to express themselves, play brave football, and perhaps, just perhaps, keep the knockout dream alive.
Gassan Ahadme has been a standout figure for Stevenage in the EFL Trophy, with three goals in two appearances putting him among the competition’s top scorers.
A technically gifted forward with smart movement and a clinical touch, Ahadme began his career at Norwich City before spells at Real Oviedo, Portsmouth, Burton, Ipswich, and Cambridge United – where he enjoyed his most prolific season, scoring 11 in 29 appearances.
Currently on loan from Charlton Athletic, Ahadme has brought his eye for goal to Stevenage and will be one to watch closely if selected.
Alex Revell returned to the Stevenage dugout in May 2024 following the departure of Steve Evans to Rotherham United.
The former striker – who made 57 appearances for the club during his playing days – had previously managed Boro between 2020 and 2021. While his first stint ended prematurely, Revell has returned a more experienced coach and has steered Stevenage to their strongest start in years.
Since his reappointment, the 40-year-old has guided the club to a ninth-place finish in 2024, and now has them firmly in the League One title picture.
Stevenage FC v Crystal Palace U21s