Checkatrade Trophy final guide: When is Portsmouth v Sunderland? What TV channel is it on? Who is the referee? Is there extra-time?
The Checkatrade Trophy final will be played in front of a sold-out Wembley as Portsmouth take on Sunderland. Tom Carnduff has all the details.
When is it?
Sunday March 31 - kick-off is at 1430 GMT.
Where is it?
Wembley Stadium. Unlike previous years, a near capacity crowd is expected with both Portsmouth and Sunderland selling their full ticket allocations.
Who is the referee?
Dean Whitestone. He is a regular in League One and League Two this season. He officiated Portsmouth's 3-3 draw with Southend in February, handing out four yellow cards, while he showed the same amount in Burton's win over Sunderland in September. Whitestone will be assisted by Nik Barnard and Richard Wild, with Kevin Johnson on Fourth Official duty. The Reserve Assistant Referee is Rob Smith.
Is it on TV?
Yes, Sky Sports Football will be covering the game. Kick off is at 14:30, while coverage starts at 14:15.
What are the odds?
Sunderland are slight favourites for this one, with both sides priced below even money to lift the trophy.
90 minutes result (via Sky Bet)
- Portsmouth - 7/4
- Draw - 11/5
- Sunderland - 6/4
To lift the trophy (via Sky Bet)
- Portsmouth - 10/11
- Sunderland - 4/5
How does the competition work?
Each team played in group stage matches to begin with. Games level after 90 minutes went straight to penalties and the winner would get an extra point. After that, it was straight knockout with teams playing in the north or the south region. The same applied in regards to group stage draws, penalties would decide the winner.
How did the teams get here?
Portsmouth finished top of Group A in the Southern section of the competition. They ended above Tottenham under-21s, Gillingham and Crawley. Pompey then beat Arsenal U21s, Southend, Peterborough and Bury to reach the final.
Sunderland's group saw them come up against Stoke under-21s, Carlisle and Morecambe. They then eliminated Notts County, Newcastle under-21s and Man City under-21s before beating Bristol Rovers away from home in the semi-final.
What happens if it's a draw?
Unlike previous rounds, the final will see extra-time and penalties if the contest finishes in a draw. Extra-time will be 30 minutes in total, with two halves of 15 minutes. If it's still level after 120 minutes, there will be penalties.
What are the team selection rules?
The same applies as has done in previous rounds when it comes to team selection. The EFL introduced these rules to ensure that clubs treated this competition with respect. As part of that, a team had to ensure that they have at least four 'qualifying players' in their starting line-up (excluding goalkeeper). Rule 7 of the Checkatrade Trophy rules define a 'qualifying player' as one who meets one of the following:
- Had started the immediately preceding First Team Fixture (as defined below);
- subsequently starts the immediately following First Team Fixture;
- Is in the list of ten Players at the Club with the highest number of starting appearances in First Team Fixtures in the same Season;
- Has made forty or more starting appearances in First Team Fixtures or international equivalents (and not limited to the same Club or Season); or
- Is on standard loan from a Premier League Club or any EFL Club operating a Category One Academy.
Odds correct as of 1545 GMT on 26/03/19
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