Preview | U21s close out 2024 with trip to Sutton

Sutton United v West Ham United U21s
National League Cup Group D, Gander Green Lane, Tuesday 17 December 2024, 7.30pm GMT

West Ham United U21s close out the calendar year with a trip to Gander Green Lane to face Sutton United in their second National League Cup group-stage tie.

The development side opened their National League Cup account with a 4-2 defeat to current group leaders Braintree Town. Despite taking the lead twice through great team goals finished off by Josh Ajala and Ollie Scarles, the National League side shifted to a more direct, physical approach in the second half. Led by seasoned strikers Inih Effiong and John Akinde, Braintree piled on the pressure, using their experience and aerial strength to peg West Ham back. Goals from Akinde, Effiong, Kyrell Lisbie and George Langston secured a 4-2 victory for the Iron.

The young Hammers come into their second National League Cup fixture off the back of a 3-1 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach II in the Premier League International Cup, but are yet to beat senior opposition this season having also fallen to defeats in their three EFL Trophy ties.

How To Follow…

A live stream of the fixture will be available across the Club’s website and YouTube channel. A match report and reaction will also follow shortly after the full-time whistle. Highlights will be available on Wednesday.

Tickets...

Advance online tickets can be purchased on the Sutton United website.

Travel...

The postcode for Gander Green Lane, home of Sutton United, is SM1 2EY. West Sutton station is located right next to the ground, and is served by Southern Rail services, with frequent trains running from central London via Wimbledon and Sutton.

National League Cup Explained…

The new competition pits 16 National League clubs - the fifth tier of senior men’s football - against 16 Premier League 2 sides, with the twin aims of giving National League clubs the chance to host the best U21 teams in England in their own stadia, while also offering young players from Premier League and EFL clubs the opportunity to test themselves against senior opposition.

The participants are split into four groups of eight - four from the National League and four from Premier League 2 - with the National League teams hosting a group-stage tie against each of the four Premier League 2 sides in their group.

The top two finishers in each of the four groups will qualify for the quarter-finals. West Ham have been drawn in Group D alongside National League clubs Braintree Town, Dagenham & Redbridge, Ebbsfleet United and Sutton United, as well as fellow Premier League 2 sides Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and West Bromwich Albion.

Opposition…

Following a three-year stint in League Two, Sutton United were relegated to the National League last season. Now back in the fifth tier, the Us are just two points off the play-off places halfway through the season.

Sutton began their National League Cup campaign with a convincing 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur, with goals from Lewis Simper, Shaun Williams and Harry Ransom sealing all three points. Since then, Sutton advanced to the fourth round of the FA Trophy with a penalty shootout win over Ebbsfleet United, before making two lengthy away trips to Halifax and Altrincham in which they failed to score with only one point to show for their efforts.

The Story So Far…

West Ham United U21s come into this fixture encouraged by a 3-1 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach II in the Premier League International Cup, breaking their recent losing streak.

Considering only the top two progress to the knockout stages and with Sutton United and Braintree on maximum points, the young Hammers must get a positive result if they are to keep their National League Cup hopes alive.

National League Cup Group D