It may not have been pretty, but Krisztián Hegyi knows there was more to West Ham United U21s’ match on Sunday than the result.
While the young Hammers lost 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur, the low score-line meant the Irons were able to retain their status in Premier League 2 Division 1 on goal difference in a tense season finale.
The Hammers, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Spurs all finished the campaign on 28 points but Spurs would be relegated – finishing 13th in the 14-team league – on goal difference. The narrowest of margins in an immensely tight season.
“It’s weird to say, given we lost the game 1-0, but we’re delighted,” captain Hegyi told whufc.com. “It was a long 90 minutes with a lot of defending to do. Tottenham had a lot of the possession, especially in the first half.
“We obviously went a goal down early on but we did really well to keep it 1-0. It was really important that we kept our heads up, stayed solid, and continued to be positive, and we did that.”
Spurs took the lead on eight minutes through Jamie Donley in a first half that also saw the hosts hit the post and have an effort cleared off the line by Kaelan Casey.
West Ham would improve in the second, with George Earthy striking the woodwork, while Tottenham had substitute Kallum Cesay sent off following an altercation with Regan Clayton.
Hegyi was at his impressive best when the Irons needed him the most, making some exceptional saves to deny the hosts.
"We had our chances in the second half and we could have scored a goal or two, but the important thing is we stayed really compact at the back and, overall, it was a really tough game but we got the performance we needed,” he continued.
“I’m happy with my performance, and really happy that I could help the team. I feel like, for me, today was a better day.
“The saves were coming quite comfortably for me and, in the last couple of games, maybe they didn’t come in the way I would have liked them to. I felt like, in this game, I was able to help the team get the result we needed over the line.”
A host of excellent performances by the young development team throughout the campaign has the entire squad already excited for the new season.
Hegyi is eagerly an even more competitive team in the U21s next campaign.
“Our young players have done so well. It’s a big thing for us, that we have a lot of youngsters in our U21s squad, and that’s what it’s all about. It’s about the development and helping each other get to where we need to be in the U21s and then push into the first team.
“I think the coaches do an amazing job with us on that and it goes without saying that all the U18s who have been coming through are all really great lads. They’ve had a brilliant season at U18s level and hopefully that success comes over to the U21s next year.”
