Academy director Terry Westley is looking forward to the Dev Squad's second leg
Ahead of the Development Squad’s second leg of the Barclays U21 Premier League final with Hull City, Academy director Terry Westley described his cautious optimism ahead of Wednesday’s showdown.
The young Hammers hold a slender 1-0 lead thanks to Djair Parfitt-Williams’ 90th minute winner, under the lights at the Boleyn Ground.
Looking ahead to the second leg, Westley said: “It’s only half-time in the tie. Yes, we hold a 1-0 advantage, but we know we are going to be in for tough game.
“That small cushion will give us the confidence we need and away from home, the pressure will be off us, which I think will help.”
Westley continued to expand on the lessons learnt from the first leg, which saw an impressively strong Hull City side prove different to conquer.
He explained: “They were very resolute, compact and we found it hard to break them down. At some point, they will have to come out and attack us because they need to score, that should give us some opportunities, which we will need to exploit.
“Training has been good. There was a sense that we didn’t quite rise to the occasion in the final, in front of a huge crowd, so that has spurred us on to complete the job.”
The Hammers take on Hull City at the KC Stadium on Wednesday 4 May, kick off is 7pm.
The young Hammers hold a slender 1-0 lead thanks to Djair Parfitt-Williams’ 90th minute winner, under the lights at the Boleyn Ground.
Looking ahead to the second leg, Westley said: “It’s only half-time in the tie. Yes, we hold a 1-0 advantage, but we know we are going to be in for tough game.
“That small cushion will give us the confidence we need and away from home, the pressure will be off us, which I think will help.”
Westley continued to expand on the lessons learnt from the first leg, which saw an impressively strong Hull City side prove different to conquer.
He explained: “They were very resolute, compact and we found it hard to break them down. At some point, they will have to come out and attack us because they need to score, that should give us some opportunities, which we will need to exploit.
“Training has been good. There was a sense that we didn’t quite rise to the occasion in the final, in front of a huge crowd, so that has spurred us on to complete the job.”
The Hammers take on Hull City at the KC Stadium on Wednesday 4 May, kick off is 7pm.