Six years after Crystal Palace achieved Category One academy status, the investment, patience, and structural rebuilding at South London’s talent factory delivered another tangible milestone.
Crystal Palace’s under-21 side have made history by reaching the knockout stages of the EFL Trophy coined the ‘Jersey Mike’s Trophy’ for this season—for the very first time.
Darren Powell’s young Eagles secured their landmark moment on Tuesday evening with a gritty, mature 2-1 victory away to League Two outfit Newport County at Rodney Parade. The win guarantees Palace a top-two finish in Southern Group E, making them one of only four Premier League academy sides out of sixteen to advance past the group stage this term.
Drama at Rodney Parade: Judd and Angibeaud Deliver
Palace went into their final group fixture with zero margin for error. Having opened their campaign with an impressive 2-1 win over Swindon Town before suffering a heavy 5-1 defeat away to Plymouth Argyle in late September, only a win in South Wales would suffice.
Powell named a strong starting XI featuring summer acquisition Zavier Gozo alongside several of the club’s most highly-regarded academy prospects:
Right wing-back Jasper Judd handed Palace an early lead after just 10 minutes, reacting fastest to slam a loose ball through a crowded penalty box after Newport failed to clear a corner.
The hosts pressed aggressively for an equalizer and were only denied by a breathtaking piece of defending from George King, who acrobatically volleyed a Newport header off his own crossbar and away from danger. Judd nearly doubled the lead shortly before the break, but his low strike was parried clear by Newport goalkeeper Jake Turner.
Newport eventually found a way back into the contest mid-way through the second half when James Crole forced a low cross home off the post. Palace goalkeeper Harry Lee then produced a brilliant double save to keep the scores level as the League Two side applied heavy pressure.
Yet, it was Palace who found the decisive moment of quality. With 16 minutes remaining, midfielder Joe Gibbard slipped a neat pass into Dabid Angibeaud, who took a precise first touch before coolly finishing under pressure to restore the lead.Powell’s side weathered seven grueling minutes of added time to seal the victory.
| Team | Played | Points | Goal Difference | Status |
| Crystal Palace U21 | 3 | 6 | -2 | Qualified |
| Plymouth Argyle | 2 | 3 | +4 | Pending |
| Newport County | 3 | 3 | -2 | Eliminated |
| Swindon Town | 2 | 0 | -2 | Pending |
Progress in South London
For a club that entered the EFL Trophy for the first time in 2021/22, reaching the last 32 represents a major psychological step forward. Competing against established EFL senior men’s teams offers academy prospects a harsh, essential reality check one that Palace’s youngsters navigated with real character after their setback at Plymouth.
The draw for the Round of 32 will take place shortly, with single-leg knockout fixtures scheduled for the week commencing Monday, December 7.
Comments.
Loading comments…