Newcastle's Carabao Cup date set as weird third round fixtures finally allocated

The Carabao Cup has often been seen as a lesser cup by some people but the English Football League aren't doing themselves any favours this year with the new rules.

The draw for the third round for the EFL Cup was an absolute farce. It took place on Sky Sports on the night Newcastle United took on Nottingham Forest. There was a pre-draw before kick-off to decide whether the six clubs involved in Europe (Chelsea were excluded as the Europa Conference League doesn't interfere with the Carabao Cup) would play home or away.

Then after the game the draw was made with the six European teams in one bowl and all the other teams in another. A European team was drawn first followed by a ball from the peasant bowl and the pre-draw draw determined whether the European club was home or away.

Not content with having a ridiculous draw that heavily favours the European sides, the third-round fixtures will be played over the course of a two-week period rather than one, so it has taken until now to have any idea when Newcastle's trip to AFC Wimbledon will be.

Newcastle today confirmed the date the Carabao Cup third-round tie will take place

As announced on X by the club, Newcastle will make the trip to AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday 24th September for a 7:45pm kick-off with the game being shown live on Sky Sports+.

The draw saw Newcastle pulled out of the hat as the away side for the eighth successive cup draw in a row and the last home tie was against Manchester City.

At least this time we were handed a draw to someone outside of the Premier League.

The Carabao Cup is a great shot for Newcastle to win silverware

No ticketing details have been announced yet with today's announcement saying that details will be announced in due course.

However you view the Carabao Cup, it's a competition which Newcastle have done well in since Eddie Howe arrived with a final followed by a quarter-final in successive seasons.

Could this be the year we go all the way?