In just his second game since returning from a meniscus injury which ruled him out for four months, Ryan Battrum scored his first goal for West Ham United's U21s to send his side through to the last eight of the Premier League 2 play-offs for the second season in a row with a 3-1 win over Sunderland last Saturday.
Against last year’s finalists, who had knocked them out at the quarter-final stage last season, Battrum netted the last of the young Hammers’ three goals to put the game beyond doubt and book their place in the last eight, where they will face Manchester United on Monday afternoon.
“Everyone was buzzing in the dressing room to get the result over the line,” he said. “Obviously it was a slow first half for us, but I think as we got into the second half, we really clicked and I think towards the end of the game, there was only one team in it and we controlled it really well, so we're all happy.”
Entering the field at a crucial time, with 20 minutes left and Sunderland pushing for an equaliser, Battrum, naturally a full-back, was brought on at right wing to bring balance to the team as they looked to protect their lead and punish on the counter.
He continued: “The coaches told me to keep it narrow, stay compact, but obviously you could see on the counter that we were quite threatening, so I also wanted to get us on the front foot and run forward. There were chances to be created and I’m so buzzing to get my first goal. I haven’t scored all season, so I guess I’m saving them for the play-offs!”
Our U21s secured their place in the Premier League 2 play-off quarter-finals with a 3-1 victory over Sunderland yesterday ⚒️
— West Ham United (@WestHam) April 27, 2025
With seven members of the 16-strong squad having been involved in last season’s quarter-final defeat to Sunderland - when the Black Cats came from behind three times before winning 8-6 on penalties - there was an added sense of determination going into the game.
Battrum said: “There was a bit of a feeling of getting some revenge because there were quite a few who were in the squad last year. We had played Sunderland already this season and knew they were a good team and obviously from last year, they're quite a physical team, so we wanted to get a little bit of a revenge and get through to the next round and we're really looking forward to the game at Manchester United.”
Despite qualifying for the play-offs as the higher seed, our U21s will have to face Manchester United on their own turf at Leigh Sports Village. It's a venue they are familiar with, having played there earlier this season, when the young Hammers fell to a late stoppage-time winner from Ethan Ennis despite controlling large parts of the game.
“I think it's good when you play teams in the season and play them again now in the play-offs,” Battrum continued. “You know you've played them before, so you know what they're good at. I think we know that we've got a good chance going there and we'll be full of confidence.”
For a handful of members of the development side, this will be the second time this year that they face Manchester United in a quarter-final tie. Ezra Mayers, Emeka Adiele, Josh Ajala and Airidas Golambeckis were all part of the U18s squad that defeated the U18 Premier League and Cup double-winners in the Premier League Cup on penalties in February on their way to glory in the competition.
Having captained the U18s last season, Battrum believes that the winning feeling the younger members of the squad have brought to the U21s will only make them hungrier to replicate that success.
He added: “The feeling of winning can't be matched. I think they've got a bit of a taste of it now. Winning the FA Youth Cup was one of the best nights of my life. So, I think if we went and won this, I think as a group together it would just be phenomenal and that's what we're going to try and do. Just three games left.”
