Derby County U21s 0-1 West Ham United U21s
Premier League 2, Proctor Cars Stadium, Friday 28 February 2025, 7pm GMT
West Ham United U21s extended their remarkable winning streak in Premier League 2 to seven matches with a 1-0 victory over Derby County U21s at Proctor Cars Stadium. Another really solid defensive display meant Tyron Akpata’s incredible strike before half-time proved to be the difference.
The young Hammers were tested early on as Derby looked to impose themselves with a direct approach, launching long balls forward in search of an opening. The hosts’ first real chance came in the eighth minute when Tristan Gill directed a header wide from a free-kick, while Airidas Golambeckis was on hand shortly after to make a crucial intervention, preventing Lennon Wheeldon from getting a shot away from close range inside the box.
West Ham soon settled into the contest and began carving out chances of their own. Josh Briggs’ teasing cross was met by Dan Rigge in the 15th minute, but his effort from the penalty spot drifted wide. Moments later, Josh Ajala came even closer, clipping the top of the crossbar with a curling effort after being played through by Rigge.
Derby continued to pose a threat, with Cruz Allen forcing a sharp save from Lanre Awesu at his near post just before the half-hour mark.
The defining moment of the match arrived in the 41st minute. Another dangerous cross from Kamarai Swyer found Sean Moore who laid the ball off to Akpata on the edge of the area. The midfielder struck a sensational first-time effort, curling it into the top corner to give West Ham the lead.
There's no stopping that 😳☄️ pic.twitter.com/6teLXXqhxl
— West Ham United (@WestHam) February 28, 2025
With confidence high, the Hammers took their advantage into the second half and remained disciplined at the back. Awesu was called into action again just before the hour mark, making a fine reflex save to deny Owen Eames’ diving header from close range.
As the game entered its final stages, the young Hammers looked to double their lead. Ezra Mayers won possession high up the pitch and fed Rigge, whose shot was well held by Derby goalkeeper Harry Evans.
Despite Derby also pushing forward late on, there was no way through. West Ham’s backline remained compact and resolute, letting nothing through. With their eighth clean sheet in 16 Premier League 2 games, the young Hammers mathematically secured a post-season play-off place with four games to spare, moving six points clear of Southampton in fourth place having played a game less.
Derby County U21s: Evans ©, Turley, Moloney (Osayande 81), D. Robinson, K. Robinson, Gill, Gordon (Ilesanmi 64), Allen, Wheeldon, Perry, Eames (Agustien 64)
Subs not used: Price (GK), Stepien-Iwumene
Booked: Perry
West Ham United U21s: Awesu, Briggs, Mayers ©, Fearon, Golambeckis, Brown, Swyer, Akpata, Ajala (Landers 82), Rigge, Moore
Subs not used: Hooper (GK), Kamara, Oyebade
Goal: Akpata 41
Booked: Mayers, Brown, Briggs
Robson: It's no coincidence that we've got another clean sheet
Adapting their play style to the difficult pitch conditions, lead coach Mark Robson’s side, who boast the best defensive record in the division, had to work really hard for their eighth clean sheet of the campaign.
“It was a real tough one tonight because the pitch was really poor. The preparation for the game was based around not taking any risks due to the pitch condition. It was really difficult to get some free-flowing football in there. We asked the midfield to stay in and not venture out and keep us really compact because there's going to be mistakes made for sure because of the state of the pitch. And we did it really well. We defended brilliantly. We forced them into mistakes by getting after them higher up the pitch, which we would expect on the pitch. It was really hard to kick it sometimes.
“It's no coincidence that we've got another clean sheet and we're really, really pleased with that. Of course, the pitch forces you to play a certain way.
“We made sure that we had a lot of runners in behind. That was a big part of our game plan today, just to eliminate the poor pitch factor. We did it really well. I thought the boys made some really good decisions. It was a massive learning curve for them.”
With regular captain Kaelan Casey and vice-captain Lewis Orford unavailable, second-year scholar Ezra Mayers was handed the armband for the first time at U21 level.
“It was an opportunity to just say to Ez [Mayers], ‘you lead the boys tonight’. With Kaelan [Casey] and Lewis [Orford] not with us tonight, it was an opportunity for him to skipper the team. He goes about his job just really well. He leads by example in the way he plays. I thought he did that really well tonight, as did everybody. Big credit to young Lanre [Awesu], I thought he did really well, and Luis Brown who stepped in tonight. A really pleasing win for the boys. I'm delighted for them because they keep the run going. Let's hope we can continue it between now and the end of the season.”
Akpata: It's the best goal I've ever scored
One of just three players to feature in all of the U21s’ 16 Premier League 2 league games, Tyron Akpata had to be patient for his first goal of the season. And what a goal it was, the 18-year-old could not have hit it any sweeter, swarmed by his teammates as he gave West Ham the lead just before half-time.
“We’ve been practicing in training clipping it to the back stick so I knew there was always a possibility of the ball coming to me. And then Sean Moore laid it off and I just wellied it top corner. It was such a top feeling. I think that's the best goal in my whole life. I’ll definitely be watching it back!
“The pitch wasn't great, so we couldn't really play how we wanted to play. We had to adjust to it. The coaching team spoke about it before the game, how important decision making was on a pitch like that. Deciding when to play, when not to play. I think me and Preston [Fearon] did that really well. Knowing when to go long or when to get back in shape and play a few passes. It was a great win.”