The 2015–16 Under-21 Premier League Cup (known as the Barclays Under-21 Premier League Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the third edition of the U21 Premier League Cup. The competition was won by West Ham United who defeated Hull City 5–3 in a penalty shoot-out after the two-leg final had finished 1–1 on aggregate.
Participants There was three more participants than the previous competition. Aston Villa, and Manchester City, did not play this year after 2 years in the competition. Meanwhile Chelsea, Exeter City returned after last year's absence. Brentford, Liverpool and Southend United entered the competition for the very first time.
Category 1 NorthSouthBlackburn RoversBrighton & Hove AlbionDerby CountyChelseaEvertonFulhamLeicester CityNorwich CityLiverpoolReadingMiddlesbroughSouthamptonNewcastle UnitedSwansea CityStoke CityWest Bromwich AlbionSunderlandWest Ham UnitedWolverhampton Wanderers
Category 2 NorthSouthBarnsleyBrentfordBolton WanderersBristol CityCrewe AlexandraCardiff CityHuddersfield TownCharlton AthleticHull CityIpswich TownLeeds UnitedMillwall Nottingham Forest Queens Park RangersSheffield UnitedBirmingham CitySheffield Wednesday WatfordColchester United
Category 3 NorthSouthBurnleyAFC WimbledonDoncaster RoversAFC BournemouthPreston North EndExeter CityWigan AthleticGillinghamPeterborough UnitedPlymouth ArgyleSouthend United
Matches First qualifying round This round commences the week beginning 14 September 2015. Peterborough United received a bye.
Northern Section DateHome teamScoreAway teamAtt 16 Sep Doncaster Rovers 1–0 Preston North End 28 Sep Burnley 3–0 Wigan Athletic492
Southern Section DateHome teamScoreAway teamAtt 14 Sep Exeter City 6–0 Southend United 222 15 Sep Plymouth Argyle 2 – 1† AFC Wimbledon 16 Sep Gillingham 1–2 AFC Bournemouth
† – After extra time
Second qualifying round This round commences the week beginning 5 October 2015. Leeds United were awarded a bye.
Northern Section DateHome teamScoreAway teamAtt 12 Oct Bolton Wanderers 3–4 Sheffield United 12 Oct Burnley 3–1 Barnsley 360 13 Oct Crewe Alexandra 3–2 Doncaster Rovers 19 Oct Sheffield Wednesday 2–3 Hull City 119 26 Oct Huddersfield Town 1–0 Nottingham Forest
Southern Section DateHome teamScoreAway teamAtt 5 Oct Cardiff City 2 – 1† Bristol City 6 Oct Queens Park Rangers 1–2 Brentford 8 Oct Millwall 1–0 Plymouth Argyle 12 Oct Colchester United 3–0 AFC Bournemouth 12 Oct Ipswich Town 0–3 Charlton Athletic 13 Oct Exeter City 1–0 Peterborough United264 29 Oct Watford 2–0 Birmingham City
† – After extra time
Round of 32 This round begins the week beginning 9 November 2015. The Category 1 sides were joined in this round by the teams progressing from the Second Qualifying round.
Northern Section DateHome teamScoreAway teamAtt 9 Nov Burnley 1 – 3† Blackburn Rovers BCD 9 Nov Hull City2–1 Crewe Alexandra 9 Nov Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Derby County 125 10 Nov Stoke City 2–5 Leicester City 19 Nov Sheffield United 0–1 Leeds United 24 Nov Sunderland 3 – 4† Liverpool 209 7 Dec Huddersfield Town2–1 Middlesbrough 202 14 Jan Everton 4–3 Newcastle United
Southern Section DateHome teamScoreAway teamAtt 6 Nov Reading 1–2 Brentford 10 Nov Watford 1–2 Charlton Athletic 12 Nov Brighton & Hove Albion 4–1 Norwich City 17 Nov Cardiff City 0–1 West Bromwich Albion 23 Nov Swansea City 1 – 2† Millwall 2 Dec Exeter City 0–4 West Ham United 1,462 8 Dec Colchester United 1–3 Fulham 6 Jan Southampton 1–0 Chelsea
† – After extra time.
Round of 16 This round begins the week beginning 21 December 2015.
DateHome teamScoreAway teamAtt 22 Dec Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–3 Millwall 109 6 Jan Charlton Athletic 2–1 Brentford BCD 13 Jan West Ham United 3 – 2† Fulham 18 Jan Blackburn Rovers 1–0 Leicester City
DateHome teamScoreAway teamAtt 18 Jan West Bromwich Albion 1–2 Hull City 19 Jan Liverpool 1–0 Leeds United 25 Jan Southampton 0–2 Huddersfield Town 9 Feb Everton 2 – 2† Brighton & Hove Albion Brighton & Hove Albion advance 4 – 2 on penalties.
† – After extra time.
Quarter-finals
DateHome teamScoreAway teamAtt 27 Jan West Ham United 2 – 1 Blackburn Rovers 680 8 Feb Huddersfield Town 1 – 1† Charlton Athletic 261Huddersfield Town advance 5 – 4 on penalties.
DateHome teamScoreAway teamAtt 14 Feb Liverpool 4 – 3† Brighton & Hove Albion 23 Feb Millwall 1 – 3 Hull City
† – After extra time.
Semi-finals
DateHome teamScoreAway teamAtt 15 Mar Huddersfield Town 0 – 0† Hull City 927Hull City advance 4 – 3 on penalties.
DateHome teamScoreAway teamAtt 16 Mar West Ham United 3 – 2† Liverpool 1,319
† – After extra time.
Final
First leg
Second leg
See also 2015–16 Professional U21 Development League 2015–16 FA Cup 2015–16 FA Youth Cup 2015–16 in English football
References