Chelsea U21s v West Ham United U21s
Premier League 2, Kingsmeadow Stadium, Friday 27 January, 7pm GMT
West Ham United U21s are back in Premier League 2 action with a trip to top-of-the-table Chelsea on Friday.
Mark Robson’s outfit started 2023 with a 2-1 win over Everton, although a 3-2 defeat to Manchester United followed in their second match of the new year.
The defeat to the Red Devils ended a run of four wins on the bounce in all competitions for the young Hammers, who seek a return to winning ways in a London derby.
Kick-off is set for 7pm on Friday 27 January at Kingsmeadow.
Tickets…
Tickets are available to purchase online for Friday’s Premier League 2 match away to Chelsea.
Adult fans can attend the match at Kingsmeadow for £5, while concessions are just £3.
Tickets for this match will go off sale online on Friday 27 January at 7pm. Tickets will also be available to purchase on matchday from the Kingsmeadow ticket office 2 hours prior to kick-off
Tickets to the game can be purchased at the link here.
Travel…
Fans are advised that there is no car parking available at Kingsmeadow.
The full address is Jack Goodchild Way, 422A Kingston Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 3PB, and the ground can be reached by public transport.
The nearest railway station is Norbiton, which is about a 15-minute walk away from the ground. The station is served by South West Rail with trains from London Waterloo via Clapham Junction and Wimbledon.
The No131 bus also stops directly opposite Kingsmeadow stadium.
You can download a Matchday Guide here.
How to follow…
Live match updates from the Premier League 2 match, as they occur, will be available through our live blog coverage at whufc.com. Our live blog coverage will begin an hour before kick-off, at 6pm.
Full highlights from the game, as well as reaction from lead coach Mark Robson and the squad, will be available on YouTube and the Club website on Friday evening and Saturday morning.
Team news...
Mark Robson will have a strong squad to select from for the trip to west London.
The young Irons will, however, be without France Under-20 international midfielder Pierre Ekwah, who joined Sunderland on a permanent deal earlier this month.
Goalkeeper Brian Kinnear has also joined Falkirk on loan, although Armstrong Okoflex and Dan Chesters, who made their return from their respective loans in this window and played against Manchester United last time out, could be involved for the U21s once more.
Opposition…
Chelsea currently sit top of the tree in Premier League 2 Division One, with eight wins from their first 15 fixtures in 2022/23. The current leaders have lost just twice in the league this season.
With five three-point hauls in their last six PL2 fixtures too, the Blues have continued their form at the end of 2022 as they head into the New Year. The title is well in their sights.
Key to that success has been Omari Hutchinson and Mason Barstow. Hutchinson has five goals and seven assists in 13 PL2 games - no Blues’ teammate has more, while Barstow has five goals and four assists in 2022/23.
And with the duo firing in front of goal, as it stands then, the Blues are one point clear of second-placed Manchester City, although the Citizens have a game in hand on the London-based side.
Of course, Mark Robinson, the head coach since May 2022, will look to continue that form as the Hammers head to east London. The boyhood Chelsea fan, who worked as part of AFC Wimbledon’s youth coaching set-up from 2004 and later took charge of the club’s first team for a 14-month spell too, will seek a repeat of Chelsea’s 1-0 win in the reverse fixture.
At Rush Green Stadium in October 2022, Chelsea saw Lewis Hall strike the only goal in a game the Blues finished with 10 men following Josh Brooking’s late red card.
The Hammers will hope for a change of fortunes in this London derby as they head to Kingsmeadow on Friday.
