Mark Robson says he expects more from his West Ham United U21s, both as individuals and as a team, following Saturday's 3-2 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion.
The young Irons are winless in Premier League 2 this season after a disappointing defeat at the hands of the Seagulls, who took a first-half lead through Andrew Moran.
While George Earthy levelled minutes later, with his first goal for the U21s, Luca Barrington poked in Brighton’s second in a disappointing opening 45 minutes for the visitors.
Pierre Ekwah scored from the penalty spot early in the second half but Brighton got their third and the three points when Jack Hinselwood netted.
“To come away with a loss here, I’m really disappointed,” Robson told whufc.com. “It was a game that we should have won, even with a couple of lads missing.
“We lost the game in the first half. The second half, we had a go, but we caused our own problems in the first half through really immature mistakes. It wasn’t the level I expected. It was a game we could have won and should have won.
“I’m really disappointed with the first half. I thought one or two individuals let the team down. It’s not good enough. If you want to play in the first team then you have to be consistent and unfortunately we have one or two that cost the team.
“The reality is that everybody wants to get into the first team. And there will be some that want to get into the U21s. That’s fine but, in both scenarios, you have to show what you are about. Unfortunately, if you’re not producing the levels that you need to produce, then you’re not going to the get into the first team.
“We’ve got a decent, young squad in our U21s and our players have to earn the right to get into the team. I said to them at the end of the game that I’m expecting more from them individually, and as a team.”
While frustrated with defeat at Brighton, Robson pointed to the recent efforts against Cheltenham Town and Blackburn Rovers as signs of how well the development team can play.
With huge home league tests to come against Liverpool, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur, the lead coach has challenged the Hammers to get back to their best.
“The next two or three games in the league, over the coming weeks, are going to be massive for us. We go into these three games knowing we need a couple of wins really, just to keep us in touch with the pack above us.
“It’s getting a bit tougher but we have to roll our sleeves up. We showed some great character against Cheltenham Town and Blackburn Rovers, and we need to get back to that.”
