Darren Powell’s Young Eagles have one final chance to make their mark in Group E of the Jersey Mike’s Trophy, with League Two opposition standing between them and a historic milestone…
U21s Preview: Qualification for the EFL Trophy knockouts on the line
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.
The story so far
Palace travel to south Wales determined to put Monday’s 5-2 defeat to Southampton in Premier League 2 – the top level of Academy football for Category One clubs – behind them and reignite their season at the decisive moment.
The Young Eagles had responded to three successive defeats with a statement 4-1 win over Leeds United, as Adler Nascimento hit a superb hat-trick and 16-year-old Nat Kalembo stole the show with a stunning long-range strike.
Now, Powell’s side must summon that same spark with their EFL Trophy hopes on the line.
Palace made 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 were on target that night, but a heavy 5-1 defeat to Plymouth Argyle has left Powell’s side needing a result at Newport to keep their historic ambitions alive…
The permutations: a chance to make history
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 Powell’s side to six, securing a top-two finish.
A draw would leave Palace relying on other results. A penalty-shootout defeat would see the Young Eagles eliminated, while a shootout victory would take them to five points, level with Plymouth but still behind Newport.
Palace would then need Swindon to beat Plymouth by at least seven goals to have a chance of finishing above the Pilgrims – an unlikely scenario.
Palace have competed in the EFL Trophy since 2021/22 but have never progressed beyond the group stage. With a place in the last 32 at stake, victory at Rodney Parade offers Powell’s side the clearest route to making Academy history.
The Opposition - Newport County
Newport arrive after a 1-0 defeat to Cheltenham Town brought an end to an impressive nine-match unbeaten run.
The Exiles sit 16th in the 24-team League Two table, level on 15 points with Rochdale but ahead on goal difference.
Last season was a battle for survival, with Newport securing their Football League status on the final day through a 2-1 victory at Barrow to finish 20th in League Two.
They also came close to escaping the EFL Trophy group stage last season, finishing third, with their only victory coming against Cardiff City.
Newport will be eager to avoid a fifth consecutive group-stage exit on Tuesday evening…
In this season’s competition, the Exiles beat Swindon 2-0 before drawing 2-2 with Plymouth and losing the subsequent penalty shootout. They have conceded just twice across those two group fixtures, making them a difficult side to break down.
EFL Trophy explained
Now known as the Jersey Mike’s Trophy, the competition brings together League One and League Two clubs with 16 Category One academies, including Palace’s Under-21s.
The 64 teams are split into 16 regional groups of four, with the top two in each group progressing to the knockout stages. A win earns three points, while a draw after 90 minutes leads to a penalty shootout, with the winner receiving 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.
Team news
Newport have several injury concerns, with Tanatswa Nyakuhwa, Matty Jacob, Christian Doidge, Aaron Lewis, Harri Pugh and Keenan Patten all sidelined.
EFL Trophy rules also require League One and League Two clubs to start at least four qualifying first-team players, meaning the Young Eagles will still face a strong senior football league side.
Pre-match analysis
Newport’s nine-match unbeaten run ended against Cheltenham last weekend, but their EFL Trophy form suggests Palace face a stubborn test. The Exiles beat Swindon 2-0 before drawing 2-2 with Plymouth and losing on penalties, conceding just twice across those fixtures.
Palace will need to be clinical at Rodney Parade, with Newport striker Shaquille Gwengwe – who has six goals in all competitions this season – another threat to contain.
Key Player - Shaquille Gwengwe
Newport striker Gwengwe is one for Palace to watch, having scored six goals in all competitions this season.
The forward arrived at Rodney Parade after a remarkable 2025/26 campaign with Poole Town, where he scored 47 goals and claimed both the Southern League Golden Boot and the National Game Awards Golden Boot.
His prolific form attracted interest from clubs across the football pyramid, with Newport winning the race to secure one of non-league football’s most sought-after forwards.
The Gaffer - Hayden Mullins
A familiar face to Palace supporters, Mullins represented the Eagles during his playing career, making more than 500 senior appearances across spells with Palace, West Ham United and Portsmouth.
Since moving into coaching, he has led Fulham Under-21s to the Premier League Cup title in 2024 and taken charge at Newport this summer.
Tickets
Tickets are available to purchase online, with the following prices:
- Adult: £12
- Senior: £10
- Young adult: £10
- Under-16: £8
- Under-6: Free
Tickets can be purchased here and will be issued as PDF print-at-home tickets at the point of sale.
Watch the action live
Unable to make it to Newport?
Every EFL Trophy fixture is available to watch live on Sky Sports+ throughout the competition.
The match will be available to stream in the UK via Sky Sports+, the Sky Sports app and NOW.
Follow Palace online
Follow live commentary throughout the game on our Academy X page, with updates from Rodney Parade.
After the final whistle, a full match report and reaction will be published in our Academy news section, while highlights will follow on Palace TV+.
Match details
Newport County v Crystal Palace Under-21s
- Tuesday, 3rd November
- 19:00 GMT
- Rodney Parade
- Jersey Mike’s Trophy (EFL Trophy)
- Buy tickets here