WEST HAM UNITED
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Collectables through the Decade
A Pictorial History
2020-21 Premier League 2 (Division One)
Manager: Dimitri Halajko
The 2020-21 Premier League 2 is the fifth year of the new top tier of the Professional Development League. It was rebranded from the previous Under-21 Premier League in 2016, with the age range changed from Under-21 to Under-23. Clubs are also still permitted to field three 'over-age' outfield players and one 'over-age' goalkeeper. The match calendar is set to be fixed at the start of the season with no movement to match rounds permitted; clubs will only be permitted flexibility regarding on which weekend day (Friday to Monday) the game will be played.
The league remains split into two, with both West Ham United and Manchester United promoted to the top division. They replace Wolverhampton Wanderers who were relegated from Division 1. Burnley, Crystal Palace and Leeds United all earned Category One status in the summer of 2020 and join Divison Two for this season. Swansea City have dropped out as they leave Category One status. Chelsea are the defending Division 1 champions, awarded the title on points per game after the league was curtailed due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.
Promotion and relegation of two teams will apply once again this season. The teams finishing 12th and 13th in Division 1 will be relegated, while the team finishing top of Division 2 will be automatically promoted. Those teams finishing second, third, fourth and fifth in Division 2 will compete in a promotion playoff.
SOUTHEND UNITED : EFL TOPHY (Group A)
Roots Hall
3 - 1 (Odubeko 2, Coventry)
8 September 2020
Anang
Baptiste
Afolayan (Rosa)
Ashley
Akinola
Dju (Cardosa)
Ashby
Coventry
Adarkwa
Longelo
Odubeko
The young Hammers’ season curtain-raiser, on the face of it, was a challenging one, with a trip to League Two side Southend who were looking to bounce back from the disappointment of relegation last season.
The performance West Ham produced, however, was exciting, mature, and buoyed by three wondergoals – the opener coming from the boot of 17-year-old striker Ademipo Odubeko, who rocketed in a low shot from 30 yards after just two minutes played.
Ten minutes later, the Shrimpers drew level through a top-corner Stephen Humphrys strike from distance, and had the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot prior for half-time. Joseph Anang produced a magnificent stop high to his right to keep the scores even at the interval.
West Ham pressed forwards in the second half but were denied by some last-ditch defending yet, with six minutes to go, it was Odubeko again with a moment of inspiration, smashing home the ball from the edge of the ‘D’ in a strike of real venom.
As the game ticked over into injury time, captain Conor Coventry lobbed the Southend ‘keeper on the volley to secure a 3-1 win and with it, all three points.
CHELSEA
Kingsmeadow
0 - 1
14 September 2020
Anang
Greenidge (Chesters)
Longelo
Ashley
Akinola
Cardoso
Dju
Rosa (Watson)
Adarkwa
Lewis
Afolayan
Dmitri Halajko was in ambivalent mood after his first-ever Premier League 2 loss as West Ham United Under-23s lead coach on Monday afternoon.
Having gone the season unbeaten on the way to winning last season’s Division 2 title, the Hammers faced the toughest possible test on the opening day of 2020/21: a trip to the home of Division 1 champions Chelsea, also unbeaten last year.
That Halajko’s side came away full value for a draw, and arguably a win, at Kingsmeadow was testament to the collective work rate and quality in their performance.
As it was, with West Ham having missed a number of presentable opportunities throughout the 90 minutes, Dion Rankine’s 76th-minute finish was enough to win Chelsea the three points on the day.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Tottenham Training Ground
0 - 3
18 September 2020
Anang
Ashby
Longelo
Coventry
Baptiste
Alese (Cardoso)
Dju (Chesters)
Rosa (Ashley)
Adarkwa
Lewis
Afolayan
West Ham United Under-23s suffered a 3-0 loss at Tottenham Hotspur U23s on Monday afternoon, but the end result arguably did not reflect the balance of play in the match.
Looking to bounce back from their opening-day defeat to last season’s champions Chelsea, the U23s made a bright start at their hosts’ training ground, almost going ahead inside the opening minutes through Harrison Ashby.
The Irons continued to create presentable opportunities but, after conceding from a quick free-kick early in the second half, were twice picked off in the closing stages as they committed bodies forward in search of an equaliser.
SOUTHAMPTON
Staplewood
2 - 2 (Afolayan, Coventry [pen])
26 September 2020
Anang
Akinola
Longelo
Coventry
Baptiste
Cardoso
Afolayan
Ashley
Adarkwa (Dju)
Lewis
Silva (Rosa)
The Hammers went into their third Premier League 2 game of the season determined to build on some strong displays and make their chances count, a factor which Halajko had identified as critical in their two losses thus far.
They made a slow start, however, at Staplewood Training Ground, and fell behind when Dan N’Lundulu evaded several challenges to fire Southampton in front after just ten minutes played.
The home team continued to fashion openings as West Ham toiled, and doubled their advantage just after the interval when N’Lundulu slotted home from the penalty spot after Josh Sims was felled close to goal.
Yet Halajko’s development squad rallied and hit back almost immediately through Oladapo Afolayan, who took his chance clinically from a long ball, before pulling back onto level terms with just three minutes remaining when the ball struck a Southampton hand inside the area – skipper Conor Coventry converting the penalty. The result ensured the Hammers recorded their first Premier League 2 Division 1 point of the season.
COLCHESTER UNITED : EFL Cup (Group A)
Jobserve Community Centre
1 - 0 (Coventry)
29 September 2020
Anang
Akinola
Baptiste
Cardoso (Ashley)
Longelo
Coventry
Lewis
Rose
Chesters (Adarkwa)
Dju
Afolayan
West Ham United Under-21s lead coach Dmitri Halajko was impressed by the maturity his side showed on the ball during the young Hammers’ 1-0 win over Colchester United. The development squad stand on the verge of qualification from the EFL Trophy group stages for the first time since 2017-18 after a display of real maturity at the JobServe Community Stadium.
Racking up 54 per cent possession on the road, while limiting their League Two hosts to just a single shot on target, the young Hammers played some intricate football to cut through on numerous occasions. When the killer final ball did arrive, it did so in some style, captain Conor Coventry enjoying time to take aim and blast the ball into the top corner from 30 yards.
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
Rush Green
2 - 3 (Coventry [pen], Dju)
3 October 2020
Anang
Ashby
Longelo
Coventry
Baptiste
Alese
Chesters
Rose (Ashley)
Dju (Adarkwa)
Lewis
Afolayan
West Ham United Under-23s lead coach Dmitri Halajko admitted his players were ‘frustrated’ and ‘disappointed’ to see another Premier League 2 game slip by, but backs them to turn around their league form.
The Irons’ display against Brighton & Hove Albion was once again largely encouraging, which Halajko praised, but a late lapse in concentration allowed visiting winger Jose Izquierdo to plunder an 87th-minute winner.
Prior to that, the Hammers had enjoyed much the better of the chances, recovering from an early goal to lead 2-1 in the first half via a tap-in from Mesaque Dju and a penalty converted by Conor Coventry.
A freak West Ham own goal left the scorelines level at half-time, but Halajko’s team continued to improve in the second half, attacking with intent and coming close on numerous occasions, only to slip to defeat via Izquiero’s late lob.
BLACKBURN ROVERS
Rush Green
0 - 0
23 October 2020
Anang
Ashby
Johnson
Coventry
Baptiste
Alese (Greenidge)
Ashley (Simon-Swyer)
Rosa
Adarkwa
Lewis
Afolayan
West Ham United Under-23s played out a rare goalless draw with Blackburn Rovers Under-23s on Friday afternoon at Rush Green Stadium.
Chances were well and truly at a premium prior to the interval, with minimal openings in a stop-start half which saw three enforced substitutions and no fewer than 12 minutes of added time before the break.
Disruptions continued in the second half as both teams picked up knocks in a combative encounter, but despite creating two clear openings for Sean Adarkwa and U23s debutant Kamarai Swyer, the Hammers were forced to settle for a point against well-drilled visitors.
The 0-0 draw saw lead coach Dmitri Halajko’s side record their first clean sheet of the Premier League 2 season, a positive aspect from a fairly toothless match offensively for both teams.
DERBY COUNTY
Loughborough University Stadium
2 - 3 (Afolayan, Coventry)
2 November 2020
Anang
Ashby
Greenidge (Corbett)
Coventry
Okotcha
Baptiste
Chesters (Dju)
Lewis
Adarkwa
Simon-Swyer
Afolayan
Going into the game seeking their first Premier League 2 win of the campaign, the Hammers’ development squad did their cause no favours after barely two minutes had been played at Loughborough University Stadium, Jack Stretton profiting from loose passing at the back to fire home the opening goal.
An end-to-end first half saw both teams exchange chances before Stretton burst in behind the West Ham backline to double Derby’s advantage with a low finish prior to half-time.
West Ham came out after the break with a renewed intensity and vigour to their play, creating several presentable opportunities, but were unable to prevent Stretton from completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot with just under quarter-of-an-hour to play.
They did, however, ultimately get the goals their chances deserved, the first arriving moments later when captain Conor Coventry’s curling cross nestled into the far corner.
Despite the renewed hope that Oladapo Afolayan’s 85th-minute poacher’s goal then gave the Hammers, they could not muster up the equaliser required to prevent a fourth defeat from six league games thus far.
LIVERPOOL
Rush Green
2 - 4 (Afolayan, Dju)
6 November 2020
Anang
Ashby (Okotcha)
Longelo
Coventry
Greenidge
Baptiste
Dju (Adarkwa) (Jinadu)
Appiah-Forson
Afolayan
Lewis
Simon-Swyer
West Ham United Under-23s defender Josh Okotcha and his teammates performed with no shortage of application against Liverpool Under-23s on Friday afternoon, but still came away from Rush Green Stadium with a 4-2 loss against the Reds.
Having recovered from an early concession to deservedly lead 2-1 at half-time through Oladapo Afolyan and Mesaque Dju, the Hammers had hoped to kick on in the second half, but conceded twice in the early stages of the half before Liverpool wrapped the points up in injury time.
A red card to goalkeeper Joseph Anang was a further blow to the young Hammers, who still went to create a number of presentable opportunities to equalise, only to come up against at Liverpool goalkeeper in fine form in Caoimhín Kelleher.
PORTSMOUTH : EFL Cup (Group A)
Fratton Park
1 - 0 (Corbett)
10 November 2020
Trott
Johnson
Okotcha
Greenidge
Longelo (Chesters)
Rosa (Forbes)
Appiah-Forson
Lewis
Corbett
Afolayan
Simon-Swyer (Adarkwa)
Pompey went into the game having won the last two editions of the tournament and having not lost a game in the competition within 90 minutes in 1,036 days; with last season’s final still to be played, the last team to defeat them were Chelsea U21s in January 2018.
With both sides having already secured progression to the knockout stages, both teas had the opportunity at Fratton Park to secure top spot in Group A of the southern section and therefore guarantee a seeded home draw in the first knockout round.
It didn’t take long for West Ham U21s to pull ahead, however. After just four minutes, Kai Corbett sweeped in Emmanuel Longelo’s excellent pull-back to put the Hammers in the lead.
What followed was a composed, mature and resolute cup performance, with West Ham restricting a Portsmouth side of various experiences to just two clear chances; the first requiring a fine Nathan Trott save with his feet, the second a hooked volley which narrowly cleared the bar.
Lead coach Dmitri Halajko was therefore delighted to see his side put in such a sturdy performance against high-profile opposition, coming away with a result in the process.
LEICESTER CITY
King Power Stadium
1 - 2 (Afolayan [pen])
23 November 2020
Trott
Rosa
Longelo
Appiah-Forson (Adarkwa)
Baptiste
Cardosa (Okotcha)
Chesters
Lewis
Afolayan
Simon-Swyer (Fevrier)
Corbett
The match – elevated in occasion by its location at the King Power Stadium – proved a dramatic one from the off, with Leicester having a man sent off for a thunderous tackle when just ten minutes were on the clock.
The Foxes fielded an experienced line-up, however, and it was a bonafide first-team player – Demarai Gray – whose individual quality put them ahead after 22 minutes with an incisive run and cool finish.
The Hammers largely dominated the second half, drawing level through Oladapo Afolayan’s penalty kick and twice striking the woodwork, but Gray settled the match late on as another solo run and powerful shot tipped the balance in Leicester’s favour.
Despite the loss, one positive came in the form of promising Academy of Football prospect Fevrier, for whom a second-half appearance was his first at Premier League 2 level for just over two years.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Rush Green
2 - 0 (Afolayen [pen], Fish [og])
27 November 2020
Trott
Rosa
Longelo
Appiah-Forson
Baptiste
Cardosa
Fevrier
Lewis
Corbett
Afolayan
Chesters
The young Hammers have forced into having some harsh lessons in the division to this point, but applied the benefit of all those experiences to see off the Red Devils in east London.
The U23s took the lead with 32 minutes gone when forward Oladapo Afolayan pressured Manchester United defender Will Fish into inadvertently turning Dan Chesters’ pull-back into his own net.
If that intervention had denied Afolayan a goal, he was not dissuaded; Chesters’ slaloming run just 20 seconds after the second half had kicked off saw the winger brought down, and Afolayan coolly stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot to double his side’s advantage.
West Ham had to dig in at times to contend with waves of visiting attackers, but stuck to their tasks admirably and closed out the remaining minutes with a degree of comfort.
Jubilant celebrations at full-time reflected not just the importance of the result but the wider collective graft which lay behind it, and the No10 was keen to reassert that this first league win of the season was just the beginning for West Ham’s U23s in 2020/21.
PETERBOROUGH UNITED : EFL Cup (Round 2)
Weston Homes Stadium
0 - 3
8 December 2020
Trott
Rosa (Chesters)
Longelo
Appiah-Forson
Baptiste
Cardosa
Dawson
Lewis
Yarmolenko
Afolayan
Holland (Fevrier)
A spirited effort, that, from the young Hammers, who fought tooth and nail during that match and can be proud of leaving everything out on the pitch. The first half was largely even, but the hosts' senior Football League experience told in the second period as they proved more clinical with the chances they had, progressing into the third round.
West Ham can look back on their 2020-21 Papa John's Trophy campaign with a degree of pride, however - they recorded three brilliant results in the group stages and pushed a League One team hard tonight. It's all valuable development experience which will benefit the youngsters hugely in their future careers ahead.
EVERTON
Pure Stadium, Southport FC
1 - 2 (Appiah-Forson)
14 December 2020
Trott
Chesters
Fevrier
Appiah-Forson
Okotcha
Baptiste
Corbett
Ashley (Simon-Swyer)
Adarkwa
Lewis
Holland (Caiger)
West Ham United Under-23s lead coach Dmitri Halajko was pleased with his side’s dominance, despite their 2-1 defeat at Everton.
Despite enjoying the better chances inside the opening 20 minutes, individual errors proved costly in allowing the Toffees to establish a 2-0 lead.
West Ham pulled one back shortly after when Keenan Forson slammed home from Kai Corbett’s lay-off inside the box, but despite dominating the ball and the flow of chances from thereon out, luck ultimately evaded the team in Claret and Blue.
Good saves from Everton’s goalkeeper, good shouts for penalty kicks and plenty of near-misses ensued, meaning that despite the loss, Halajko believes his young players can take plenty of positives away from their trip to Southport.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Rush Green
1 - 2 (Fevrier)
22 January 2021
Anang
Caiger
Longelo
Appiah-Forson
Alves
Baptiste
Fevrier
Corbett
Afolayan (Potts)
Chesters
Simon-Swyer
West Ham United U23s lead coach Dmitri Halajko was pleased to see his players return to competitive match action during Friday evening’s defeat to Tottenham Hotspur U23s.
Following precautionary measures taken by the Academy of Football, the Premier League 2 match arrived over a month after the young Hammers' previous fixture – the 2-1 defeat away at Everton on Monday 14 December 2020 – with training only resumed earlier this month.
As a result, the U23s had enjoyed less time to get back up-to-speed than Friday’s visitors, but went toe-to-toe with Spurs in a first half which was keenly contested, if light on chances.
Midway through the second period, however, Tottenham struck twice in quick succession, with substitute J’Neil Bennett sliding in a cross with his first touch of the ball before netting a deflected shot just three minutes later.
West Ham rallied and pulled one back through Jayden Fevrier with seven minutes to go – the winger collecting a pass from Sam Caiger before cutting inside and crashing a shot in off the woodwork – but it was not to be their day in the end.
SOUTHAMPTON
Rush Green
3 - 1 (Odubeko 2, Chesters)
29 January 2021
Anang
Baptiste
Alese (Caiger)
Coventry
Alves
Reid (Corbett)
Chesters
Appiah-Forson
Odubeko (Adarkwa)
Afolayan
Longelo
A massive win for Dmitri Halajko's side who held on well in dismal conditions. A Ademipo Odubeko brace had put the Hammers well on their way to three points before Kazeem Olaigbe got a goal back for Southampton in the second period.
The Irons rallied through Dan Chesters, who restored the home side's two goal advantage after 69 minutes and it was all guts and determination after that.
The Hammers have claimed only their second win of the season to move within three points of 11th-placed Southampton.
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
Amex Elite Performance Centre
1 - 6 (Odubeko)
5 February 2021
Anang
Scarlett (Fevrier)
Longelo
Coventry
Alves
Baptiste
Chesters
Appiah-Forson
Odubeko
Simon-Swyer (Okotcha)
Adarkwa (Corbett)
Six different goalscorers helped Brighton & Hove Albion end a five-match winless Division 1 run with victory over 10-man West Ham United.
Antef Tsoungui, Teddy Jenks, Evan Ferguson, Danny Cashman, Reda Khadra and Lars Dendoncker, the brother of Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Leander, struck to give interim managers Andrew Crofts and Shannon Ruth a perfect start.
Brighton's task was made easier when Frederik Alves was sent off for bringing down Cashman when through on goal after only eight minutes.
Ademipo Odubeko gave West Ham hope when he made it 3-1, but the Hammers stay bottom, seven points from safety.
BLACKBURN ROVERS
Leyland County Ground
1 - 4 (Appiah-Forson)
19 February 2021
Anang
Chesters
Longelo
Coventry
Okotcha
Baptiste
Corbett
Appiah-Forson
Adarkwa
Ashley (Dju)
Holland (Fevrier)
For the second Premier League 2 game in succession, the Irons were on the wrong end of a heavy defeat away from home, losing out 4-1 at the Lancashire FA County Ground.
At half-time, such a scoreline would have been unfathomable, with the Hammers having the better of the first 45 minutes despite conceding to Connor McBride’s penalty kick.
Opportunities came and went – with Nathan Holland in particular having three good efforts all well-saved by Blackburn ‘keeper Antonis Stergiakis.
And Blackburn duly made them pay in the second half, McBride netting from close range three minutes after the restart before two late goals – the first an Emmanuel Longelo own-goal, the second a Luke Brennan tap-in – rendered Keenan Forson’s deflected drive without consequence.
DERBY COUNTY
Rush Green
0 - 0
26 February 2021
Anang
Chesters
Longelo
Coventry
Alves
Okotcha
Corbett
Appiah-Forson
Adarkwa (Dju)
Ashley (Trialist)
Holland (Fevrier)
Bottom club West Ham United arrested a run of two straight defeats as they held Derby County to a goalless draw in Division 1.
The Rams move up a place to sixth, 10 points behind leaders Manchester City.
MANCHESTER CITY
City Football Academy
0 - 5
8 March 2021
Anang
Rosa (Ashley)
Longelo
Potts
Alves
Okotcha
Fevrier (Corbett)
Coventry
Adarkwa (Dju)
Appiah-Forson
Chesters
Cole Palmer scored a hat-trick as leaders Manchester City beat West Ham United to earn a fifth consecutive Division 1 win and stay five points clear of Blackburn Rovers.
October Premier League 2 Player of the Month Palmer now has eight league goals in 2020-21, while Tommy Doyle provided three assists for the impressive hosts.
LIVERPOOL
Liverpool Academy
1 - 1 (Corbett)
13 March 2021
Anang
Rosa
Longelo
Caiger
Potts
Baptiste
Chesters
Appiah-Forson
Corbett
Ashley (Okotcha)
Fevrier
Conor Bradley scored for Liverpool to help earn them a 1-1 draw against West Ham United in Premier League 2 Division 1.
West Ham took the lead on 14 minutes through Kai Corbett, but Liverpool responded five minutes before the break when Bradley drilled in a low strike.
Liverpool remain eighth on 24 points, while West Ham stay bottom with 10 points.
LEICESTER CITY
Rush Green
3 - 1 (Appiah-Forson, Coventry, Potts)
19 March 2021
Anang
Rosa
Masuaku (Chesters)
Potts
Alves
Baptiste
Yarmolenko (Holland)
Coventry
Odubeko (Corbett)
Appiah-Forson
Longelo
Freddie Potts, Keenan Appiah-Forson and Conor Coventry were on target as bottom side West Ham United secured a vital 3-1 home win over relegation rivals Leicester City.
West Ham's third victory of the season takes them four points behind the 11th-placed Foxes, and therefore four points from safety, with a match in hand over them.
CHELSEA
Rush Green
1 - 1 (Corbett)
6 April 2021
Anang
Rosa
Longelo
Potts
Alves
Baptiste
Corbett
Coventry
Odubeko
Appiah-Forson
Holland (Dju)
A late change to the teamsheet sees Darren Randolph replaced by Joseph Anang in goal, with Krisztian Hegyi taking Anang's place on the bench.
George McEachran's penalty secured a point as Chelsea moved up to fourth in Division 1 with a 1-1 draw at West Ham United.
Kai Corbett swept home the opener on 55 minutes for West Ham, who are now unbeaten in three matches but remain bottom on 14 points.
TEAM CHANGES:
Due to a last-minute team change, West Ham goalkeeper DARREN RANDOLPH was due to play, in the event JOSEPH ANANG eventually took over between the sticks. But not before two earlier team sheets were issued naming ANANG (13) and then KRISTZIAN HEGYI (13) as Randolph's original substitutes.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Leigh Sports Village
3 - 2 (Odubeko 3)
9 April 2021
Anang
Rosa (Laing)
Longelo
Potts
Alves
Baptiste
Corbett
Coventry
Odubeko
Appiah-Forson
Dju (Diallo)
A second-half hat-trick from Ademipo Odubeko, including a stoppage-time winner, boosted West Ham United's hopes of avoiding relegation from Division 1 as they came from 2-0 down to beat Manchester United.
EVERTON
Rush Green
2 - 1 (Odubeko 2)
19 April 2021
Randolph
Fredericks
Rosa
Coventry
Alves
Balbuena
Corbett
Potts
Odubeko
Lanzini
Diallo
A second-half brace from Ademipo Odubeko extended West Ham United's unbeaten Division 1 run to five matches as they came from behind to beat Everton. Everton had taken an 11th-minute lead through Josh Bowler's penalty. But Ryan Fredericks set up Odubeko's first goal before West Ham's striker won and converted a penalty of his own.
The win lifts the Hammers three points above Leicester City, who occupy the final relegation place and have a match in hand. Everton are seventh, nine points better off than West Ham.
TEAM CHANGE:
Due to a last-minute team change, West Ham defender EMMANUEL LONGELO No.3 was injured in the warm-up.
He was subsequently replaced by BERNARDO ROSA No. 15 leaving the Hammers' with only 4 subs.
MANCHESTER CITY
Rush Green
0 - 1
23 April 2021
Anang
Rosa
Longelo (Greenidge)
Coventry
Alves
Baptiste
Corbett
Potts (Simon-Swyer)
Odubeko
Appiah-Forson
Diallo
West Ham United U23s lead coach Dmitri Halajko could have no complaints about the magnitude of the effort his side put into Friday afternoon’s defeat against Manchester City U23s.
The newly-crowned Premier League 2 Division 1 champions visited the Hammers’ Rush Green Stadium in impressive form, but the young Hammers could consider themselves ultimately unfortunate to have lost the game after putting in a strong overall display.
Felix Nmecha’s seventh-minute penalty kick ultimately proved the difference on the day, with Liam Delap missing a spot-kick for Manchester City midway through the second half.
Despite West Ham’s U23s giving every ounce of effort they had, working hard to close down space and shut down City’s signature passing game, the full-time whistle eventually sounded on their first defeat in six league matches.
ARSENAL
Meadow Park Stadium
2 - 1 (Coventry [pen], Odubeko [pen])
1 May 2021
Anang
Appiah-Forson (Rosa)
Longelo (Greenidge)
Coventry
Alves
Baptiste
Corbett
Ekwah
Odubeko
Simon-Swyer
Holland (Dju)
When the full-time whistle sounded at Meadow Park on Saturday afternoon, the sense of relief was palpable.
For all of West Ham United U23s’ domination of Arsenal U23s over the entire match, it wasn’t until the 86th minute that they had retaken the lead when Mipo Odubeko’s venomous penalty kick restored their earlier advantage.
The two teams had traded quickfire penalties late on in the first half – Conor Coventry’s in the 31st minute for West Ham being quickly cancelled out by Nikolaj Moller’s for Arsenal mere moments later – but a scoreline of 1-1 was not set to reflect the ensuing game.
The Hammers played with commitment, energy and industry, creating opportunities to shoot no fewer than 23 times, with 12 of those on target – a stark contrast to Arsenal’s six and one respectively.
The 2-1 win moves eleventh-placed West Ham to within two points of Arsenal in tenth, while also pushing the Hammers’ U23s to two points ahead of relegation rivals Leicester City U23s, who have a game in hand.
ARSENAL
Rush Green
2 - 2 (Ekwah, Odubeko)
7 May 2021
Trott
Rosa
Longelo
Coventry
Alves
Baptiste
Yarmolenko
Trialist
Odubeko
Simon-Swyer (Corbett)
Holland (Appiah-Forson)
Kido Taylor-Hart scored a stoppage-time equaliser to secure Arsenal's Division 1 status and leave West Ham United's in peril.
With both sides lying inside the bottom four and playing their final match, Arsenal needed a point to stay above West Ham and clear of the bottom two.
The Gunners trailed 1-0 in the 74th minute, but Nikolaj Moller equalised with a penalty. West Ham regained the lead in the 87th minute, but Taylor-Hart replied at the death.
This result left Dmitri Halajko’s two points above the bottom two and will be relegated if Leicester City win their final match at home against eighth-placed Liverpool on Monday.
As a result of Liverpool’s 2-0 win in the Midlands, West Ham have finished ahead of Leicester in the Premier League 2 table, meaning that the Academy of Football side’s place in Division 1 for next season has been confirmed.
