West Ham United U21s 1-3 Leicester City U21s
Premier League 2, Rush Green Stadium, Friday 26 April 2024, 7pm GMT
West Ham United U21s secured second place in Premier League 2 and a high seeding for the knockout stages, despite falling to their fourth league defeat of the season at home to Leicester City on Friday night.
Kamarai Swyer gave the young Hammers hope of an inspired comeback, but overturning three Leicester City goals in the first half proved too tall a task for the U21s.
Chris Popov, Sammy Braybrooke, and Will Alves were all on the scoresheet in the first 33 minutes as the Foxes ran riot in east London.
West Ham had chances in the first half, with Lewis Orford and Callum Marshall going close, although recording a fourth PL2 win on the bounce was always unlikely after a disappointing first half an hour.
In response, the young U21s, with three U18s starting the fixture, attacked the second half and saw Swyer head home Sean Moore’s corner from six yards out to give Steve Potts’ outfit a fighting chance.
Chances followed to cut Leicester’s lead as Emeka Adiele forced a good save from Brad Young, Patrick Kelly headed wide from close range, and Josh Ajala saw his goal-bound effort bundled off the line by the visiting goalkeeper.
Defeat will disappoint the young Irons, who have set such high standards this season, and they will be keen to bounce back in the knockouts, which take place throughout May.
While West Ham have played their final fixture of the regular season, details of our last 16 tie will be confirmed next week after the remaining matches have been played on Monday night.
West Ham United U21s: Knightbridge, Moore (Appiah-Forson 71), Tarima, Forbes © (Briggs 46), Mayers, Adiele, Kelly, Orford, Rigge (Ajala 73), Marshall, Swyer (Sowunmi 79)
Subs not used: Herrick (GK)
Goal: Swyer
Booked: Adiele, Orford
Hammers can push on in knockouts, says Potts
There has been little for Steve Potts to be disappointed by this season but the manner of the defeat to Leicester City – only the Hammers' fourth of the PL2 season – frustrated the lead coach.
West Ham struggled to keep pace with the flying foxes who found the net three times in the first 33 minutes, although the Irons can take some confidence from a positive response after the interval.
"We said at half-time that we didn't ask enough questions of their goalkeeper and we didn't defend well enough too," Potts said. "We gave ourselves a bit of a mountain to climb with those goals in the first half.
"But in the second half, we showed a great reaction to being down at the break and we got an early goal from Kamarai - and we were unlucky not to get a second and then you never know from that point on if you can get something from the game.
"We have a had a long season in the league and the boys have done well and normally that is the end of it, but now it goes into 16 teams in a cup competition and that is a different challenge for us.
"They have that added pressure now of knowing if you don't win you're out, but hopefully, we can get a few more games with that knockout feel and finish on a positive note."
Up Next
West Ham United U21s will play their Premier League 2 play-offs last 16 tie in the first week of May.
Details will follow on whufc.com next week.
