City's EDS exit EFL trophy after loss to Rotherham

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Manchester City F.C.

·28 October 2025

City's EDS exit EFL trophy after loss to Rotherham

City’s Elite Development Squad lost out 4-2 to an experienced Rotherham side in our final EFL Trophy Group E clash in 2025/26.

After an impressive first-half display by Ben Wilkinson's side, we headed into the break with a two goal advantage thanks to an early Mahamadou Sangare strike followed by a sublime effort from Charlie Gray.

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Despite a comfortable start, the hosts refused to let their heads drop as Shaun McWilliams converted from the penalty spot to half the deficit.

Less than a minute later the Millers found their equaliser through Josh Ayres, before going on to net a further two goals.

First from substitute Joe Powell and moments later Sean Ragget netted the fourth in just 15 minutes as we were knocked out of the EFL Trophy at the Aesseal New York Stadium.

What happened

City were put under pressure early on from the Millers, but it was Ben Wilkinson's men who reaped the rewards after two minutes played.

A mistake at the back for Rotherham saw the Blues take an early lead when Breckin tracked the defender to win the ball back in the box, before teeing up Sangare to see us off to the perfect start.

City were thriving when we hit 26 minutes as Sangare turned the defence inside out before lifting his shot onto the cross bar.

Despite some pressure from the hosts, we continued to showcase our attacking threat as Kian Breckin was denied one on one by Cann, before Sangare's attempt ended in a corner.

And that resulting corner saw us double our lead as Gray composed himself outside of the box, before he curled a stunning shot under the 'keeper and into the bottom corner.

It would pose to be the final clinical moment of action for both sides as we headed in with one foot in the knockout stages.

A beautiful ball over the top from Stephen Mfuni saw Sangare run through on goal as it looked like we'd record our third of the night, but it wasn't to be as the French forward couldn't get enough on the pull back and it was an easy claim for Cann.

Ten minutes into the second-half saw Rotherham claw a goal back from the penalty spot as McWilliams hit the ball in off the underside of the crossbar.

And less than a minute later the Millers found their equaliser through Ayres.

Suddenly it was the hosts who took the lead in the 67th minute through substitute Powell and a minute later Ragget netted their fourth in just 15 minutes.

The defender's goal was the final in an eventful night at New York Stadium as our EDS exited the competition with our heads held high.

Teams

ROTHERHAM XI | Cann, Kelly (Douglas 79'), Raggett, James, Hugill (Martha 45'), Baptiste, Yearwood, McWilliams (Gore 61'), Hall (Powell 61'), Holmes (Clarke 76'), Ayres

SUBS | Dawson, Richardson

CITY XI | Brits, Breckin (Oboavwoduo 70'), Parker, McAidoo (Lawrence 62'), Gray, Braithwaite (Naylor 79'), Sangare, J. Heskey, Headley (Noble 79'), Mfuni, R. Heskey (Muir 62')

SUBS | Wint, Fapetu

Attendance: 1415 (103 away fans)