The Carabao Cup second-round draw has set up several notable fixtures, including an all-Premier League clash between four-time winners Nottingham Forest and Leeds. This match is the sole fixture in the second round featuring two Premier League teams.
Chelsea, who have secured the competition title five times, are scheduled to play against League One Luton at Stamford Bridge. Meanwhile, Tottenham will host Championship side Charlton. The draw also sees Newcastle facing West Brom, and Fulham taking on AFC Wimbledon at Craven Cottage.
David Moyes is set to return to Deepdale as Everton visits Preston North End, marking a return to the club where he began his managerial career. Other fixtures include Brentford travelling to Birmingham City, and Ipswich playing League One Leicester. In the southern section, West Ham, following their victory over Portsmouth in the first round, will journey to fellow Championship team Southampton.
Draw Details and Fixture Complications
The draw for the second round of the EFL Cup was divided into northern and southern sections. All matches are slated to occur in the midweek of the week commencing Monday, 24 August. The nine English clubs participating in European competitions this season will join the Carabao Cup in the third round.
The draw itself was broadcast live during the build-up to the Plymouth Argyle versus Exeter City match. David Prutton hosted the draw, with pundits Jobi McAnuff and Jamie Mackie also present. The second round marks the entry of the 11 Premier League clubs not involved in European competitions.
A fixture conflict has emerged due to the scheduling of the Fulham versus Chelsea Premier League match for live broadcast on Monday, 24 August. As both teams are not in Europe, they entered the Carabao Cup in the second round, potentially requiring them to play two games in the same midweek. Normally, this would mean the EFL Cup ties would be moved to Thursday, allowing for 72 hours of rest.
Such a change would also affect the Premier League’s weekend schedule. Fulham’s match at Sunderland was moved to Sunday, and the Chelsea versus Brighton game was also selected for Sunday broadcast. However, both Fulham and Chelsea were drawn at home in the Carabao Cup, and regulations typically prevent them from playing at home on the same day. This situation may necessitate a concession from the police or a creative solution from the EFL.
There are further implications for eight EFL clubs on short notice. The opponents of Fulham and Chelsea, Wimbledon and Luton respectively, have League One matches scheduled for the Saturday following the Carabao Cup ties. If one or both Carabao Cup matches are moved to Thursday, their Saturday games would ordinarily shift to Sunday.
An additional complication arises with a full programme of League One games scheduled for the following Tuesday. This could impact four more matches, potentially requiring them to be moved to Wednesday. This scenario could lead to teams playing two games within 48 hours or supporters facing displaced games after making travel arrangements.
The games potentially affected on Saturday, 29 August include Wimbledon versus Wigan and Mansfield versus Luton. For Tuesday, 1 September, the potentially impacted matches are Burton versus Wimbledon, Wigan versus MK Dons, Luton versus Stockport, and Reading versus Mansfield.
Northern Section Fixtures
- Stoke v Hull
- Newcastle v West Bromwich Albion
- Blackburn v Sheffield United
- Nottingham Forest v Leeds
- Fleetwood v Shrewsbury
- Bradford v Burnley
- Sheffield Wednesday v Wolves
- Blackpool v Lincoln
- Preston v Everton
- Barnsley v Crewe
- Doncaster v Middlesbrough
Southern Section Fixtures
- Stevenage v Reading
- Cardiff v Norwich
- Ipswich v Leicester
- Walsall v Leyton Orient
- Cambridge v Millwall
- Birmingham v Brentford
- Southampton v West Ham
- Watford v Peterborough
- Fulham v AFC Wimbledon
- Plymouth/Exeter v Coventry
- Chelsea v Luton
- Tottenham v Charlton
The second round of the Carabao Cup is scheduled to be played in the week commencing Monday, 24 August.
Source: bbc.co.uk
