Sometimes, in football, it just isn't your day.
West Ham United Under-23s defender Josh Okotcha and his teammates performed with no shortage of application against Liverpool Under-23s on Friday afternoon, but still came away from Rush Green Stadium with a 4-2 loss against the Reds.
Having recovered from an early concession to deservedly lead 2-1 at half-time through Oladapo Afolyan and Mesaque Dju, the Hammers had hoped to kick on in the second half, but conceded twice in the early stages of the half before Liverpool wrapped the points up in injury time.
A red card to goalkeeper Joseph Anang was a further blow to the young Hammers, who still went to create a number of presentable opportunities to equalise, only to come up against at Liverpool goalkeeper in fine form in Caoimhín Kelleher.
West Ham U23s remain without a Premier League 2 win so far this season, but Okotcha – a first-half substitute for the injured Harrison Ashby – feels it simply wasn’t destined to be on Friday.
“It was tough to take,” he admitted, speaking to whufc.com. “It was a hard match, especially when we went down to ten men as well, but you can’t fault the effort from all of the lads.
“Afterwards, there was a sense of disappointment – big disappointment, because the boys put in so much effort into the game. Luck comes into it.
“You don’t expect to get a man sent off and the boys did well to push past that and keep fighting until the end. Obviously we just finished up unlucky, but it happens in football.
“The boys just know that we have to start winning games, and if anything, today will just act as a motivator going into our next game on Tuesday [against Portsmouth in the Papa John’s Trophy].
“We want to win. We want to keep pushing on. We just have to put the result behind us now and focus on Tuesday.”
The match marked Okotcha’s second Premier League 2 appearance of the season – and second in the space of five days – having started at Derby County on Monday evening.
Last season’s U18s captain only put pen-to-paper on his first professional contract as a footballer in the summer, and is making confident early strides at his new level in Claret and Blue.
I’m getting sharper and I’m feeling sharper, so I just want to push on from here and keep improving
Josh Okotcha
The 18-year-old centre-back was called upon from the substitutes’ bench in the early stages on Friday afternoon when it became clear that Ashby could not continue.
Despite the chilly conditions, however, Okotcha was not caught in the cold, springing into action with two fine first-half tackles – and another excellent two second-half blocks – as the young Hammers fought to stay in the contest against a talented Liverpool outfit.
“Starting on the bench, you never know what’s going to happen,” Okotcha recalled.
“[Lead coach] Dmitri [Halajko] said to me before the game ‘be ready, because I might need you in the first five minutes’. Going into the game I was ready to come on if I were needed, so when I did have to, I was prepared.
“Overall I felt I did alright, to be fair, especially as it was my second appearance of the season. I’m getting sharper and I’m feeling sharper, so I just want to push on from here and keep improving.”
Similarly, Okotcha believes that his side’s journey to turning their league form around starts on the training ground.
He explained: “You can’t fault anyone’s efforts in the team. In training, all the boys are at it every day, giving 100 per cent for the team.
“Sometimes luck just has to be on your side, but we just have to keep pushing on, progressing, and hopefully we will get that bit of luck needed to start winning games.”
