Regan Clayton was left with mixed emotions following West Ham United U21s’ 2-2 draw with Blackburn Rovers but feels the side can take a lot of pride in their performance.
The young Irons put on one of their best showings of the 2022/23 season so far with a mature effort away to Rovers, only for the home side to take a two-goal advantage in a 90-second spell in the second half through Harry Leonard and Dillan Markanday.
The Hammers got back into the game when Clayton’s low cross was turned in by Callum Marshall on 83 minutes before the wing-back got on the scoresheet himself, powering in at the near post following an excellent team move.
“One point from this game is good but I feel like we could have got all three,” Clayton told whufc.com. “We had the chances. I had chances myself and Pierre Ekwah hit the bar, and we could have been out of sight in the first half.
“We did really well to get back into the game. The second goal we conceded was stupid and we were frustrated with the first one as well, but we did really well to get back into it and get something from the game.
“We can take a lot of pride in the performance. The last three or four games, we’ve picked up our form individually and as a team. It’s just about trying to get the results on top of that now. We just need that last little bit in the final third, which will come with a little more work on the training ground. We’re moving in the right direction for sure.”
With a switch to a three-man defence and wing-backs, Clayton has found himself playing a role he became accustomed to in the U18s last season, and the 17-year-old is relishing the responsibility that comes with his position in the team.
Clayton was thrilled to get a goal to cap his own performance after the assist for Marshall minutes before.
He continued: “There’s more of a tactical element to this formation. I have to really think about when I go forward, when I stay, and there’s more running overall too. But I really like that. I’m enjoying the role I’m playing.
“It’s nice to get the goal. I could have scored twice or maybe even three goals today, and perhaps I should have. But it’s good to get that one and help the team to get something from the game. To get an assist is great too so, from that angle, it was a good game and I’m happy with how I played.”
Having forced their way back into Saturday’s match, Clayton believes the U21s can take a number of positives into their coming contests in all competitions.
“A result and performance like that properly builds confidence and self-belief. We were two goals down, undeservedly, and we were able to get back into it.
“All the boys can take a lot from this and we can take this feeling into Tuesday’s game with Cheltenham Town. We know a win puts us through in the Papa Johns Trophy, which would be great, and then we can continue to build on it in the league as well.”
