Crystal Palace Under-18s bid to reach the semi-finals of the Premier League Cup when they take on Category Two Peterborough on Tuesday afternoon (17th February, 12:30 GMT) at Idverde Training Ground.
The match will be streamed LIVE on Palace TV+ on Tuesday (17th February), with coverage beginning at 12:15 GMT ahead of a 12:30 GMT kick-off – click HERE to find out more and subscribe.
Supporters can follow live commentary on our Academy X (Twitter) page, with a full match report and reaction published shortly after full-time in our Academy news section.
Highlights and extended reaction will be available on Palace TV+.
Palace head into Tuesday’s Premier League Cup quarter-final against Peterborough having already navigated one of the competition’s toughest groups.
Drawn in Group D alongside Premier League North leaders Manchester City, Premier League South leaders Chelsea, and Category Two high-flyers Sheffield United, the young Eagles knew only top spot would guarantee progression.
A dramatic 3-3 draw with City set the tone, before a comfortable 3-1 victory at Sheffield United put Palace in control. Everything came down to the final matchday, where a commanding 4-0 win over Chelsea – combined with a superior goal difference – sealed top spot and a deserved place in the last eight.
The team returns to the Premier League Cup following a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Tottenham in the U18 Premier League South on Saturday.
Donte Martin opened the scoring before Oliver Boast equalised on the stroke of half-time. Palace pushed for a late winner, with Mylo Bernard and David Angibeaud going close, while Jamar Lee made his U18 competitive debut and several Under-16s impressed.
The point leaves Palace level on 28 points with Spurs but ahead on goal difference. Chelsea remain top on 33 with a game in hand, though their 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa at the weekend keeps Palace firmly in the title race.
With the quarter-finals of the Premier League Cup, the U18 Premier League South title chase, and a Youth Cup last-eight clash against either Aston Villa or Wrexham coming up, the young Eagles have exciting weeks ahead.
Peterborough United Under-18s compete in the U18 Professional Development League (PDL) – a national competition comprising 20 Category Two academies split into North and South divisions, before culminating in a play-off to crown the overall champions.
Operating as a Category Two Academy under the Elite Player Performance Plan, the Posh sit at the second tier of youth development in England. That status reflects sustained investment in facilities, staffing and long-term player development, reinforcing their commitment to building a strong pathway into senior football.
In the North Group this season, Peterborough currently sit eighth with 17 points from 17 matches after beating league leaders Hull City on Saturday. The lower end of the table remains tightly congested – Huddersfield Town are bottom on 10 points, Coventry City have 13, and Peterborough are just ahead on 17.
There is only a three-point gap to seventh-placed Sheffield Wednesday on 20, though the Owls do hold a game in hand.
The Posh's 2025/26 campaign began with a challenging run against strong opposition, suffering heavy defeats to Brentford, Watford and Arsenal before earning a first win of the season – a 2-1 success over Millwall at the end of August.
Results have fluctuated since, with victories over Coventry and Norwich offset by setbacks against Huddersfield and Crewe.
An upturn arrived in November, highlighted by an emphatic 5-0 win over Stoke City and a 3-1 triumph against Sheffield Wednesday. However, the year ended with back-to-back defeats, including a heavy loss to Sheffield United.
They began the new year in emphatic fashion with a 5-1 victory over Fleetwood Town, but followed it with a draw and two defeats. However, they returned to winning ways most recently, edging past league leaders Hull 3-2 at the Bespoke Builds Training Ground on Saturday morning.
Last season, Posh finished 10th in the North Group, recording eight wins, three draws and 20 losses. Their strongest recent campaign came in 2022/23, when they secured a third-place finish with 17 wins, two draws and nine defeats.
Despite mixed league form, Peterborough’s academy continues to produce senior talent.
Graduates such as Harrison Burrows, Ronnie Edwards and Ricky-Jade Jones have progressed into first-team football, while James Dornelly, Donay O’Brien-Brady and Harley Mills have more recently stepped into the senior environment. Academy players also featured in the club’s Vertu Trophy Final victory at Wembley.
On the pitch, the U18s lifted the Professional Development League Cup last season, showcasing their pedigree in knockout competition.
Off the field, infrastructure has been strengthened further. The club secured a three-year Category Two licence following extensive auditing, and the addition of an indoor dome facility has enhanced year-round training provision for both academy players and the wider community.
Peterborough may sit in the lower half of their division, but their cup credentials and proven pathway to senior football highlight the threat they carry – particularly in one-off ties.
Peterborough United Expected XI: Bucknor; Bushell, Joseph, Christoudias, Mendonca; Arber; McWilliams-Marcano, Fox, Sykut; Shofowoke, Mlitvalwa.
In their most recent outing against Hull, Peterborough fielded a notably youthful side, naming several Under-16s in the starting XI and including additional Under-15 players in the matchday squad.
Selection has also been shaped by the movement of players across age groups. A number of Under-18s and Under-21s have been training with – and providing cover for – the first team, while upcoming Under-21 fixtures, including one against Coventry City, have further influenced availability.
The majority of the squad remains available, however, and more Under-16 players are expected to step up into the Under-18 group during the second half of the campaign as the club continues to integrate its emerging talent.
Peterborough arrive for this fixture on the back of a statement 3-2 victory over league leaders Hull. That result, however, followed a mixed run of form – a heavy 5-1 defeat to Crewe Alexandra, a hard-fought draw, and an emphatic 5-1 win against Fleetwood Town – revealing their ability to both score freely and concede heavily.
Across the league campaign, Posh have recorded four wins, two draws and 10 defeats. Their tally of 34 goals places them in the upper half for goals scored in the division, highlighting genuine attacking threat. Defensively, though, they have struggled for consistency, conceding 50 – the highest total in the league.
The numbers point to a clear pattern: a side capable of causing problems in the final third, but one that has been vulnerable at the back.
Bolu Shofowoke has reached double figures across Under-18 and Under-21 competitions this season and continues to rise through the ranks.
He made his senior debut earlier this year and featured as a substitute in the Carabao Cup against Accrington Stanley. Having joined the club at 13, he has registered five goals in four Professional Development League appearances, with further goals coming at Under-21 level. A direct and clinical forward, he represents their primary goal threat.
A product of the club’s partnership with Nene Park Academy, Benjamin McWilliams-Marcano is an exciting right-winger recognised for his pace, power and fearless approach in one-v-one situations.
A Peterborough native, he represents the club’s commitment to its local development pathway and offers both creativity and direct penetration from wide areas. He underlined his importance at the weekend against Hull, playing a decisive role in all three goals.
McWilliams-Marcano first demonstrated his composure on 53 minutes, guiding a low finish into the bottom corner to bring his side level. Later, with the contest finely poised, he struck again – showing sharp movement and concentration inside the box to meet a cross and restore the lead just minutes from time, a goal that ultimately secured all three points.
He had earlier provided the assist for the opener, skipping past his marker down the right before delivering a clever cut-back into the path of Lawrence, who timed his run perfectly to lift the ball beyond the goalkeeper.
Jimmy Unwin took charge of Peterborough’s Under-18s in 2023 following more than five successful years at Cambridge United. As Lead Professional Development Phase Coach, he helped guide numerous players into professional football and oversaw notable FA Youth Cup runs – including an eye-catching victory over Chelsea.
Since arriving at Peterborough, Unwin has continued to focus on progression and pathway, balancing competitive performance with long-term player development.
The match will be streamed LIVE on Palace TV+ on Tuesday (17th February), with coverage beginning at 12:15 GMT ahead of a 12:30 GMT kick-off – click HERE to find out more and subscribe.
Supporters can follow live commentary on our Academy X (Twitter) page, with a full match report and reaction published shortly after full-time in our Academy news section.
Highlights and extended reaction will be available on Palace TV+.
Peterborough United Under-18s v Crystal Palace Under-18s