West Ham United U21s 0-3 Fulham U21s
Premier League 2, Rush Green Stadium, Friday 8 March 2024, 7pm GMT
West Ham United U21s fell to only their third Premier League 2 defeat of the season as Fulham stole the points in a London derby on Friday evening.
The visiting West Londoners found the net twice in a pulsating first 12 minutes – a run of play that took the wind out of the Hammers’ sails.
Having scored a hat-trick in his last outing for Fulham, Adrion Pajaziti struck the opener with five minutes played, before Matthew Dibley-Dias added a second quickly after to see the visitors lead at the break.
West Ham pushed in response, though, with midfielders Ryan Battrum, making his first U21s start of the season, and Lewis Orford leading the charge for a West Ham goal.
Their creativity in the middle, alongside some wicked crosses from Junior Robinson down the right, saw chances fall to Divin Mubama and Kamarai Swyer, who could not convert from close range.
As the Hammers added more shirts to their attacking line, with Sean Moore replacing Battrum for the final ten minutes, Fulham sprung to life on the counter.
Hayden Mullins’ men won a corner and Samuel Amissah headed home to confirm the victory, as the U21s failed to score for only the third time this season, despite further chances in stoppage time.
Even after not following up last weekend’s 3-1 win over Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United remain second in the Premier League 2 standings, leading Fulham, in third, and Arsenal in fourth, by two points.
West Ham United U21s: Knightbridge, Robinson, Laing, Casey ©, Luizao, Clayton, Orford, Battrum (Moore 78), Swyer, Mubama, Earthy
Subs not used: Tarima, Terry (GK), Akpata, Rigge,
Booked: Battrum, Casey, Luizao
Clayton: It is a tough one to take
Regan Clayton was honest in his assessment of Friday’s action and admitted the U21s were not at their best at Rush Green Stadium.
“It was difficult tonight,” he explained, “because we have been on a good run this season.
"We just need to look back at the performance against Fulham and re-group and go again because it was unlike us.”
Only the U21s’ third defeat of the league season arrived after a shaky start that saw Fulham find the net twice in 12 minutes.
It was a reminder of the levels the Hammers will need to be at should they turn a positive season into a winning one. A 3-0 scoreline, though, was perhaps harsh on the young Hammers who had a few chances to half the deficit at 2-0.
“Every team is good,” Clayton added, on the changes made to the PL2 for 2023/24, “so in a way, it’s a good reminder of the quality of teams in the league.
“In the other games, we lost [Arsenal and Chelsea] we weren’t bad but tonight we just lacked the final pass or final finish and sometimes that happens. You can’t get it right all the time.
“There were a few mistakes, but I know the character this team has, that we can get back to it quickly.”
Up Next
The U21s face Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday 15 March at 7pm.
The young Hammers will travel to the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre.
