The 2025 EFL Trophy Final is scheduled to take place on April 13 at Wembley Stadium in London. Our EFL Trophy Final preview covers the two League One teams battling for the trophy, Birmingham City and Peterborough United. The victor will join Bristol City as the only other club to have won the EFL Trophy three times, a record Bristol have held since their last triumph in 2015. Peterborough United are also the current champions.
Route to the Final
Birmingham City
Group Stage:
- Drew 1-1 with Walsall (lost 3-4 on penalties) (H)
- Won 4-0 vs Shrewsbury Town (A)
- Won 7-1 vs Fulham U21s (H)
Knockout Stage:
- Round of 32: Won 2-1 vs Exeter City (A)
- Round of 16: Won 2-1 vs Swindon Town (A)
- Quarter-final: Won 1-0 vs Stevenage (A)
- Semi-final: Won 2-1 vs Bradford City (H)
Peterborough United
Group Stage:
- Won 2-1 vs Gillingham (A)
- Won 2-0 vs Stevenage (H)
- Won 4-1 vs Crystal Palace U21s (H)
Knockout Stage:
- Round of 32: Won 3-0 vs Northampton Town (H)
- Round of 16: Won 4-2 vs Walsall (H)
- Quarter-final: Won 3-2 vs Cheltenham Town (H)
- Semi-final: Drew 2-2 vs Wrexham (A), won 4-2 on penalties
The Teams
Birmingham City
Birmingham City, affectionately known as The Blues, come into the 2024/25 EFL Trophy final as firm favourites to lift the trophy according to the EFL Trophy Winner Betting odds. The Blues, managed by Chris Davies, are going great guns in League One and have been one of the most impressive teams in the whole of the EFL this season. With two EFL Trophy successes to their name already, they’re now looking to add a third trophy to their cabinet, which would move them level with Bristol City. Birmingham have one of the best squads in EFL history, and they will be hoping this counts for something at Wembley.
Peterborough United
Peterborough United, also known as The Posh, are the defending EFL Trophy champions, so there’s a real desire to secure back-to-back victories in the competition. Like The Blues, the Posh can add a third EFL Trophy success to their history, which would see them move level with Bristol City for the most wins in the competition. The Posh, managed by Darren Ferguson, have surprisingly struggled in League One this season, so the EFL Trophy has been a welcome distraction.
Tactical Analysis
Both teams have demonstrated distinct playing styles en route to the EFL Trophy final. Birmingham City tend to employ a 4-2-3-1 formation, focusing on dominating possession and supplying their plethora of attacking talent with service. Their midfield, anchored by a double pivot featuring Tomoki Iwata, is adept at controlling the tempo and moving the ball effectively.
Peterborough United also utilise a 4-2-3-1 system, with the aim being to get their pacey attacking players involved. The Posh, due to the speed of the likes of Kwame Poku and Ricky-Jade Jones, are fine with giving up possession because they can turn defence into attack quickly and hurt teams in devastating fashion on the counterattack. In recent weeks, their form has improved due to taking this approach.
Key Battles to Watch
- Midfield Dominance: The contest between Birmingham City’s Tomoki Iwata and Peterborough United’s Hector Kyprianou will ultimately dictate the flow of the game. Iwata will be looking to break up play and help his team keep possession, with the Blues wanting to be on the ball. At the same time, Kyprianou will look to break things up and set Posh moving forward as quickly as possible, with quick transitions key to their game plan.
- Defence vs Attack: Birmingham, unlike Peterborough, have looked good at the back this season. Their defence, led by Ben Davies, is a solid foundation the team can rely on. But, it will be tested by the likes of Ricky-Jade Jones and the rest of Posh’s fleet-footed attacking quartet.
- Set-Piece Situations: In games like this, it can sometimes come down to set-pieces to make the difference. While both teams have players capable of delivering excellent set-piece balls, it will come down to defences to deal with them. Posh have looked shaky at the back all season.
The Managers
Chris Davies
After being appointed as Birmingham City manager last summer, Chris Davies has swiftly turned the team into a winning machine, as proven by their arrival in the EFL Trophy final. Davies has always been renowned as a great coach, and his Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month award in February shows how well he’s adjusted to management.
Under Davies’ guidance, Birmingham continue to set remarkable records, and they could go down as the greatest-ever third-tier side. As the EFL Trophy approaches, Davies will have his team well-prepared. He may lack the experience of his counterpart, Darren Ferguson, but his tactical acumen is second to none.
Darren Ferguson
Darren Ferguson is the most successful manager in Peterborough United’s history. He’s led the club to multiple promotions, and he’s also won this competition with them too. In his fourth tenure with the club, Ferguson, son of the legendary Sir Alex, guided The Posh to more EFL Trophy success.
Despite a challenging league campaign, with his team sitting closer to the relegation zone than the top six, Ferguson’s ability to guide his team in cup competitions has been there for all to see. His tactical adjustments in the semi-final against Wrexham, and the subs he made, were instrumental in them getting to the final.
What Can We Expect?
The contest between Birmingham City and Peterborough United at Wembley in the EFL Trophy final is very intriguing. Birmingham, the clear favourites, is a team that has historically spent most of its time competing at a higher level than the third tier, and they’ll soon be returning to the second tier. But, before they do, they have a chance to collect some silverware.
Peterborough United have often been one of the most dangerous third-tier outfits, and they’ve always been there or thereabouts. While it may not have been their season in the league, they’ve impressed in the EFL Trophy, and they won’t make it easy for Chris Davies’ side.
What adds to the intrigue is that Birmingham is a possession-hungry team that possesses a lot of technical ability. And they’re facing a Peterborough team that aren’t as focused on having the ball and more about their attacking quartet receiving it into space on the break. It’s the ultimate clash of styles, and it could lead to a high-scoring affair.
Conclusion
Birmingham City have been the best team in League One this season by a long stretch. And while this doesn’t mean they’re going to win the EFL Trophy, it makes sense that they’re odds-on favourites to do so. Whether they’re successful or not at Wembley, their season will still be a huge success. For Posh, winning the EFL Trophy will not only put a positive spin on their disappointing season, but it will see them retain the trophy for another season, which would be some feat. Could it come down to who needs to win more on April 13?
