Potts delighted with Dev Squad performance

Development Squad coach Steve Potts said he was delighted with the effort and performance of his side in their 3-2 defeat away at Manchester United.

The young Hammers started brightly and took a deserved lead when Reece Oxford headed home Josh Cullen’s free kick.

Midway through the first half the hosts rallied through a quickfire double from Josh Harrop and Joe Rothwell. Jordan Brown equalised just before half time however Harrop’s second of the game sealed the three points for the hosts.

Speaking after the game, Potts said: “I was very pleased, the boys performed very well. I’m disappointed with the result but it was a great effort from the boys.

“We worked on being more solid, I thought we were very naïve against Liverpool so it was a massive improvement tonight. In the first 20 minutes we were excellent, we scored and they didn’t have a shot.”

In an outstanding team performance, one of the best this season, the Dev Squad took a deserved lead through Oxford’s header, his second goal in recent games after scoring for England U17s.

Having fallen behind, the Dev Squad got back level thanks to Jordan Brown. His work rate and desire to chase down what seemed to be lost causes paid off as he netted his second goal of the season.    

“It’s great for both of them. Jordan was a constant threat in behind the defence all game and Reece is always an outlet with his height.

“Man United were a great challenge for us with the team they fielded. They’re a good side, top of the league. To play against Adnan Januzaj and James Wilson and a few others who have been involved in the first team is a great test.”

The Dev Squad’s next game is another tough encounter against Norwich City at Rush Green on Friday 17th April.

Potts continued to say that a similar level of performance would be needed in order to secure maximum points.   

“We have to take a lot of positives into our next match against Norwich. The goals we conceded, aren’t good goals to concede, but overall we did very well.

“You’d like to think that if we play like we did against Norwich than we’ll have a good chance of winning. There’s still room for improvement, but we can certainly build on tonight. We were very solid defensively and with the ball, but we can use it better and carry more of a threat.”