Liam Manning
West Ham’s under 23s were beaten 1-0 by Liverpool at the Chigwell Construction Stadium last night to leave them second off bottom in the 12 team League.
With numerous players missing via injury or because of them being on duty with the first team squad the inexperienced team fell to a goal 13 minutes from time.
Now they face a battle over the last games to remain in the League to which they were promoted a couple of seasons back.
But with Declan Rice and Grady Diangana having broken into the first squad and Nathan Holland, Xande Silva, Dan Kemp and Connor Coventry close, it has been a hugely productive 24 months.
A poor run of form interrupted by a 5-1 win over Manchester City the heat is on the squad to survive after managing just a couple of wins in their last 10 games.
They face Blackburn – hoping to achieve a double on March 4, before heading into games against Swansea (a), Leicester City (h), Derby County (a) and Everton (h).
And coach Liam Manning said: “One hundred per cent it’s about staying up and we go into every game wanting to win it.
“Obviously it’s about development, but the business that they’re in is going out to win. We’ve got to get results and staying in the league, so it’s great in that result that they’re playing under the pressure of needing to stay in the league.
“Sometimes when you’re mid-table, you don’t have that, so it’s good from that point of view. Picking up points is hugely important.”
With players coming back from injury perhaps it is time for some of teh younger players who have been on the bench or training with the first team to get some game time for the U23’s