Stats

The Magpies were without Vakthang Salia due to a call-up to Georgia U21s. Sam Alabi, Roman Dowell, Michael Mills and Kyran Thompson were similarly unavailable due to England U18 duty.

Bradford were captained by SJP old boy Macaulay Gillesphey, who played for United in their first EFL Trophy fixture in 2017: a 2-1 win at Crewe Alexandra in what was the Checkatrade Trophy.

In yet another change to the branding of this competition, it's now sponsored by Jersey Mike's - a North American sandwich shop launching in the UK. 

NUFC in the EFL Trophy - all time:

Played 33, Won 8, Drawn 5, Lost 20, goals for 33, goals against 69.

2017/18 Crewe Alexandra won 2-1
2017/18 Port Vale lost 0-1
2017/18 Oldham Athletic lost 1-4
2018/19 Doncaster Rovers won 3-1
2018/19 Notts County won 2-0
2018/19 Grimsby Town won 3-2
2018/19 Macclesfield Town drew 1-1 (won 5-3 pens)*
2018/19 mackems lost 0-4
2019/20 Macclesfield Town lost 1-2
2019/20 Shrewsbury Town lost 0-3
2019/20 Port Vale lost 1-2
2020/21 Shrewsbury Town lost 0-3
2020/21 Crewe Alexandra lost 0-1
2020/21 Bolton Wanderers lost 2-3
2021/22 Sheffield Wednesday lost 0-3
2021/22 Harrogate Town lost 0-2
2021/22 Mansfield Town lost 3-6
2022/23 Doncaster Rovers drew 0-0 (lost 2-4 pens)
2022/23 Barnsley lost 0-2
2022/23 Lincoln City lost 0-2
2023/24 Wrexham lost 0-1
2023/24 Port Vale drew 1-1 (lost 2-3 pens)
2023/24 Crewe Alexandra lost 1-2
2024/25 Bradford City drew 2-2 (won 4-3 pens)
2024/25 Rotherham United lost 1-3
2024/25 Mansfield Town lost 0-3
2025/26 Huddersfield Town lost 2-6
2025/26 Mansfield Town drew 2-2 (won 5-3 pens)
2025/26 Harrogate Town lost 1-3
2026/27 York City won 3-1
2026/27 Bradford City lost 1-2

* At SJP, all others were away ties.
 

Waffle