Dyer positive on reserve display

West Ham United reserve team manager Alex Dyer was pleased with his side's attitude and application after securing a 3-2 win over a Major League Soccer select squad.

A powerful header from United States defender Jonathan Spector and a second half brace from Freddie Sears were enough to see the Hammers seal victory at Hornchurch FC. Following Thursday's success, which featured the return of Kieron Dyer after 16 months out with broken leg and Matthew Etherington from a virus, the manager was proud of his players' efforts.

"It was a great victory. The most important thing was the workout for the lads coming back - Kieron, Jon and Matty - and it was also good for Diego Tristan to have another run-out," said Dyer, who handed starts to Academy youngsters Marek Stech, Ashley Miller and Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson.

The reserve team boss was also impressed with the skill and fitness levels showed by the touring side, which contained a selection of the Major League's finest young players.

"They were good. They were sharper than us, especially in the first half. Considering they had played on Wednesday and had a game before that as well (on Monday) their fitness levels were good," he added. "We knew they would run out of steam and energy as the game went on. We then came to the forefront and put on a couple of our younger boys, worked hard and got the result in the end.

"I was impressed with them. I told the lads before we went out not to take the game lightly. It was a training game for us but at the same time we had to show them respect. We knew that it would be a decent game."

Dyer will now prepare for the Hammers' final Barclays Premier Reserve League South fixture of 2008. Chelsea are the visitors to Bishop's Stortford next Tuesday evening, when United will seek to gain revenge for the 2-0 defeat suffered at Brentford FC's Griffin Park in September.