Right Liberty

THE dates for the group stage matches in the newly revamped EFL Trophy have been confirmed.

The stand out date for Argyle fans will be in the week beginning November 7, when the Pilgrims travel to Liberty Stadium to face Barclay’s Premier League Swansea’s Under-21 side. 

The Swans are entering a team in the competition this year as one of 16 invited Category One Academy teams, and Argyle are the only team in the group with the opportunity to travel to the Premier League ground for their fixture.

Argyle  open Southern Group B affairs with a home tie against fellow League Two side Newport County in the week beginning August 29. The fixture will see them matched against former Pilgrim striker Warren Feeney, who has recently taken charge of the South Wales side. It is also the only all League Two clash in the group.

Sandwiched in the middle is the return of a fixture that played out five times last season, including the infamous Wembley play-off final - the match between now League One AFC Wimbledon and Argyle is scheduled to take place at the Cherry Red Records Stadium in week beginning October 3.  

Clubs will be awarded three points for a win in a group match and one point for a draw. In the event of a drawn game, after 90 minutes, a penalty shoot-out will be held, with the winning team earning an additional point. 

The top two teams will progress to the knockout stage. The second round remains regionalised with each group winner being drawn at home to a second-placed team from a different qualifying group.