Darren Powell’s side face a decisive final Group E fixture at Rodney Parade, with the Young Eagles aiming to progress beyond the group stage for the first time since entering the competition in 2021/22.
So, what do Palace need to qualify?
What do Palace need to reach the EFL Trophy knockout stages?
Crystal Palace Under-21s travel to Newport County on Tuesday, 3rd November (KO: 19:00 GMT), knowing victory would secure a place in the EFL Trophy knockout stages for the first time in Academy history.
How does it work?
The Jersey Mike’s Trophy brings together 48 League One and League Two clubs with 16 Category One academies, divided into 16 groups of four.
The top two teams in each group advance to the knockout stages. If a group-stage match finishes level after 90 minutes, a penalty shootout takes place, with the winners earning an additional point.
Where do Palace currently stand?
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.
Palace opened their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Swindon, Caleb Kporha and Seb Williams finding the net, before a 5-1 defeat at Plymouth left them needing a result in south Wales.
What do Palace need?
A win would guarantee progression. Three points would take Palace to six, securing a top-two finish and a place in the knockout stages.
A draw followed by a penalty-shootout defeat would see Palace eliminated. The Young Eagles would reach four points, leaving them unable to finish above both Newport and Plymouth.
A draw followed by a penalty-shootout victory would keep a slim hope alive. Palace would reach five points but, with the draw leaving the goal-difference gap between the sides unchanged, would remain behind Newport.
However, if Swindon were to beat Plymouth by a big goal swing – at least seven goals – Palace could still have a chance of finishing above the Pilgrims, but of course that is an extremely unlikely scenario.
The equation is simple: victory at Rodney Parade would make Academy history, while anything less would leave Powell’s side relying on an unlikely combination of results.