Brighton & Hove Albion U21s v West Ham United U21s
Premier League 2, Amex Academy Performance Centre, Friday 15 March 2024, 7pm GMT
West Ham United U21s continue their Premier League 2 campaign away to Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday evening.
The young Hammers are currently second in the standings, having lost just three of their 16 league fixtures in 2023/24.
Steve Potts’ side will hope to repeat the feat of a 2-1 victory over the Seagulls last month, which booked a place in the Premier League International Cup semi-finals.
Read on for our full preview below...
How To Follow...
A live blog will be available on the Club’s website and app, while a match report and reaction will follow shortly after the full-time whistle.
Premier League 2 explained...
The competition has a new format this season, with one division made up of 26 clubs with Category One Academies. Each team will play 20 regular season fixtures, after which the top 16 teams will qualify for a single elimination play-off.
In addition, the teams finishing the regular season in the top 12 will be invited to take part in next season’s Premier League International Cup.
Opposition…
Should a similar meeting be played on Friday as the one between the two sides in east London last month, then there will be little between them on the south coast.
An even fixture back in February – one settled by Lewis Orford’s extra-time winner – saw West Ham and Brighton go toe-to-toe in a pulsating Premier League International Cup tie at Rush Green Stadium.
While the Hammers edged that clash, Brighton have plenty of reason to be confident as they play hosts this time around, and look for revenge.
The Seagulls have won eight of their PL2 matches this season and also reached the quarter-finals of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, where, like the Irons, they exited to finalists Wycombe Wanderers.
Player to watch Mark O’Mahony has scored nine goals in ten PL2 matches this season.
Coach’s View…
Steve Potts has challenged his side to make a quick return to winning ways following the disappointment of a third PL2 defeat in 2023/24 last time out.
The young Hammers fell 3-0 to Fulham but will hope to add to their tally of ten league wins against Brighton.
Potts insists his side will be determined to repeat their heroics against the Seagulls in the Premier League International Cup, and quickly move on from their showing against Fulham, when they make the trip south on Friday.
“I thought we had a really good period in the second half against Fulham,” Potts reflected. “But you’ve got to keep the ball out of the net at the other end to win games at this level.
“They were very bright, and we didn’t quite get our defensive stuff right across all parts of the game.
“When you have to overcome an early two-goal deficit, it’s difficult because you are up against it. But I’m still positive about parts of the game against Fulham [to take into the Brighton game], and we'll do our best to bounce back.”
Story So Far…
The U21s are currently two points behind leaders Tottenham Hotspur, although those in Claret and Blue have played two more games than their north London rivals.
The Hammers fell to only their third defeat of the league season last time out, as Fulham prevailed by a 3-0 scoreline in east London.
Confidence, though, should still be high, with Potts’ side beating Brighton in their last meeting 2-1 after Ollie Scarles and Lewis Orford found the net.
