HOGAN Ephraim believed Hammers had the better of the game in the
1-1 Reserve team draw with Chelsea and could be disappointed not to
have come away with all three points.
The striker was back in Reserve team action at Aldershot after
being sidelined with a shin injury to combine in a strong West Ham
United performance.
"It was a very good display from the boys," he said,
"and we can take lots of positives from the game.
"In the end we were a bit disappointed not to have won
the game, because coming away to Chelsea is always a very tough
game but we more than matched them.
"We probably even had the better of the game, because we had a
few more chances than they did and after going 1-0 up we had a
great chance to go on and win.
"But a draw was still a good result and four games undefeated
is a good achievement at this level."
For Hogan it will be back to Under-18 duty this weekend as Tony
Carr's team face a home game against Norwich followed by one of
the season's toughest tests away to Southampton, who are very
strong at Academy level.
Hammers will also be looking to bounce back from a 5-1 defeat
against Ipswich on Saturday with a visit from East Anglia rivals
Norwich.
"After going seven games unbeaten we want to turn it around as
quickly as possible after the Ipswich game," he explained,
"and we'll all be raring to go against Norwich.
"I know their goalkeeper Joe Lewis from the England Under-19
squad and he's an excellent keeper. Hopefully we can get back
to winning ways against Norwich and then take some confidence into
the Southampton game.
"There will be a few familiar faces for me down there as well.
Theo Walcott is a well-known player and there is also Nathan Dyer
and David McGoldrick. They have a fantastic youth squad down there,
although some of those players have been on the fringes of the
first-team so I don't know if they'll be playing.
"Who knows what will happen, but we're focusing on a tough
game against Norwich at the moment and hopefully we can put in a
good performance."
Hogan's Winning Way
11th October 2005