West Ham United U21s v Manchester United U21s
Premier League 2, Rush Green Stadium, Friday 20 January 2023, 7pm
West Ham United U21s return to Rush Green Stadium for the first time in 2023 with a home test against Manchester United.
The Hammers, on a run of three consecutive wins in Premier League 2 after a difficult start ti the campaign, will face a Red Devils side who themselves have won their last two league outings.
Mark Robson's young Irons won 2-1 at Everton last time out, following home victories over Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers prior to the FIFA World Cup break. Manchester United have played twice since Christmas, winning away at Fulham and home to Liverpool, both by 2-1 scorelines.
Both teams are looking to move away from the fight at the bottom of the division, with Manchester United tenth and West Ham 12th in the 14-team table ahead of their clash on Friday 20 January, with kick-off set for 7pm.
Tickets…
Admittance to Friday’s Premier League 2 fixture is free for West Ham United Season Ticket Holders. Proof of Season Ticket status must be shown upon entry to Rush Green Stadium.
Tickets can also be purchased on the door, priced at £5 for Adults and £1 for U16s. Gates will open an hour before kick-off.
Travel…
Fans wishing to attend Friday’s U21s fixture by car should note that parking at Rush Green Stadium, situated at West Ham United's first-team training ground, is extremely limited and cannot be guaranteed. The postcode for Rush Green Stadium is RM7 0LU.
Supporters using public transport are advised to check their journeys before travel, with resources such as TfL's Journey Planner or the TfL Go app helping to plan your journey.
Supporters may also wish to visit the National Rail website to plan their journey if traveling on the rail network.
How To Follow…
We are delighted to confirm Friday’s Premier League 2 match will be available to watch via our free live stream.
Coverage of the game against Manchester United will begin approximately five minutes before kick-off on our YouTube Channel.
Live match updates from Rush Green Stadium, 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…
Armstrong Okoflex and Dan Chesters could be involved after each returned from their respective loan spells with Swansea City and Colchester United in the EFL.
Brazilian defender Luizão will also be looking to earn his first start for the development side after making his debut from the bench in the win over Everton last two weeks ago.
Mark Robson may opt to keep faith with the same starting XI that secured the three points at Haig Avenue, with the young Hammers impressing in a good showing against the Toffees.
Opposition…
Back-to-back wins in Premier League 2 have moved Manchester United away from the relegation zone and given the Red Devils a brief respite.
It has been a strong start to 2023 for the Manchester-based sit, with a 2-1 away win at Fulham at the start of January followed by a 2-1 home victory against Liverpool last weekend.
Despite spending most of the campaign so far battling at the wrong end of the table, the Red Devils have only lost four league matches so far; the least of any side outside the top six in the division.
The issue for Friday’s opponents has not been losing games then, but more struggling to win them. Seven draws in the league this campaign is easily the most of any team in Premier League 2, but recent winning form suggests the visitors to Rush Green Stadium are finding their spark again.
The Manchester United youngsters have certainly found goalscoring form too. Winger Shola Shoretire has six goals at U21s level this season, while Charlie McNeill, Omari Forson and Joe Hugill each set on four goals apiece.
As part of a ‘flexible’ new structure at Manchester United, Mark Dempsey took charge of the U23s for the 2022/23 season. A former youth product of the club, Dempsey previously assisted Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with the first team before moving to the Academy in 2020.
