City learn EFL Trophy group stage opponents

Brian Barry-Murphy’s youngsters have been placed into Group F of the Northern section of the competition.

League One side Barnsley were beaten in the play-off final by Sheffield Wednesday earlier this summer after finishing fourth in the table.

Meanwhile, League Two Bradford – who are managed by former City boss Mark Hughes – also lost out in the play-offs at the hands Carlisle United in the semi-finals after finishing sixth.

League Two Grimsby ended the 2022/23 campaign in 11th place and reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. The Mariners are also no strangers to City with the sides having met in last season’s EFL Trophy.

Matchday one is scheduled to take place on either September 5/6 but alternative dates of August 22/23 and September 12/13 are also permitted.

Matchday two is pencilled in for October 10/11 with alternatives of 3/4 October and 17/18 October.

Matchday three is schedule for 14/15 November with 7/8 and 21/22 the proposed alternatives.

Precise dates and kick-off times will be confirmed in due course.

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In last season’s competition, a penalty shootout loss away at Grimsby saw City exit at the group stages after an earlier 3-1 win at Derby and 3-2 loss away to Mansfield.

Draw in full:

Northern section

Group A: Barrow, Blackpool, Morecambe, Liverpool U21s

Group B: Crewe Alexandra , Port Vale, Wrexham, Newcastle U21s

Group C: Accrington Stanley, Harrogate Town, Carlisle United, Nottingham Forest U21s

Group D: Fleetwood, Tranmere Rovers, Wigan Athletic, Leicester City U21s

Group E: Bolton Wanderers, Salford, Stockport County, Manchester United U21s

Group F: Barnsley, Bradford City, Grimsby Town, Manchester City U21s

Group G: Derby County, Lincoln City, Notts County, Wolves U21s

Group H: Burton Albion, Doncaster Rovers, Mansfield Town, Everton U21s

Southern section

Group A: Forest Green Rovers, Shrewsbury Town, Walsall, Brighton U21s

Group B: Charlton Athletic, Crawley Town, Sutton United, Aston Villa U21s

Group C: AFC Wimbledon, Stevenage, Wycombe Wanderers, Crystal Palace U21s

Group D: Cambridge United, Colchester United, Peterborough United, Tottenham U21s

Group E: Gillingham, Leyton Orient, Portsmouth, Fulham U21s

Group F: Milton Keynes Dons, Northampton Town, Oxford United, Chelsea U21s

Group G: Exeter City, Reading, Swindon Town, Arsenal U21s

Group H: Bristol Rovers, Cheltenham Town, Newport County, West Ham U21s