The 2013-14 Under-21 Premier League Cup (known as the Barclays Under-21 Premier League Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the first edition of the U21 Premier League Cup.
Fifty two teams entered the competition – with sixteen Category 3 EPPP teams entered in the 1st Qualifying Round, seventeen Category 2 teams entered in the 2nd Qualifying Round, and the remaining nineteen Category 1 teams entered in the Round of 32. Teams were allowed to field up to four over-age players in matches – three outfield and one goalkeeper.
Participants
Category 1 NorthSouthBlackburn RoversArsenalBolton WanderersAston VillaEvertonChelseaLeicester CityFulhamManchester CityNorwich CityMiddlesbroughReadingNewcastle UnitedSouthamptonStoke CityWest Ham United SunderlandWest Bromwich AlbionWolverhampton Wanderers
Category 2 NorthSouthBarnsleyBrighton & Hove AlbionBirmingham CityBristol CityCoventry CityCardiff CityCrewe AlexandraCrystal PalaceDerby CountyMillwallHuddersfield TownQueens Park RangersLeeds UnitedSwansea CityNottingham ForestSheffield UnitedSheffield Wednesday
Category 3 NorthSouthBurnleyAFC WimbledonDoncaster RoversBournemouthHull CityBristol RoversNotts CountyColchester UnitedPreston North EndExeter CityWigan AthleticGillinghamPeterborough UnitedPlymouth ArgyleTorquay UnitedWatford
Matches
First qualifying round This round commences the week beginning 23 September 2013. Only the sixteen Category 3 rated academies competed in this round.
Northern Section DateHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance 8 Oct Burnley 0–0 Wigan Athletic 581Burnley advance 7 – 6 on penalties. 23 Sep Preston North End 0–2 Hull City 216 24 Sep Doncaster Rovers 0–3 Notts County
Southern Section DateHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance 24 Sep AFC Bournemouth 1–2 Plymouth Argyle 146 26 Sep Peterborough United 3–2 Colchester United 1 Oct AFC Wimbledon 2–0 Gillingham 3 Oct Watford 1–1 Bristol Rovers230Watford advance 4 – 3 on penalties. 30 Sep Exeter City 4–1 Torquay United 470
Second qualifying round This round commenced the week beginning 21 October 2013. The eight First Qualifying Round winners were joined in this round by sixteen of the seventeen Category 2 rated academies – Nottingham Forest drew a bye to the Round of 32.
Northern Section DateHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance 30 Oct Crewe Alexandra 1–2 Burnley 23 Oct Derby County 1–2 Hull City 23 Oct Coventry City 1–2 Notts County 28 Oct Sheffield United 2–3 Birmingham City 29 Oct Barnsley 4–3† Leeds United 30 Oct Huddersfield Town 1–2 Sheffield Wednesday
Southern Section DateHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance 5 Nov Queens Park Rangers 4–3 AFC Wimbledon 30 Oct Plymouth Argyle 0–2 Watford332 29 Oct Swansea City 1–1 MillwallSwansea City advance 4 – 2 on penalties. 29 Oct Crystal Palace 2–3 Exeter City 273 29 Oct Brighton & Hove Albion 3–4† Cardiff City 14 Nov Bristol City 1–0† Peterborough United
† – After extra time
Round of 32 This round begins the week beginning 18 November 2013. The nineteen Category 1 sides were joined in this round by the twelve Second Qualifying round winners and Nottingham Forest, who drew a bye to this round. Birmingham City withdrew from the competition after fielding an ineligible player. Newcastle United progressed to the Round of 16 instead.
Northern Section DateHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance 18 Nov Middlesbrough 2–3 Everton 327 20 Nov Notts County 1–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 141 19 Nov Blackburn Rovers 3–1 Hull City 136 21 Nov Stoke City 0–2† Manchester City 19 Nov Bolton Wanderers 4–2 Barnsley 18 Nov West Bromwich Albion 2–1† Nottingham Forest 190 26 Nov Burnley 2–1 Sunderland 347 19 Nov Leicester City 4–1 Sheffield Wednesday 26 Nov Birmingham City 1–2 Newcastle United
Southern Section DateHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance 26 Nov Aston Villa 0–3 Fulham190 26 Nov Reading 3–1 Queens Park Rangers 6 Dec Cardiff City 0–4 Chelsea 882 20 Nov Exeter City 2–0 Southampton 447 26 Nov Swansea City 0–0 WatfordWatford advance 4 – 3 on penalties. 2 Dec Bristol City 1–2 West Ham United 19 Nov Norwich City 0–1 Arsenal
† – After extra time.
Round of 16 This round commenced the week beginning 16 December 2013. The sixteen Round of 32 winners entered this round.
DateHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance 6 Jan Chelsea 2–1 West Ham United 7 Jan Exeter City 2–1 Blackburn Rovers630 30 Dec Newcastle United 2–1 Leicester City 385 20 Dec Everton 2–3 Wolverhampton Wanderers
DateHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance 31 Jan Reading 6–1 Watford BCD 23 Dec Burnley 3–0 Bolton Wanderers 251 9 Jan Fulham 0–1 Arsenal351 22 Dec Manchester City 2–0 West Bromwich Albion
Quarter-finals This round commenced the week beginning 27 January 2014. The eight Round of 16 winners entered this round.
DateHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance 27 Jan Chelsea 0–1† Arsenal 1,237 20 Feb Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–3 Reading 133
DateHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance 21 Feb Newcastle United 2–3 Manchester CityBCD 4 Mar Exeter City2–3† Burnley1,207
† – After extra time.
Semi-finals This round commenced the week beginning 24 February 2014. The four Quarter-final winners entered this round.
DateHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance 15 Mar Arsenal 1–3† Reading
DateHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance 1 Apr Manchester City 3–2 Burnley 424
Final
First leg
Second leg
References