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Match Previews

Preview: EFL Cup Round One preview

9 August 2016

Seventy clubs are in action across three days as the EFL Cup gets back under way this week, kicking off the road to Wembley!

Teams from all three EFL divisions feature in Round One of the competition, with 30 of the fixtures taking place on Tuesday night. A further five games complete the round over Wednesday and Thursday, two of which will be screened live on Sky Sports.

TV Games: Sky Sports announce EFL Cup Round One selections

On Tuesday night, Cheltenham Town and Grimsby Town return to the tournament following promotion from the National League last term, and both face testing ties.

The Robins were three divisions below Charlton Athletic last term, but now sit just 13 places adrift them in the EFL ladder. They go head-to-head at Whaddon Road in what will be the first ever competitive meeting between the pair, while Grimsby to go Sky Bet Championship outfit Derby County.

Two all-London affairs take place on an action-packed opening night, with Leyton Orient hosting Fulham and Barnet welcoming Millwall to The Hive, while Southend United and Gillingham lock horns just three days after facing off in their Sky Bet League One opener, which the Gills won 3-1.

On Wednesday, Sky Sports' first TV selection sees Sky Bet Championship new boys Aston Villa travel to League Two leaders and 1988 Cup winners Luton Town. The Hatters impressed in the early stages of the competition last year, while Villa were introduced to the rigours of the EFL following a weekend loss at Sheffield Wednesday.

QPR duo Ben Gladwin and Massimo Luongo will come up against their former club Swindon Town in one of three other Wednesday night fixtures, 24 hours before the Sky cameras are out again.

Appointments: The match officials on EFL Cup Round One duty

In the West Country on Thursday, Bristol Rovers take on Cardiff City, and it's a return to the Memorial Stadium for Bluebirds boss Paul Trollope, who had lengthy spells with the Pirates as both a player and a manager.

Rovers are riding the crest of a wave following back-to-back promotions, and the Welshman will need his Championship troops to be at their best if they're to avoid an upset under the lights.

DRAW: Your #EFLCup Round Two draw details... >> https://t.co/RWQM04kX5epic.twitter.com/r9L0UnVc3x

— EFL Cup (@EFLCup) August 9, 2016

EFL Cup Round One fixtures

Tuesday 9th August 2016 (kick-off is 7.45pm unless stated):

Accrington Stanley v Bradford City       
Barnet v Millwall (8pm)        
Barnsley v Northampton Town
Birmingham City v Oxford United       
Blackpool v Bolton Wanderers    
Brighton & Hove Albion v Colchester United   
Cambridge United v Sheffield Wednesday 
Carlisle United v Port Vale           
Cheltenham Town v Charlton Athletic
Coventry City v Portsmouth          
Derby County v Grimsby Town        
Doncaster Rovers v Nottingham Forest  
Exeter City v Brentford           
Ipswich Town v Stevenage           
Leyton Orient v Fulham              
Mansfield Town v Blackburn Rovers    
Newport County v  Milton Keynes Dons  
Oldham Athletic v Wigan Athletic      
Peterborough United v AFC Wimbledon      
Preston North End v Hartlepool United   
Reading v Plymouth Argyle (8pm)
Rochdale v Chesterfield       
Rotherham United v Morecambe          
Scunthorpe United v Notts County        
Sheffield United v Crewe Alexandra    
Shrewsbury Town v Huddersfield Town   
Southend United v Gillingham         
Walsall v Yeovil Town         
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Crawley Town        
Wycombe Wanderers v Bristol City      

Wednesday 10th August 2016

Burton Albion v Bury (7.30pm)
Fleetwood Town v Leeds United        
Luton Town v Aston Villa - live on Sky Sports         
Queens Park Rangers v Swindon Town        

Thursday 11th August 2016

Bristol Rovers v Cardiff City - live on Sky Sports

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Keep up to speed with all the EFL Round One action by following our coverage on social media, and use #EFLCup on Twitter.

>> Twitter.com/eflcup
>> Facebook.com/eflcup
>> Instagram.com/EFL

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