EFL Trophy: Reading Seeks to Uphold Top-Team Status, Burton Hopes to Extend Revival Trend

The final round of the EFL Trophy group stage kicks off early on November 13, Beijing time, with high-stakes matchups as clubs from League One and League Two battle for a place in the knockout rounds. Reading, currently ranked ninth in League One, is among the higher-tier teams in the competition. If they deploy their best lineup, they should secure qualification without issue. Burton Albion, who only recently achieved their first win of the League One season, face a different challenge. Although heavily burdened by relegation worries, the team needs victories in all competitions to build morale.

For Reading and Newport County, the clash is effectively a knockout match. Both teams are level on three points after defeating West Ham U21 and losing to Cheltenham, with Reading holding a slight edge due to goal difference. This goal advantage grants Reading the second qualifying spot in the group, but a draw won’t be enough. With the stakes high, both teams face a win-or-bust situation, knowing that a tie would lead directly to a penalty shootout to decide the winner. Reading holds the advantage on paper, ranking just outside the League One playoff zone and considered one of the stronger clubs in the competition featuring League One and lower-tier sides. Still, their recent loss to Cheltenham, a club struggling even to avoid relegation from League Two, serves as a cautionary tale.

Despite even possession, Reading failed to convert control into opportunities, with significantly fewer shots than their opponents. In the end, a late goal by Cheltenham’s defensive midfielder James Petter in the 78th minute sealed Reading’s defeat. Now, with a critical match ahead, Reading must step up to preserve their place in the tournament.

Newport County, a League Two club currently ranked 16th, faces a less imposing but still challenging league standing. Their proximity to the top six shows they still have a shot at competing for a higher place with only two games separating them from a playoff berth. With League Two spanning 48 games, Newport has ample time to recover ground in the league and may place greater importance on this matchup. Their last encounter with Cheltenham showed Newport’s tenacity as they opened the scoring but ultimately lost due to defensive lapses. Newport held an early lead, but when goalkeeper Caney was forced into a red card-worthy foul to prevent a one-on-one situation, Cheltenham seized the momentum, scoring twice after bringing on additional attackers. Fortunately, Newport made no similar errors in their recent game against West Ham U21, securing a win that set up this crucial final group stage match against Reading.

With both League One and League Two in the early stages of the season, neither team can afford to throw in the towel on the EFL Trophy just yet. As the higher-tier side, Reading will likely play with a third of their full intensity at home, while Newport is expected to operate at a lower level, focusing on efficiency and capitalizing on any lapses in Reading’s defense.

Meanwhile, in the group’s other fixture, Burton and Northampton square off in a battle for the top spot. Currently, Northampton has claimed two wins from two matches, scoring five goals and conceding none to take first place. Burton, despite losing to Notts County in their previous match, holds onto the second spot by a slim margin on goal difference. However, with Notts County facing Leicester City U21, who have suffered two straight losses, it’s likely that they’ll take three points. This leaves Burton with a must-win situation to maintain their qualification chances.

Northampton, though they face their own challenges in League One, are more comfortable in the standings, sitting four points clear of the relegation zone. Burton, however, is in the thick of the relegation battle. With only one win in 14 league games, they’re at the bottom of League One, kept off the last place by a narrow goal difference. Their recent performances offer a glimmer of hope, as they’ve gone unbeaten in the last two games, clinching a vital first win of the season against Shrewsbury. The last league meeting between these two ended in a goalless draw, and while Northampton doesn’t need to secure an emphatic win, Burton must play at full strength to boost morale further. In a tricky situation, Burton must sustain their recovery effort while pushing for qualification. A ten-percent effort from Northampton could suffice, while Burton will likely be compelled to go all out.

For both Reading and Burton, these EFL Trophy fixtures will be pivotal. Reading, looking to defend their honor as one of the more elite clubs in the competition, will aim to assert their dominance at home, while Newport County’s grit and Leicester City U21’s upset potential bring added intrigue. Meanwhile, Burton will be fighting to prove their recent resurgence is no fluke. With morale and momentum on the line, the EFL Trophy is more than a secondary competition for these clubs—it’s an opportunity to stabilize their seasons and chart a course forward.