Premier League International Cup
KO: 19:00
03/02/2023
Chigwell Construction Stadium
West Ham United Under 21
- Days
- Hrs
- Mins
- Secs
1
2
AS Monaco FC
Next Match
Friday 12th April 2024
KO - 19:00
At Away
Carrow Road
Norwich City U21

West Ham United U21s v AS Monaco U21s
Premier League International Cup, Chigwell Construction Stadium, Friday 3 February, 7pm

 

West Ham United U21s will look to end their involvement in the 2022/23 Premier League International Cup with a positive result and performance against AS Monaco. 

The development team cannot mathematically qualify for the knock-out stages of the competition, having claimed three points from three Group B matches played so far, but will be eager to continue a recent good run of form. 

Mark Robson's side have won five of their last six matches in all competitions, a run of form that has helped the Hammers pull out of the bottom two in the Premier League 2 Division 1 table.

With February including big league matches at home to Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion, with a trip to Arsenal in the middle, this Friday's fixture is a chance for the Irons to continue their recent good showings.

Read on for all you need to know about the Premier League International Cup fixture...

 

Tickets…

West Ham United and Dagenham & Redbridge Season Ticket Holders will be able to attend Friday's fixture for free, with proof of season ticket ownership.

Adult tickets for the Premier League International Cup fixtures are available for just £5 while concessions can be purchased at just £1. 

All tickets will be available through the Dagenham & Redbridge ticket office and can be purchased on the evening of the match.

 

Travel…

Fans attending Friday's fixture at Chigwell Construction Stadium should note that parking is extremely limited at the ground, and supporters are advised to make use of public transport.

If driving to the ground from the north, leave the M25 at Junction 27 and take the M11 towards London. At the end of the M11 continue onto the A406 towards Docklands (A13) and London City Airport. At the intersection with the A13, turn onto this road in the direction of the Dartford Crossing.

At the junction with the A1306, leave the A13 and join the A1306 towards Dagenham. At the third set of traffic lights turn left just before the McDonalds into Ballards Road. At the end of this road you will come to a large roundabout. Turn left and proceed up Rainham Road passing Dagenham East tube station on the left and Victoria Road is a quarter of a mile further on, on the same side of the road.

Piquonne played for both West Ham and Monaco

If driving to the ground from the south, leave the M25 at Junction 31 and take the A13 towards Central London. Exit the A13 onto the slip road, signposted Dagenham/Dagenham East. At the end of the slip road at the double roundabout turn right, then going under the A13. At the T-junction turn left onto the A1306. At the second set of lights turn right onto the B178. 

At the end of this road you will come to a large roundabout. Turn left and proceed up Rainham Road passing Dagenham East tube station on the left and Victoria Road is a quarter of a mile further on, on the same side of the road.

If travelling by London Underground, take the District Line to Dagenham East. Turn left as you come out of the station and the ground is clearly sign posted and only five minute walk away.
 

How to Follow…

Match coverage from Friday's Premier League International Cup fixture will be available following full-time at whufc.com.

A match report and reaction from lead coach Mark Robson will be available, while full highlights from the fixture will be accessible on YouTube and the website on Saturday afternoon. 

Further reaction from the squad will also follow across the weekend.

 

Team News…

With West Ham United U18s playing their FA Youth Cup fifth round tie away to Stoke City at the same time as this U21s game, lead coach Robson may opt to allow the younger members of his squad to link up with Kevin Keen's group.

The likes of Kaelan Casey, George Earthy and Regan Clayton have played in each of the FA Youth Cup fixtures so far this season but are also regulars in Premier League 2 for the development side. 

Divin Mubama goalscoring form

Friday's match could provide an opportunity at a first start since returning from their respective loan spells for Dan Chesters and Armstrong Okoflex. Both have been involved from the bench since coming back to the Hammers from Colchester United and Swansea City, respectively, in January.

 

Opposition…

Like the Hammers, Monaco find themselves mathematically unable to qualify for the knock-out stages of this season's tournament.

Level on points and with a marginally better goal difference, the French side sit just one place above West Ham, having claimed their three points in a 2-0 win away to Manchester United back in November.

Monaco U21s are coached by Damien Perrinelle, a former French defender best known for his time with Boulogne in the mid 2000s. 

Perrinelle's career also saw him represent Clermont Foot and New York Red Bulls, before he joined Monaco in a non-playing capacity in 2020. He was appointed the U21s lead coach last summer.

Academy

 

West Ham United U21 1-2 AS Monaco U21 
Premier League International Cup, Chigwell Construction Stadium, Friday 3 February 2023, 7pm GMT 

 

West Ham United U21s fell to a hard fought 2-1 defeat against AS Monaco in the Premier League International Cup on Friday night. 

The young Hammers knew that qualification to the knockout stages was beyond them heading into the match, having claimed three points from their previous three matches in Group B.

Nonetheless, they flew out of the blocks at Chigwell Construction Stadium, and Daniel Chesters scored inside the opening minute of the match.  

The visitors levelled almost immediately through Malamine Efekele and the winger secured his and Monaco’s second on minute twelve after a whirlwind start to proceedings. 

The Hammers battled for an equaliser in the second half but were unable to find a breakthrough. 

Mark Robson’s side will now turn their attentions back to Premier League 2 action, with a home fixture against Fuham on 10 February next up. 

The Hammers raced into an early lead inside, scoring within 60 seconds of the first whistle. Chesters exchanged a stunning give and go before racing towards the Monaco goal and driving a powerful effort into the bottom left corner. 

The lead was short lived as Monaco hit back with four minutes played. Mamadou Coulibaly played a superb through pass to Efekele who curled an effort into the bottom right corner from the edge of the box. 

Monaco quickly pushed for the lead, dispossessing West Ham in the final third before Efekele unleashed another effort from the edge of the box. The West Ham back line stood strong and his effort deflected just over the crossbar. 

The visitors found their second goal of the night after 12 minutes though. Salatiel Decarpentrie used his pace to get to the West Ham byline before chipping a dangerous ball into the 18-yard-box. Jamal Baptiste steered the ball away from goal but the bouncing ball fell to Efekele, who smartly placed the ball into the roof of the net from twelve yards. 

Dan Chesters scores against Monaco
Dan Chesters scores our goal against Monaco

The Irons almost fell two goals behind at the start of the second half, and they would have done but for a sensational tackle by Freddie Potts. Decarpentrie committed West Ham defenders on the right-hand side before pulling the ball back to Nazim Babai. The full back seemed set to tuck the ball into the net but Potts slid in to make a vital intervention. 

The visitors continued to push for a two-goal advantage and Efekele was at the heart of another attack on the hour. The pacy winger raced into the 18-yard-box and squared the ball to Edan Diop. Fortunately for the Hammers, the No10 fired his strike straight at Jacob Knightbridge. 

After withstanding heavy pressure, Robson’s side almost found an equaliser with 15 minutes remaining. Junior Robinson showed pace and determination on the right flank to burst forwards and the wing back whipped a dangerous cross into the Monaco penalty area. Armstrong Oko-Flex attempted to steer the ball towards goal but the cross was marginally too high for the West Ham winger and his effort was off target. 

Knightbridge was called into action with moments remaining as Coulibaly raced onto a misplaced pass. The powerful midfielder was able to register a shot on target but West Ham’s shot stopper was on hand to make a smart stop with his left foot to keep the score at 2-1. 

 

West Ham United U21s: Knightbridge, Robinson, Forbes, Luizão, Baptiste (Laing 76), Adeile (Mukasa 76), Woods (Forson 89), Potts ©, Chesters, Oko-Flex (Uwandji 89), Swyer
Subs not used: Abraham (GK), Briggs 

Goal: Chesters 1 

Booked: Woods 

 
AS Monaco U21s: Lienard, Babai, Semedo ©, Valme, Okou, Magassa, Efekele (Florian Baranik 73), Coulibaly, Kouassi (Enzo Baglieri 64), Diop (Wawina 89), Decarpentrie (Platret 73) 
Subs not used: Bery, Olmeta 

Goals: Efekele 4, 12 

Booked: Magassa, Babai, Valme 

 
Referee: Sam Mulhall