West Ham United U21s 2-3 Leicester City U21s
Premier League 2, Rush Green Stadium, Friday 14 March 2025, 7pm GMT
West Ham United U21s suffered their first home defeat of the calendar year, conceding late on, falling to a 3-2 against Leicester City at Rush Green Stadium.
The young Hammers twice took the lead through Josh Ajala and Kaelan Casey, but the visitors responded on both occasions before snatching victory in the closing minutes. Lewis Orford had the chance to put West Ham ahead from the penalty spot six minutes from time, only for Stevie Bausor to make a crucial save before Josh King struck the winner on the break just minutes later.
Leicester started brightly, carving out early chances as Amani Richards and Jeremy Monga tested Fin Herrick. West Ham grew into the contest, with Ajala looking sharp up front, and the forward made his mark on 21 minutes. Controlling Junior Robinson’s pass with his back to goal, he turned sharply and rifled into the bottom corner to give Mark Robson’s side the lead.
The young Hammers looked to protect their advantage heading into the break, with Kaelan Casey and Josh Briggs making some excellent defensive stops. However, Leicester found a way through just before the interval. Monga’s driving run created an opening for Olabade Aluko, whose shot was blocked but fell kindly for Jake Evans to sweep into the far corner.
West Ham pushed forward after the restart, with Dan Rigge and Kamarai Swyer both going close, but it was Leicester that came closest, missing a golden opportunity when Richards miscued his volley from point-blank range.
That miss was punished just past the hour mark as the Hammers restored their lead. Orford’s pinpoint corner found Casey at the far post to nod home.
Leicester responded swiftly, though, as Monga dribbled his way into the penalty area and slotted past Herrick to level the scores once more.
The game remained on a knife-edge heading into the final stages, and West Ham had the perfect opportunity to retake the lead in the 84th minute when Robinson was brought down inside the area. Orford stepped up, but Bausor guessed correctly to push his effort away.
Just moments later, Leicester struck the decisive blow. Monga turned provider, releasing King on the counter, and the forward held off Casey before drilling a low shot inside Herrick’s near post to seal all three points for the visitors.
Despite the setback, their first defeat against an academy side since December, the U21s remain comfortably placed within the highest play-off seedings, five points clear of Chelsea in fourth place.
West Ham United U21s: Herrick, Robinson, Mayers, Fearon, Briggs, Casey ©, Swyer, Orford, Ajala, Rigge (Landers 78), Moore
Subs not used: Terry (GK), Brown, Akpata, Sowunmi
Goals: Ajala 49, Casey 61
Booked: Robinson, Fearon
Leicester City U21s: Bausor, Joseph, Aluko, Godsmark-Ford (Wormleighton 63), Ali, Cartwright ©, Monga, Braybrooke, Richards (King 69), Page, Evans (Briggs 75)
Subs not used: French (GK), Pennant
Goals: Evans 45+1, Monga 67, King 87
Booked: Aluko, Godsmark-Ford, King, Braybrooke
Robson: It’s a disappointing result because we've been on such a good run
While acknowledging the defensive lapses which led to their first defeat in nine games, lead coach Mark Robson reflected on the strong foundations they have built as they enter the business end of the campaign.
“We perhaps could have been a little bit better in terms of competing. We lacked a little bit of aggression maybe in a couple of areas and could have managed the game a bit better. For example on the halfway line in the last minute of the first half when they equalised. You might have to take one for the team. We allowed them to come for us.
“We were a little bit disappointed in our defending for the first goal and definitely for the second goal. We could have avoided them. It’s a disappointing result because we've been on such a good run, but the boys have been excellent. There have been some really good performances over the season and tonight we just perhaps didn't have everybody firing at their maximum.
“To be fair to Leicester, they created enough chances to have got something from the game, which they did. So, no complaints in terms of the result. It's a shame because the run comes to an end.”
Leicester’s late winner brought to an end an excellent run of form for the U21s which saw them go eight games unbeaten, surging up the Premier League 2 table from 13th to third.
“It’s been a really good run. We're really pleased with the boys, really proud of what they've done so far. We’ve put ourselves in a really good position with the performances that we've had throughout the season.
“We secured a play-off place pretty comfortably. We've had players who have done exceptionally well. We've had players who have had an opportunity with the first team this year as well. There's so many pluses. Today was disappointing, but we'll dust ourselves off and get ready for the next one.”
Before Mark Robson’s side attack the final straight of the domestic campaign, a handful of members of his squad will be travelling across Europe on international duty, with several others on standby.
“We've got a big number of boys as well going on international duty, which is really good. One or two are still on standby that might get an opportunity, so we’ve got our fingers crossed for that.
“It bodes well for us as an academy and what we're doing. We've obviously got some really good players who have been helped along the way to get them to where we want them. That's all going really good at the moment.
“We wish them well and look forward to getting them back hopefully unscathed, ready for our final push!”