Preview | U18s visit Southampton in Premier League South

Southampton U18s v West Ham United U18s
U18 Premier League South, Staplewood Training Ground, Tuesday 15 April 2025, 11.30am BST

West Ham United U18s will be looking to quickly bounce back from defeat at the hands of Reading on Saturday when they travel to Southampton in the Premier League South on Tuesday morning.

The Young Hammers' last match before their Premier League Cup final on Tuesday 22 April, against Reading once again, Tuesday’s game represents a great opportunity for the players to express themselves and build momentum and confidence ahead of the Select Car Leasing Stadium showpiece.

How To Follow…

A report and post-match reaction will be available on the Club’s website and app following the final whistle, with highlights to follow.

Opposition…

Southampton are in decent form, losing just two of their last eight games in the league. The young Saints are third in the Southern section of the U18 Premier League, with 36 points from 21 matches.

However, last time out they suffered their first defeat in the competition in almost two months, falling to league leaders Chelsea 4-3 away from home.

Elsewhere, victories over Swansea City, Fleetwood Town and Derby County took the Saints to the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup, where they were defeated 2-1 by Watford.

Previous Meeting...

The two sides could not be separated in the reverse fixture in November. Elisha Sowunmi notched the opener with a fantastic curling shot to give the young Hammers the lead, before Southampton turned the scoreline on its head with two goals in as many minutes.

Nicholas Oyekunle grabbed the Saints’ first on the 37-minute mark, and they then struck again moments later and took the lead as Sufianu Sillah Dibaga tapped home to make it 2-1.

But a thrilling encounter at Little Heath would finish even when Andre Dike prodded home on the hour-mark to split the spoils. 

Ones To Watch... 

Elisha Sowunmi, who has netted 12 times in 20 appearances this season, including the first goal in the aforementioned 2-2 draw against the young Saints in November, is the U18s' top goalscorer this season.

Elsewhere, it would be criminal not to mention the red-hot Josh Landers.

The Scotland youth international has been in exceptional form since arriving from Scottish Premiership side Hibernian in January. The 18-year-old has faced eight different opponents with the U18s, scoring against all but one of them. Can he continue that run against Southampton?

Southampton’s main threat is undoubtedly Nicholas Oyekunle. The striker has scored 23 goals in 20 appearances in the competition for the U18s this season and is the Premier League South’s top scorer.

The Story So Far…

West Ham United U18s currently occupy eleventh place in the Premier League South table.

While their FA Youth Cup run ended in the third round at Grimsby Town, their impressive performances in the Premier League Cup have given them a shot at silverware. Knockout victories over Manchester United and Derby County have secured the young Irons a place in their first-ever League Cup final, where they will face Reading on 22 April at Select Car Leasing Stadium.

U18 Premier League South