A Pictorial History
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES
WEST HAM UNITED
Steve Marsh & Stuart Allen
Copyright © 2020 All rights reserved
CHELSEA : Premier League 2
Anang
Greenidge (Chesters)
Longelo
Ashley
Akinola
Cardoso
Dju
Rosa (Watson)
Adarkwa
Lewis
Afolayan
Kingsmeadow
0 - 1
14 September 2020
2020-21 Premier League 2 (Division One)
Manager: Dimitri Halajko
SOUTHEND UNITED : EFL Trophy (Southern Section : 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
Following last season's curtailment of the Academy Games Programme due to the ongoing global pandemic. West Ham United U23s were confirmed as the Premier League 2 Division 2 Champions for the 2019-20 season and will compete in the Premier League 2 (Division One) and the EFL Trophy. Home games are scheduled to be played at Rush Green Stadium.
After three stunning strikes saw West Ham United U21s open their 2020-21 EFL Trophy campaign with three points against Southend United at Roots Hall.
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 and sporting a new manager to impress in Mark Molesley.
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 – on his first game back with the Under-23s – lobbed the Southend ‘keeper on the volley to secure a 3-1 win and with it, all three points.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : Premier League 2
Anang
Ashby
Longelo
Coventry
Baptiste
Alese (Cardoso)
Dju (Chesters)
Rosa (Ashley)
Adarkwa
Lewis
Afolayan
Tottenham Training Centre
0 - 3
18 September 2020
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.
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.
SOUTHAMPTON : Premier League 2
Anang
Akinola
Longelo
Coventry
Baptiste
Cardoso
Afolayan
Ashley
Adarkwa (Dju)
Lewis
Silva (Rosa)
Staplewood
2 - 2 (Afolayan, Coventry [pen])
26 September 2020
United Under-23s lead coach Dmitri Halajko has praised their reaction to adversity.
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, with three tough away fixtures played to open the campaign.
COLCHESTER UNITED : EFL Trophy (Southern Section : Group A)
Jobserve Community Stadium
1 - 0 (Coventry)
29 September 2020
Anang
Akinola
Baptiste
Cardoso (Ashley)
Longelo
Coventry
Lewis
Rose
Chesters (Adarkwa)
Dju
Afolayan
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION : Premier League 2
Anang
Ashby
Longelo
Coventry
Baptiste
Alese
Chesters
Rose (Ashley)
Dju (Adarkwa)
Lewis
Afolayan
Rush Green
2 - 3 (Coventry [pen], Dju)
3 October 2020
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.
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 : Premier League 2
A
Rush Green
? - ?
23 October 2020
