Forest to host Leeds in EFL Cup - second-round draw in full

Forest to host Leeds in EFL Cup – second‑round draw in full After Sky Sports selected Fulham versus Chelsea for an unrecorded Premier League broadcast on Monday, 24 August, the possibility of a knock‑on effect became apparent. With neither side involved in European competition, both entered the Carabao Cup at the 2nd round, meaning they could face two midweek fixtures. Normally, EFL Cup ties would be played on Thursday, allowing 72 hours' rest. That arrangement would also affect the Premier League schedule. Fulham’s match at Sunderland, which was not chosen for television, was switched to Sunday. Chelsea versus Brighton, meanwhile, was chosen by Sky for the Sunday slot. All seemed satisfactory until Fulham and Chelsea were drawn at home in the Carabao Cup and are not expected to play on the same day. Either the police will have to grant a concession or the EFL will need to devise a creative solution. A further knock‑on effect concerns eight EFL clubs with short notice. The opponents of Fulham and Chelsea – Wimbledon and Luton – have League One fixtures scheduled for the Saturday following the ties. If one or both Carabao Cup ties are set for Thursday, the Saturday League One games would normally be shifted to Sunday. An additional complication arises the following Tuesday, when a full programme of League One matches is scheduled, potentially forcing another four matches to be moved to Wednesday. Consequently, either teams would have to play two games within 48 hours, or supporters who have made travel arrangements would find their games displaced. The fixtures potentially affected are as follows: Saturday, 29 August Wimbledon v Wigan Mansfield v Luton Tuesday, 1 September Burton v Wimbledon Wigan v MK Dons Luton v Stockport Reading v Mansfield