Pask - Defending PL Cup title remains our target

Josh Pask in action for West Ham United's PL2 side
  • Despite knockout round qualification already secured, Josh Pask admitted that the manner of West Ham United’s 3-0 PL Cup defeat was ‘disappointing’.
  • Pask is delighted to be back on the pitch and is enjoying a good run of games having missed two months of action through injury at the end of 2016.
  • The target remains pushing to defend the PL Cup trophy which the Hammers won last season.

 

Josh Pask admitted that West Ham United’s

Pask against Fulham at London Stadium
3-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion was a “disappointing” ending to the group stages of the PL Cup.

The two sides went in to Monday’s group fixture with qualification to the knockout round already secured, however, with a home tie in the last 16 on the line, the Hammers came unstuck against a Brighton side on top form.

Despite a bright start, West Ham went behind to a Henrik Bjordal goal before James Tilley doubled the host’s lead from the penalty spot on 41 minutes. Pask admitted that the Hammers’ defending should have been better throughout:

“We dominated the ball, but they got us on the break a couple of times” he explained.

“We knew that’s what they were going to do because they did it to us in previous games, we just weren’t able to stop it. It wasn’t our day today.”

The scoring was complete early in the second half when Aaron Connolly poked in from close range.

“We’re disappointed with today but we’ll go in to the next couple of games and to the next round, see who we come against, and we’ll go from there” the 19-year old explained.

Pask had suffered an injury in November which ruled him out of action for two months but since his return in late-January, he has enjoyed a run of seven consecutive starts for the U23 side.

“I’m happy now” he said. “I’m happy to be out on the pitch- there’s nothing better, nothing I’d rather do.

“I’ve had a bit of hard luck here and there but hopefully now and for the rest of the season, I can get a strong run of games under my belt. That would be great for me.”

The defeat means West Ham finished second in Group E of the PL Cup: a competition the young Hammers won in 2016. They will now face an away trip in the last-16 knockout round and Pask is determined to help the Hammers defend their title:

“Of course [we want to do well], definitely” he said.

We won it last year, so we want to try and hold the title. We’re already through, and we want to do well in every game.”

Before the Hammers play their next PL Cup match, they return to Premier League 2 action and to London Stadium on Tuesday 7 March as Stoke City are the visitors to the capital.