West Ham United Under-18s were held to a 0-0 FA Premier Academy League draw at Southampton on Thursday.

The Saints agreed to bring the match forward 48 hours to help West Ham to prepare for next week's FA Youth Cup fifth-round trip to Chelsea. The visitors were also grateful to the Southampton groundstaff who worked hard to make the pitch playable at St Mary's Training Centre.

The Hammers were unfortunate to not come away with a victory from their trip to the south coast, with a host of goalscoring opportunities being spurned during a dominant second-half performance.

Academy Director Tony Carr said: "It was an open game and a good game featuring two attack-minded teams, but we were a little bit disappointed that we didn't win it. Elliot Lee (pictured) has missed two opportunities he would take on another day, while Pelly Ruddock and Kieran Sadlier have also missed chances late on.

"We had two good chances early on and then three more in the closing stages, but we couldn't put the ball into the net. We were the better team, particularly in the second half, but we were not clinical enough inside their penalty box. Their goalkeeper made a couple of good saves and we have missed the target with a couple of shots. We had the chances to win the game, so we can have no excuses.

"With the weather conditions the way they have been this week, we were lucky to get a game on. It had been a bit frosty down there overnight, but the pitch had softened out sufficiently for us to play the game. We are grateful to Southampton for agreeing to switch the game and then for working to make sure it could be played."

Carr said the Academy's focus would now switch to Wednesday's visit to Staines Town FC, where the Hammers will take on the Blues for a place in the last-eight of the FA Youth Cup.

"We came through largely unscathed at Southampton, bar a few minor knocks and bruises - nothing that will keep the boys out of Wednesday's game.

"We'd obviously be grateful if as many supporters as possible could make it to the match because the atmosphere could give our lads that extra five or ten per cent they need to get through. That said, we should have enough incentive to progress as it is."

West Ham will take on Chelsea at Staines Town FC in the FA Youth Cup fifth round on Wednesday 15 February, with kick-off at 7pm. Admission is £3 for Adults and £1 for Under-16s.

West Ham United U18s: Wootton, Young, Shaw, K.Lee, Chambers, Turgott (Sadlier 70), Fanimo (Vose 46), Miles (Hurley 80), Powell, Ruddock, E.Lee