The 2023 EFL Trophy, known as the Papa Johns Trophy for sponsorship reasons, the 40th season in the history of the competition, is a knock-out tournament for clubs in EFL League One and League Two, the third and fourth tiers of the English football league system, as well as the "Academy teams" of 16 Premier League clubs with Category One status.[1] With a crowd of 79,389, the Final was the highest attended match in Europe that week.[2] Bolton defeated Plymouth 4–0, it was the biggest ever win in an EFL Trophy Final.[3][4][5]

2023 EFL Trophy Final
Event2022–23 EFL Trophy
Date2 April 2023
VenueWembley Stadium, London
RefereeBen Toner
Attendance79,389
2022
2024

Route to the final

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Bolton Wanderers

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Pos Div Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L1 Bolton Wanderers 3 2 0 1 0 9 3 +6 7 Advance to Round 2
2 L2 Tranmere Rovers 3 1 1 0 1 6 7 −1 5
3 ACA Leeds United U21 3 1 0 1 1 5 6 −1 4
4 L2 Crewe Alexandra 3 0 1 0 2 1 5 −4 2
Source: EFL.com
30 August 2022 Group Stage Bolton Wanderers 4–1 Crewe Alexandra Bolton
19:00
Stadium: University of Bolton Stadium
Attendance: 2,115
Referee: Scott Oldham
20 September 2022 Group Stage Tranmere Rovers 2–2
(5–4 p)
Bolton Wanderers Tranmere
19:00
Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 1,779
Referee: Martin Coy
Penalties
18 October 2022 Group Stage Bolton Wanderers 3–0 Leeds United U21 Bolton
19:00
Stadium: University of Bolton Stadium
Attendance: 2,936
Referee: Peter Wright
22 November 2022 Round of 32 Bolton Wanderers 3–2BarrowBolton
19:45 GMT
Report
Stadium: University of Bolton Stadium
Attendance: 2,381
Referee: Rebecca Welch
13 December 2022 Round of 16 Bolton Wanderers 4–0Manchester United U21Bolton
19:45 GMT
Report Stadium: University of Bolton Stadium
Attendance: 4,735
Referee: Martin Coy
10 January 2023 Quarter-Final Bolton Wanderers 1–0PortsmouthBolton
19:45 GMT
Report Stadium: University of Bolton Stadium
Attendance: 4,413 (304 Away)
Referee: Bobby Madden
22 February 2023 Semi-FinalAccrington Stanley0–2 Bolton Wanderers Accrington
20:00 GMT Report
Stadium: Crown Ground
Attendance: 4,874 (2,625 Away)
Referee: Samuel Barrott

Plymouth Argyle

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Pos Div Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L1 Plymouth Argyle 3 2 1 0 0 5 2 +3 8 Advance to Round 2
2 L1 Bristol Rovers 3 2 0 1 0 6 1 +5 7
3 ACA Crystal Palace U21 3 1 0 0 2 2 3 −1 3
4 L2 Swindon Town 3 0 0 0 3 1 8 −7 0
Source: EFL.com
30 August 2022 Group Stage Plymouth Argyle 1–1
(4–3 p)
Bristol Rovers Plymouth
19:00
Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 2,298
Referee: Carl Brook
Penalties
20 September 2022 Group Stage Swindon Town 1–3 Plymouth Argyle Swindon
19:00
  • Jenkins-Davies   28'
  • Halls   30'
  • Hardie   88'
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 2,026
Referee: David Rock
18 October 2022 Group Stage Plymouth Argyle 1–0 Crystal Palace U21 Plymouth
19:00
Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 1,918
Referee: Ben Speedie
22 November 2022 Round of 32 Plymouth Argyle 3–2Charlton AthleticPlymouth
19:00 GMT
Report
  • Kanu   8'
  • Anderson   90+2'
Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 1,394
Referee: Robert Lewis
21 December 2022 Round of 16 Plymouth Argyle 3–3 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p)
AFC WimbledonPlymouth
19:00 GMT
Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 1,747
Referee: Samuel Barrott
Penalties
10 January 2023 Quarter-FinalBristol Rovers0–2 Plymouth Argyle Bristol
19:45 GMT Report
Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 3,742
Referee: Darren Drysdale
21 February 2023 Semi-Final Plymouth Argyle 1–1
(3–2 p)
Cheltenham TownPlymouth
20:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 12,047
Referee: Robert Lewis
Penalties

Match

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Bolton Wanderers4–0Plymouth Argyle
Report
Attendance: 79,389
Referee: Ben Toner
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bolton Wanderers
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Plymouth Argyle
GK 19   James Trafford
CB 2   Gethin Jones
CB 5   Ricardo Santos (c)
CB 18   Eoin Toal   86'
RWB 21   Conor Bradley
CM 16   Aaron Morley   82'
CM 8   Josh Sheehan   82'
LWB 3   Declan John
AM 22   Kyle Dempsey   74'
CF 10   Dion Charles   73'
CF 24   Elias Kachunga
Substitutions:
GK 12   Joel Dixon
DF 6   George Johnston   86'
DF 27   Randell Williams
MF 4   MJ Williams   82'
MF 20   Kieran Lee   74'
MF 25   George Thomason   82'
FW 35   Cameron Jerome   73'
Manager:
  Ian Evatt
GK 25   Callum Burton
CB 5   James Wilson
CB 6   Dan Scarr   51'
CB 3   Macaulay Gillesphey   66'
RWB 8   Joe Edwards (c)
CM 4   Jordan Houghton
CM 28   Jay Matete   45'
LWB 17   Bali Mumba   73'
AM 26   Callum Wright   54'
AM 10   Danny Mayor   40'   45'
CF 9   Ryan Hardie
Substitutions:
GK 32   Adam Parkes
DF 21   Nigel Lonwijk
DF 22   Brendan Galloway   66'
MF 7   Matt Butcher   45'
MF 18   Finn Azaz   54'
FW 14   Mickel Miller   73'
FW 16   Sam Cosgrove   45'   84'
Manager:
  Steven Schumacher

References

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  1. ^ "About The Competition". EFL.com. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Papa Johns Trophy Final highest attended match in Europe this weekend". EFL. 2 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Papa Johns Trophy final: Bolton Wanderers 4-0 Plymouth Argyle - Trotters thrash Pilgrims". BBC Sport. 1 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Bolton 4-0 Plymouth: Bolton reign at Wembley in one-sided Papa John's Trophy final". Sky Sports. 2 April 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  5. ^ "Bolton win EFL Trophy final after smashing four past Plymouth". Guardian. 2 April 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.