By Jack Lebeau
Follow Jack on Twitter @JackLebeau66
West Ham U23s overcame an awful performance from the referee to beat League Two side Swindon 3-2 in the Checkatrade Trophy at the County Ground last night.
Goals from Samuelsen, Makasi and Kemp for West Ham settled the tie deservedly in West Ham’s favour with the Norwegian grabbing the first within six minutes, nicking the ball off the defender and rounding the keeper before slotting home from a couple of yards.
We went into the break 1-0 up but Swindon shortly made it 1-1 from the penalty spot. This was the start of the referee losing control over the game as Swindon were all set to take a free-kick on the edge of the box before the referee dubiously changed his mind to a penalty.
Within a minute of the goal, the West Ham fans effectively awarded our own side a free-kick after screaming at the referee for hand-ball when a Swindon player picked the ball up thinking the referee had awarded a throw-in despite the ball being dead still but perfectly on the line.
Makasi regained the lead for us just before the 75th minute after the ball fell to him about eight yards out and he slotted home easily into the bottom corner.
The lead didn’t last long though with Swindon rising high to head home and make it 2-2 but the lads refused to lie . down and allow the tie go to penalties and substitute Dan Kemp to make it 3-2 to the Hammers; slotting home from three yards after Martinez had hit the post.
Neufville saw red late on so youngsters finished the game with ten men. New signing Haksabanovic would have been Man of the Match based on the first half (very impressive) but he fell away in the second half a bit so that has to go to Samuelsen who was excellent through the middle tonight.
Makasi and Holland also had very noteworthy performances. All in all, it was an incredible game that we deserved to win and it was brilliant to see ourselves match up to the professionals.
Just proves some of the boys are ready to play for the first team as the Liverpool lad proved last night
Samulsun could offer just as much as Ayew plus 100% more effort
Haksabanovic as much as Noble
Let’s give youth a chance NOW
Well done boys, last season they really struggled against the League one and two teams so to win a match away despite some dubious refereeing bodes well for the future COYI !!!
If Samuelsen’s throat operation has improved his engine, he’s going to be some player.
It’s probably more to do with the body building weights programme they put him on in the summer. They knew he had to beef up to compete physically as well as technically. I hope he has finally arrived.
Markro is right – he had nodes in his throat and couldn’t get oxygen too well
Yes I wasn’t doubting it Hugh, I read that too. I’m sure it had an effect on him.
Samuelson was excellent and looked a cut above the rest, Haksabanovic isn’t premier league standard based on last night, pike and Holland had good games but not premier league at the moment. Great support from the travelling fans (compliment from Swindon fan). The lads played good football, well worth watching.
Encouraging but don’t get carried away. The interesting thing to me is that Rice, who does seem to have the best chance of breaking through, didn’t seem to attract the rave reviews of Oxford Samuelson etc.
Btw I think Oxford’s lot are being televised-Sunday 5pm ish? Assuming he is picked it might be worth a look. Am still hopeful he will break through, and Munchenwhatsit are no mugs so they must have seen something.
One win against Swindon and now Samuelsen and Habi can replace Ayew and Noble.Yes ok bubs.Seen so much of both to have this view have you? Or are you merely one of the fans who dont watch the youth players but shout out that they are Premier players or never watch the kids but shout out give youth a chance.
It does my head in.
Spot on bubs 👍 anyone could replace ayew and captain slow , anyone with half a brain can see that 👍👌
Anyone could? Shall we give it a go Laz 😂
😂😂 why not we could have terrorised the mancs on Sunday 😂, anyone got any leather studs for my boots 😂😂 and a lace for me football 😂😂
I more interested in seeing how the youngsters get on in Div1 of PL2 to gauge how they are coming along.They will be playing against some quality youngsters this season.
When i watched the kids at RG the season before last the step up to PL from that was massive imo.
I wouldn’t mind some of them playing in the PL matches & then people might stop banging on about them being PL players already.Read it all before with Dan Potts,George Moncur,Elliot Lee & others.Where are they now? 😁
Add Burke, Rice, Oxford and Cullen to Trott, Makasi, Samuelsen, Quina, Haksabanovic, Martinez, Holland, Fernandes, Obiang, Masuaku and Byram, you might be seeing the first choice team in a few years’ time.
Ah Rads & Laz make the lineup. But hang on, what’s this ? Bilic is sacked. Who will take over? I see a familiar podgy figure coming through the gates with an evil grin on his chops. ‘Right it’s the John Carew treatment for those two!’
But I agree on ‘the kids’. Bilic did give Oxford a go & Rice has made it into the side at only 18. I am not a Slav fan but he is no mug & there have been plenty of times in the last year when he would have given a kid a chance if he thought they had anything to offer. Most of the fans are not gonna slaughter you for it & if it ends badly just drop em for next game.