Crystal Palace's Europa Conference League win gives EFL Carabao Cup headache

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Crystal Palace’s historic Conference League success has caused EFL chiefs a major Carabao Cup issue heading into next season. The Eagles secured their first-ever European trophy with a 1-0 win against Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig.

Alongside the trophy, Palace have also sealed themselves a spot in the Europa League - the Eagles now one of nine Premier League teams set to play on the continent next season. And while the English top flight’s representation in Europe will be healthy, it has left EFL bosses with some serious thinking to do.

All clubs in Europe are due to enter the Carabao Cup at Round Three, but with that number being odd, the competition now needs to be levelled out. Usually, a preliminary round would be played between the lowest-ranked teams in the competition by virtue of their league finishes this season.

Naturally, that would be Tranmere Rovers, Crawley Town, Rochdale and York. And while that is still expected to happen, the regionalised split of the first round of the competition has caused an issue.

Due to their geographical location, there is not a natural split between the four teams. Crawley would go into the southern side of the draw, albeit there is then a decision to be made on who their opponents are.

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Of the other three, Tranmere are the most southern so they could play Crawley, with Rochdale and York facing off. But Tranmere’s position on the west coast means that it is no easier to travel to than any other club.

An open draw could also be a possibility, with that draw expected to take place at the same time as the draw for the first round proper of the competition.

This situation is not totally unprecedented, with a preliminary round also played last season due to a record number of Premier League teams qualifying for Europe. However, the decision was far easier with Barnet taking on Newport and Accrington Stanley facing Oldham Athletic in what was a more straightforward northern and southern split.

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Newport and Accrington Stanley both progressed from their respective ties and went into the correct regional sides of the second round draw. Manchester City eventually won the competition with a 2-0 win against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium - Nico O’Reilly scoring twice.

Their victory contributed directly to the pile-up of European teams, with their spot in the Conference League play-offs instead going to Brighton & Hove Albion by virtue of their eighth-placed finish in the Premier League.

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