West Ham United U21s 4-1 Blackburn Rovers U21s
Premier League 2 Play-Offs, Rush Green Stadium, Friday 3 May 2024, 7pm BST
West Ham United U21s secured their place in the Premier League 2 Play-Offs quarter-finals following a comprehensive 4-1 win over Blackburn Rovers on Friday night.
Sean Moore’s first-half effort got the Hammers on their way, before a Callum Marshall strike and own-goal from Brandon Powell, either side of a super strike from Earthy and a consolation from Blackburn, clinched a comfortable victory at Rush Green Stadium.
The Hammers, who finished second in the main competition, will now face Sunderland or Wolverhampton Wanderers in the quarter-finals of the Play-Offs.
A date for this fixture, which will be played away from East London, will be confirmed in due course.
Chances came and went aplenty as Steve Potts’ side saw Gideon Kodua, Lewis Orford, and Callum Marshall all work visiting goalkeeper Felix Goddard, who stood tall for all but the final two minutes of the first 45.
Indeed, Moore’s goal on minute 43 was the least the Hammers deserved for their dominance and were arguably unfortunate not to lead by more than one goal by the interval.
That changed though in the second half, where after Keenan Appiah-Forson, Gideon Kodua, and Marshall forced decent stops from Goddard, and Earthy smashed a powerful strike against the crossbar, West Ham found their shooting boots in some style.
Marshall looked to have poked home from close range on 77 minutes, although the goal was later awarded as an own-goal via the boot of Powell, before Earthy finished a flowing West Ham move to make it 3-0 ten minutes from time.
Blackburn then found a response through Jake Batty one minute later, although Marshall secured the points with a stunning strike from 20 yards out in the final minute of the 90.
Four goals, then, capped a superb return to winning ways, after defeat by Leicester City last week, and deservedly booked West Ham a spot in the last eight of the PL2 Play-Offs.
West Ham United U21s: Knightbridge, Appiah-Forson, Casey (Golambeckis 90+1), Forbes ©, Mayers, Moore (Adiele 82), Kelly, Orford, Kodua (Swyer 64), Marshall, Earthy (Ajala 90+2)
Subs not used: Terry (GK)
Goals: Moore 43, Powell og 76, Earthy 79, Marshall 89
Booked: Moore, Earthy, Kelly
Potts praises Hammers’ showing in east London
While a second-place finish in the Premier League 2 table was a welcome end to the regular season, how the U21s adapted to knockout football will ultimately decide whether or not the development side can turn the 2023/24 season into a winning one.
Knockout football has been kind to the young Hammers this season – who reached the Bristol Street Motors Trophy last 16 and the Premier League International Cup semi-finals for the first time in the Club’s history - and their start to this competition showed it could be more of the same in the PL2 Play-Offs.
Such a comprehensive performance on Friday pleased lead coach Steve Potts, who was delighted the U21s have taken a step closer in their final shot at silverware in 2023/24.
“We knew it wasn’t easy because of the way they set up with a lot of players behind the ball,” the lead coach explained, “so it was always going to be a patient one and you didn’t want the boys to get frustrated with not getting that earlier goal.
“We just had to be wary of their threat on the break, and in the end, it was important we got that goal from a corner and a great finish from Sean, which settled us down.
“In the second half, we were in full control but they managed to stay in the game so we needed those goals and thankfully we got them.
“The front three [Gideon Kodua, George Earthy, and Callum Marshall] was what we had at the start of the season and were doing a lot of damage. They are so good at interchanging so often and that doesn’t matter because they all know those three roles.
“But they also work so hard and set the tone for the team because they are on the front foot and in the first half of the season you could see the relentless and running and running, even if the last minutes of games, and that is so good to watch and important to the way we play.”
Forbes delighted to make a return for U21s
It has been a tough season for U21s skipper Michael Forbes, who has seen a hatful of injuries restrict his minutes this campaign.
But the Northern Ireland international defender is back in the Starting XI and made his second of consecutive PL2 starts against Blackburn Rovers, following a return to action against Leicester City last week.
He stated: "It's would really good to be back out there with this group. The first half was a bit tough but I think we controlled the second half and I didn't have as much to do so it was a nice 90 to get back to it.
"It's tough when teams sit in a low block because we like that space to run in behind but we dealt with it and moved the ball fast and got the goals we needed.
"We have done well in the league games to finish second and it has been a positive season but we want to finish the season with a trophy and for me on a personal level hopefully I can get a couple more competitive games under my belt as well."
Up Next
West Ham United U21s will travel away to face Sunderland or Wolverhampton Wanderers in the quarter-finals.
Further details on our last eight tie will follow in due course.
