Clubs Await Trophy Draw
League Clubs Await Trophy Draw |
Sixteen teams have been given byes for the first round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, which is competed for by the 48 League One and League Two clubs. The format of the competition - formerly the Football League Trophy - is different this season. Unlike the last few seasons, Conference National teams are not involved. Also, the 32 teams not receiving byes have been split into four geographical sections for the first round - for which the full draw is on Saturday. Once the 48 clubs were divided into northern and southern sections, a preliminary draw took place on Friday which saw eight teams from each section drawn out to receive byes. The four geographical sections were then determined from the remaining 16 northern and 16 southern teams. Swansea are the holders after beating Carlisle 2-1 in last season's final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. The competition was first competed for in the 1983/84 season - and has previously been known as the Associate Members Cup, the Freight Rover Trophy, the Sherpa Van Trophy, the Leyland Daf Cup, the Autoglass Trophy, the Auto Windscreens Shield and the LDV Vans Trophy. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Johnstone's Paint Trophy - First Round (Full draw to be made on Saturday, 23 September) Northern Section (West): Accrington, Bury, Carlisle, Macclesfield, Rochdale, Stockport, Tranmere, Wrexham. Northern Section (East): Bradford, Doncaster, Grimsby, Hartlepool, Huddersfield, Lincoln, Rotherham, Scunthorpe. Southern Section (West): Bristol Rovers, Hereford, Shrewsbury, Swansea, Swindon, Torquay, Walsall, Wycombe. Southern Section (East): Barnet, Boston, Brentford, Brighton, Gillingham, Northampton, Nottingham Forest, Notts County. Byes (northern section): Blackpool, Chester, Chesterfield, Crewe, Darlington, Mansfield, Oldham, Port Vale. Byes (southern section): Bournemouth, Bristol City, Cheltenham, Leyton Orient, Millwall, Milton Keynes Dons, Peterborough, Yeovil. First round ties take place in week beginning 16 October. What to read next:Recent months have seen a number of events and issues divide opinion and split the supporter base but as we head towards the play offs it is time for everyone at Saints to kick in the same direction. Against Stoke City Russell martin selected a side that was very much a second string line up, with the play offs looming should the manager repeat this for the trip to take on Leeds on Saturday. A big big game for just Leeds now, although by Saturday the odds on them going up automatically might have changed slightly so here is all the info for those travelling Saints fans who are still going, The hope of getting back into the Premier League automatically has long gone, but the season is not yet over and we now have a good chance of getting to Wembley and going up through the play offs, here we look at who we could meet. This should have been a celebratory day for Saints fans, there should have been a feeling of positivity, but the truth is that the fight has been knocked out of the supporter base and we go into the play offs with confidence both on and off the pitch at a low ebb. Southampton 0 - 1 Stoke City - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report. In the second part of our pictorial look back at some of our games against Stoke City from the past, here we look back at more recent games, so most of you would have been at them. We have looked through our photo archives for a look back as some games against Stoke City over the years, what are your memories of these games ? Saints go into the last two games of the season with their hopes of automatic promotion ended, even the hope of finishing 3rd is only a point away from being ended, but they do have something to play for and that is getting back the togetherness, character & fight Russell Martin has recently be moaned. Not my words, but those of Southampton manager Russell Martin, who should ask himself the question why two months ago we had all those attributes and now we don't ! |