Liam Manning says his West Ham United U23s will need to pick themselves up for Tuesday night’s Premier League International Cup test when they face Southampton.
The Hammers travel to the Saints’ Academy looking for a victory that could potentially see them finish top of Group A, though a big goals swing would be required.
West Ham’s youngsters go into the match on the back of a 3-2 defeat at Chelsea on Friday night in which they were two goals to the good with just over ten minutes remaining.
And manager Manning wants his players to put the disappointment of the Premier League 2 London derby out their minds as they search for International Cup progression tonight.
He said: “We set up really well against Chelsea and there were some good individual performances. We created some really good chances and it could have been more than 1-0 at half-time.
“But it was a lapse in concentration in the final ten minutes [that cost us]. They got their first goal and got them to 2-1, and that got their tails up and the momentum shifted to them and we didn’t see it through that tough period.
“We need to learn from that and the biggest thing is being ruthless and seeing games through. If you’re 1-0, you win 1-0 and don’t give them anything.
“We have Southampton next and there’s no opportunity to rest and feel sorry for yourself; you have to be ready to pick yourself up and go again against Southampton because it’s another big game.”
The young Hammers currently sit third in Group A – behind tonight’s opponents by just a point, but with two points fewer than leaders Dinamo Zagreb.
Only top spot of the group qualifies automatically for the quarter-finals, while the other two spots are taken by the two best second-placed sides in the competition.
Both teams this evening, therefore, will be gunning for victory with a win guaranteeing a spot in the last-eight for Southampton, while West Ham’s chances of qualification with a victory are difficult to predict as yet.
Supporters wishing to follow the action from Staplewood can tune in to the game’s live blog on whufc.com or follow goal updates on Twitter @westhamutd.