Carabao Cup first round draw in full as Leeds and Leicester find out opponents
Leeds United, Leicester City and Southampton have all discovered their opponents in the first round of the Carabao Cup after the draw was made on Thursday afternoon.
The trio, who found out the shape of their league campaign in the morning, all face tricky ties in the first round, which takes place during the week commencing 7 August. Leeds will welcome Shrewsbury Town to Elland Road, Leicester visit fellow Midlands side Burton Albion, while the Saints will square off with League Two team Gillingham.
All 72 EFL clubs found out their opponents – including Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham. They will host former FA Cup winners Wigan at the Racecourse Ground.
As per usual, the draw was split into a northern and southern section to keep travel costs down. The 12 Premier League sides without any European football next season will then join in the second round, before the big boys enter the hat in the third round.
READ MORE: EFL fixtures released as Leicester, Leeds and Wrexham find out 2023/24 opponents
Manchester United will be hoping to defend the only piece of silverware they claimed last season. While Manchester City will be looking to right the only wrong of their Treble winning season.
Southampton knocked City out of the Carabao Cup, before they were dumped out themselves by United in the semi-finals. If they are to repeat their cup heroics, Saints will have to do it the long way – when they face Gillingham in the first round.
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There were some big draws in the southern section – with QPR and Norwich pulling each other out of the hat.
Leyton Orient pulled the short straw, and they will face the long journey down to Plymouth. While in the northern section, Notts County's return to the competition will see them welcome Lincoln City – who thrilled fans with an FA Cup run in recent years.
Carabao Cup draw in full:
South
Plymouth Argyle v Leyton Orient
Forest Green Rovers v Portsmouth
Swansea City v Northampton Town
Exeter City v Crawley Town
Ipswich Town v Bristol Rovers
Newport County v Charlton Athletic
Stevenage v Watford
Cheltenham Town v Birmingham City
Sutton United v Cambridge United
MK Dons v Wycombe Wanderers
Millwall v Reading
AFC Wimbledon v Coventry City
Bristol City v Oxford United
Gillingham v Southampton
QPR v Norwich City
Peterborough v Swindon Town
Cardiff City v Colchester
North
Notts County v Lincoln
Bolton Wanderers v Barrow
Hull City v Doncaster Rovers
Mansfield Town v Grimsby Town
Stoke City v West Brom
Sheffield Wednesday v Stockport
Leeds United v Shrewsbury Town
Preston North End v Salford
Rotherham United v Morecambe
Harrogate Town v Carlisle
Burton Albion v Leicester City
Accrington Stanley v Bradford City
Derby County v Blackpool
Port Vale v Fleetwood Town
Barnsley v Tranmere
Blackburn Rovers v Walsall
Huddersfield v Middlesbrough
Wrexham v Wigan Athletic
Sunderland v Crewe Alexandra