West Ham United U23s Lead Coach Mark Robson was full of praise for his team’s work ethic, performance and energy in Tuesday’s 3-0 victory away to Exeter City U23S.
Second-half goals from Harrison Ashby, Armstrong Okoflex and Thierry Nevers secured a highly deserved victory for the young Irons at St James Park, securing their progression from Group F in the Premier League Cup.
An all-round fantastic showing from the side, Robson was delighted with how his team stepped up to the challenge of a side that contained a number of players with significant Football League experience.
From the front to the back, everybody put a shift in and worked really hard. We got our rewards for it.
Mark Robson
“I thought the performance was really good,” Robson told whufc.com. “They had a few first team players in their team, and I thought it was a real good challenge for us.
“I just thought overall, we were really good. We moved the ball quick and some of our passing and movements were fantastic. We were probably a bit disappointed not to go in at half-time in a bit of a better position, but we said at half-time that it would come if the lads kept doing what they were doing, and kept trying to control things out of possession.
“Obviously, Harrison’s free-kick takes a slight deflection, but I thought the goals were first-class. The other two for sure were outstanding and came from really good play.
“I thought the team’s work ethic in this game was absolutely top drawer. From the front to the back, everybody put a shift in and worked really hard. We got our rewards for it.
“I actually think the lads enjoyed this game. I know they enjoyed playing this game and we showed a lot of qualities. Exeter City had a lot of experienced players who have played a lot of games in the Football League, and we dealt with that so well. It was just a really pleasing performance.”
Robson was particularly complimentary of his two centre-backs, captain Ajibola Alese and Levi Laing, for how they contended with Exeter’s direct nature, while also hailing the incoming players; Nevers, Kamarai Swyers, Jayden Fevrier and Mipo Odubeko.
Robson continued: “Aji and Levi, who experienced something they don’t normally experience in U23s football and they had to deal with a lot of direct balls. I thought the pair of them were outstanding tonight. In terms of a learning process, that was a perfect opportunity to see them against a more direct side. They covered the spaces well and dealt with the balls in the air well.
“The boys that came in, they’ve all done really well and I’m pleased for all of them. We want a bit of competition for places and one of the things I’ve said to the boys is that they need to work hard first and foremost, because the first team want and demand the same thing. I want to make sure, if they get that opportunity, that they are approaching it in the right manner.
“We’ve done it well tonight so hopefully the lads that came in have put a bit more pressure on some of the others, but that’s great and it’s exactly what we need. We demand more from each other and the standards are high.”
With progression into the round of 16 secured with one more Group F game still to play, Robson is happy that the U23s have secured their objective of qualifying from the group stages.
With a final Group F match with Swansea City still to play, Robson notes he now has options for how to approach the game. Up next, however, is a Premier League 2 test against Leicester City.
“We’re pleased to secure progression,” he added. “We’re pleased with this game on the whole, in terms of how we played and what we offered. The performance was very good, and we go through and it gives us an opportunity to keep going.
“We have Swansea in the last group game and we can now approach that game in a number of ways , but we’ll work that out as we get closer to it.
“Leicester is the next game on Monday and if I can see what I’ve seen against Exeter, both in and out of possession and in work ethic, I’ll be pleased. The whole thing was really good and I’m proud of the boys and the staff.”