EFL Trophy preview: High stakes as Chelsea look to progress

The Chelsea Under-21s team is set to play at the Kassam Stadium, and they have to win against Oxford United within the regular time if they want to secure their place in the elimination rounds of the EFL Trophy.

On Tuesday evening, the Chelsea Under-21s will be participating in the EFL Trophy and we will be facing Oxford United. The game is set to begin at 7pm.

The crew commanded by Mark Robinson is aware that they must achieve a victory within the established time frame of 90 minutes in order to continue in the competition. This is because they currently occupy the position immediately below that of the U's in Group N, with only one point separating them.

MK Dons have secured their spot in the next round having won their two group matches. On the other hand, Oxford has an advantage over us heading into this contest after defeating Northampton Town.

Last year, we played against Oxford United in the same contest and we were able to secure the win thanks to our excellent performance in the second half.

Oxford got ahead by scoring a goal through Matty Taylor who found himself in a favorable position to poke the ball into the net after a chaotic fight in the penalty box that followed a corner kick. Later, Omari Hutchinson failed to convert a penalty.

With the game almost ending, we managed to score thanks to Mason Burstow who made a great shot from afar, surprising Simon Eastwood, the goalkeeper. Shortly after, Lewis Hall scored again with a strong kick of his right foot that reached the top of the net.

The team known as the U's have had a bit of a rollercoaster ride in terms of their performance lately. While they've only managed to secure two victories in their last five matches, they're currently occupying the second spot in League One. Overall, they've had a pretty strong beginning to the season under the leadership of Liam Manning.

Oxford's Greg Leigh and Cameron Brannagan have been scoring goals regularly and our young Blues team must be ready to face them.

Coach's Insights: Nuggets Of Wisdom

Our team of players who are under the age of 21 have been victorious in two out of our past five matches within the league. With the understanding that only a triumph will suffice, Robinson has expressed his opinions in anticipation of the impending game.

In order to defeat Oxford, we must first possess the confidence required to implement our offensive strategy throughout the match. However, we must also excel when it comes to defensive play, including the guarding of set-piece opportunities.

The playing field of Oxford United is quite spacious. To ensure success during our offensive plays, we must establish a strong defensive foundation. Moreover, when we do not possess the ball, it is crucial to maintain our composure, display self-control, and select the appropriate moments to play with aggression.

Last season, Robinson's team was in a comparable situation. We required a triumph to ensure our advancement to the following round. However, we managed to come through, defeating Leyton Orient 3-2.

Last season, we played incredibly well against Leyton Orient, and we'll need to repeat that level of performance on Tuesday evening when we face off against a top-notch League One team.

The coach in charge of the Under-21s team desires his players to exhibit a more grown-up approach. He has expressed his dissatisfaction with the games played in the league, stating that they have been excessively focused on shifting from one phase of play to another.

As a coach, it can be quite challenging to influence a game that is in transition. Many of these athletes may have been raised in an environment where it was common knowledge that if the opposing team scored, you had the capability of scoring two or three times. However, as they age and progress through various levels of play, the margins between teams become narrower.

He went on to say: 'Knowing how to defend and being at ease when not in possession is crucial, especially since achieving a goal at the first team level requires plenty of effort and the ability to prevent the opposing team from scoring.'

I had a chat with Bashir Humphreys about Swansea's recent match. They had to work with only 10 players for 70 minutes and managed to secure a tie despite possessing just over 20 percent of the ball.

Attempting to establish a setting for our boys in which they comprehend the outcome of being disengaged or neglecting to put in the additional effort beforehand is quite challenging. This is because, similarly to many aspects of life, you can only truly appreciate the negative outcomes of your inaction after having experienced them firsthand.