Newport County v West Ham United U21s
EFL Trophy Southern Group H, Rodney Parade, Tuesday 17 September 2024, 7pm BST
West Ham United U21s return to action following the international break on Tuesday, travelling to South Wales to face League Two side Newport County in their second Southern Group H match of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.
While Mark Robson's young Hammers have enjoyed a flawless start to their Premier League 2 campaign with three consecutive wins, the pressure is on to secure a result at Rodney Parade.
After suffering defeats in their respective Southern Group H openers against Reading and Cheltenham Town respectively, both teams will be well aware of the importance of securing at least a point if they are to progress past the group stage.
Tickets...
Newport will be opening the Bisley Stand only for this game. Supporters can purchase tickets at the gate at Rodney Parade or supporters can purchase online via the link HERE.
| Category | Price |
| Adult | £12 |
| Senior | £10 |
| Under 18 | £8 |
How To Follow…
We will have a live blog on the Club website, with report, reaction, and highlights to follow after the final whistle.
Who else will we play in the EFL Trophy in 2024/25?
Following the match against Newport County, the U21s will conclude the group stage phase with a trip to League Two side Cheltenham Town on Tuesday 7 November.
As per competition rules, West Ham play all three Southern Group H matches away from home, with the top two in each of the 16 groups qualifying for the knockout stages.
Tuesday 19 August - Reading 3-1 West Ham United U21s
Tuesday 17 September - Newport County (A), 7pm
Tuesday 12 November - Cheltenham Town (A), 7.45pm
You can read more about the competition here.
Coach’s View…
With no fixture at the weekend, there has been ample time to welcome West Ham’s young internationals back into the fold. A Young Lions debut for U21s top goalscorer Josh Ajala was one of many highlights for Robson’s budding Hammers.
Robson exclaimed: “For Josh to break into the national set up is fantastic. He’s hit the ground running with us in the U21s setup and he’s got his due reward. Fingers crossed he continues to impress and earns another call-up in the next international break.”
Reflecting on the challenge of facing senior opposition, Robson is excited for the opportunity that the EFL Trophy offers.
He confirmed: “These games really test our players. You’re up against seasoned professionals, and that’s where our young lads can prove themselves. We’ve come out of these games with flying colours in previous seasons.
“It’s a great way to see where the team is at in terms of development. Physically, technically, and tactically, these are the games that truly push them. It’s a great challenge, and we want to showcase ourselves as a team."
Opposition…
Tuesday evening’s game will be Newport County’s third time hosting West Ham in the EFL Trophy since the introduction of Category One Academies to the competition in 2016. Following a memorable 5-4 victory in 2019 despite being 4-1 down at half-time, West Ham also got the better of their League Two opponents last season with a narrow 1-0 win thanks to a second-half strike from Gideon Kodua.
Now in their 12th consecutive season in League Two, Newport County have had a mixed start to their league campaign. A run of three consecutive victories were followed by successive heavy defeats to Port Vale and Swindon in September.
In their EFL Trophy opener against Cheltenham Town, Newport looked set for victory before a sending-off changed the course of the game, allowing Cheltenham to come from behind in the second half and secure all three points.
Having conceded eight goals in their last two outings, Exiles manager Nelson Jardim will be looking for a more disciplined performance and shore up his team’s defence against the young Hammers.
The Story So Far…
The U21s have got off to a great start in the Premier League 2 with three victories out of three, so will be looking to replicate that form against senior opposition.
Robson’s men currently sit bottom of their EFL Trophy group after one fixture and will be looking to put things right at Rodney Parade tomorrow night following a 3-1 defeat in their competition opener against League One outfit Reading.
Tuesday evening’s game at Rodney Parade marks the first of two matches this week for West Ham’s U21s, who will also travel to take on Newcastle United in Premier League 2 action on Friday. That game will take place at Blue Flames Sporting Club in Whitley Bay.
