It was a mixed start to 2023 for a number of West Ham United loanees in action across the New Year’s weekend, with Mipo Odubeko the star of the Hammers on show.
The 20-year-old striker led a brilliant Port Vale comeback in EFL League One, as his side came from 1-0 down to defeat Forest Green Rovers 3-1.
The hosts took the lead on two minutes, before Odubeko came off the bench to lead the fight back, netting the equaliser with four minutes of normal time to be played.
And a remarkable football game continued to unfold in stoppage-time where, with 14 minutes added on, Ellis Harrison and Dennis Politic both struck to secure Vale a winning start to 2023.
The turnaround means Odubeko and company are ninth in League One with 24 matches played and sit just three points from the play-off places.
🎙️ Here’s how @BBCRadioStoke’s @PhilJBowers described @mipoodubeko’s equaliser #PVFC | #SVA pic.twitter.com/tc36fMWSoD
— Port Vale FC (@OfficialPVFC) January 2, 2023
Meanwhile, there was further late drama for Jacob Knightbridge, who made crucial saves throughout a hard-fought ninety minutes as Harrow Borough started 2023 with a 2-2 draw to Hales & Yeading United.
The young goalkeeper made a superb late challenge to deny the hosts when Liddle burst into the area and looked to have rounded Knightbridge.
That moment kept the game at 2-1 to Harrow Borough, although Hales & Yeading United’s Danny Green scored a 90th-minute equaliser that saw Knightbridge and company narrowly miss out on a winning start to the New Year.
In the EFL Championship, Manny Longelo featured as a second-half substitute, although Birmingham City fell to a 3-1 defeat to Middlesbrough.
Longelo played for 25 minutes, but a Matt Crooks’ brace and Chuba Akpom strike secured Michael Carrick’s side three points, despite Tahith Chong’s goal for the Blues 16 minutes from time.
Birmingham City are 17th in the Championship with eight wins from 26 league games.
