The 2023 EFL Trophy, known as the Papa Johns Trophy for sponsorship reasons, the 40th season in the history of the competition, is a knock-out tournament for clubs in EFL League One and League Two, the third and fourth tiers of the English football league system, as well as the "Academy teams" of 16 Premier League clubs with Category One status.[1] With a crowd of 79,389, the Final was the highest attended match in Europe that week.[2] Bolton defeated Plymouth 4–0, it was the biggest ever win in an EFL Trophy Final.[3][4][5]
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| Event | 2022–23 EFL Trophy | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Date | 2 April 2023 | ||||||
| Venue | Wembley Stadium, London | ||||||
| Referee | Ben Toner | ||||||
| Attendance | 79,389 | ||||||
Route to the final
editBolton Wanderers
edit
| Pos | Div | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | L1 | Bolton Wanderers | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 7 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 2 | L2 | Tranmere Rovers | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 5 | |
| 3 | ACA | Leeds United U21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 4 | |
| 4 | L2 | Crewe Alexandra | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | −4 | 2 |
Source: EFL.com
| 30 August 2022 Group Stage | Bolton Wanderers | 4–1 | Crewe Alexandra | Bolton |
| 19:00 |
|
Stadium: University of Bolton Stadium Attendance: 2,115 Referee: Scott Oldham |
| 20 September 2022 Group Stage | Tranmere Rovers | 2–2 (5–4 p) | Bolton Wanderers | Tranmere |
| 19:00 | Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 1,779 Referee: Martin Coy | |||
| Penalties | ||||
| 18 October 2022 Group Stage | Bolton Wanderers | 3–0 | Leeds United U21 | Bolton |
| 19:00 |
|
Stadium: University of Bolton Stadium Attendance: 2,936 Referee: Peter Wright |
| 22 November 2022 Round of 32 | Bolton Wanderers | 3–2 | Barrow | Bolton |
| 19:45 GMT |
|
Report | Stadium: University of Bolton Stadium Attendance: 2,381 Referee: Rebecca Welch |
| 13 December 2022 Round of 16 | Bolton Wanderers | 4–0 | Manchester United U21 | Bolton |
| 19:45 GMT | Report | Stadium: University of Bolton Stadium Attendance: 4,735 Referee: Martin Coy |
| 10 January 2023 Quarter-Final | Bolton Wanderers | 1–0 | Portsmouth | Bolton |
| 19:45 GMT |
|
Report | Stadium: University of Bolton Stadium Attendance: 4,413 (304 Away) Referee: Bobby Madden |
| 22 February 2023 Semi-Final | Accrington Stanley | 0–2 | Bolton Wanderers | Accrington |
| 20:00 GMT | Report | Stadium: Crown Ground Attendance: 4,874 (2,625 Away) Referee: Samuel Barrott |
Plymouth Argyle
edit
| Pos | Div | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | L1 | Plymouth Argyle | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 8 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 2 | L1 | Bristol Rovers | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 7 | |
| 3 | ACA | Crystal Palace U21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 3 | |
| 4 | L2 | Swindon Town | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | −7 | 0 |
Source: EFL.com
| 30 August 2022 Group Stage | Plymouth Argyle | 1–1 (4–3 p) | Bristol Rovers | Plymouth |
| 19:00 |
|
Stadium: Home Park Attendance: 2,298 Referee: Carl Brook | ||
| Penalties | ||||
| 20 September 2022 Group Stage | Swindon Town | 1–3 | Plymouth Argyle | Swindon |
| 19:00 |
|
|
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 2,026 Referee: David Rock |
| 18 October 2022 Group Stage | Plymouth Argyle | 1–0 | Crystal Palace U21 | Plymouth |
| 19:00 |
|
Stadium: Home Park Attendance: 1,918 Referee: Ben Speedie |
| 22 November 2022 Round of 32 | Plymouth Argyle | 3–2 | Charlton Athletic | Plymouth |
| 19:00 GMT | Report |
|
Stadium: Home Park Attendance: 1,394 Referee: Robert Lewis |
| 21 December 2022 Round of 16 | Plymouth Argyle | 3–3 (a.e.t.) (4–3 p) | AFC Wimbledon | Plymouth |
| 19:00 GMT |
|
Stadium: Home Park Attendance: 1,747 Referee: Samuel Barrott | ||
| Penalties | ||||
| 10 January 2023 Quarter-Final | Bristol Rovers | 0–2 | Plymouth Argyle | Bristol |
| 19:45 GMT | Report | Stadium: Memorial Stadium Attendance: 3,742 Referee: Darren Drysdale |
Match
edit          Bolton Wanderers
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    Plymouth Argyle
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References
edit- ^ "About The Competition". EFL.com. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- ^ "Papa Johns Trophy Final highest attended match in Europe this weekend". EFL. 2 April 2023.
- ^ "Papa Johns Trophy final: Bolton Wanderers 4-0 Plymouth Argyle - Trotters thrash Pilgrims". BBC Sport. 1 April 2023.
- ^ "Bolton 4-0 Plymouth: Bolton reign at Wembley in one-sided Papa John's Trophy final". Sky Sports. 2 April 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
- ^ "Bolton win EFL Trophy final after smashing four past Plymouth". Guardian. 2 April 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.