Development Squad goalkeeper Raphael Spiegel said he was delighted with the Hammers’ deserved 2-1 win over Manchester City at the Boleyn Ground on Friday 24 April.
The Hammers stormed to a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute after Dan Potts headed home Djair Parfitt-Williams’ cross from close range after superb quick feet from the young striker. The hosts doubled their lead soon after half time when Adam Drury stabbed Jordan Brown’s driven cross into his own net.
Spiegel, the towering Swiss U21 international, made a string of excellent saves to deny City a late equaliser after Olivier Ntcham’s 76th goal gave the visitors hope.
Speaking after the match, a clearly delighted Spiegel said: “It was a good game and a great victory. We’re all very happy in the dressing room and we thoroughly deserved the win. We worked very hard for it.
“Everyone did their jobs, in every position. I think we could have scored even more goals at the end.”
After Ntcham’s powerful strike, his second against the Irons this season, Patrick Veira’s Elite Development Squad piled on the pressure as they sought to salvage a point.
However, the Dev Squad stood resolute and held out for the three points through a combination of good defending and a number of excellent saves from the 22-year-old.
“The save towards the end was quite important. He came from the side and hit it well, I had to wait to see what side he put it and then make the save. It was an important save so I’m happy with it.
“I think the team needed a win, it’s going to be a great boost for the last three games and hopefully we can get some more good results.
“Manchester City are always a good team but to be fair I think we were the better side, we’re all happy with the performance and we deserved to win. They may have come here thinking it was going to be an easy game, but it never is. We gave our best and we got the victory.
“For me it is always special to play at Upton Park, I’m sure it is for all our players and I think it did make a difference. Everyone wants to play in the stadium for the first team so it’s good.”
Up next for the young Hammers is a difficult encounter against Everton at Rush Green, their last home game of the season, on Friday 8 May.
Earlier in the season, the Toffees ran out 2-0 winners on a blustery night in Southport. Four months on, Spiegel is confident his side can reverse the defeat if they put in a similar level of performance that overcame Manchester City.
“Everton is going to be a good game, we can take a lot of confidence from Friday. Of course we want another win and if we play like we did against Manchester City I’m sure we get something.”
The Hammers stormed to a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute after Dan Potts headed home Djair Parfitt-Williams’ cross from close range after superb quick feet from the young striker. The hosts doubled their lead soon after half time when Adam Drury stabbed Jordan Brown’s driven cross into his own net.
Spiegel, the towering Swiss U21 international, made a string of excellent saves to deny City a late equaliser after Olivier Ntcham’s 76th goal gave the visitors hope.
Speaking after the match, a clearly delighted Spiegel said: “It was a good game and a great victory. We’re all very happy in the dressing room and we thoroughly deserved the win. We worked very hard for it.
“Everyone did their jobs, in every position. I think we could have scored even more goals at the end.”
After Ntcham’s powerful strike, his second against the Irons this season, Patrick Veira’s Elite Development Squad piled on the pressure as they sought to salvage a point.
However, the Dev Squad stood resolute and held out for the three points through a combination of good defending and a number of excellent saves from the 22-year-old.
“The save towards the end was quite important. He came from the side and hit it well, I had to wait to see what side he put it and then make the save. It was an important save so I’m happy with it.
“I think the team needed a win, it’s going to be a great boost for the last three games and hopefully we can get some more good results.
“Manchester City are always a good team but to be fair I think we were the better side, we’re all happy with the performance and we deserved to win. They may have come here thinking it was going to be an easy game, but it never is. We gave our best and we got the victory.
“For me it is always special to play at Upton Park, I’m sure it is for all our players and I think it did make a difference. Everyone wants to play in the stadium for the first team so it’s good.”
Up next for the young Hammers is a difficult encounter against Everton at Rush Green, their last home game of the season, on Friday 8 May.
Earlier in the season, the Toffees ran out 2-0 winners on a blustery night in Southport. Four months on, Spiegel is confident his side can reverse the defeat if they put in a similar level of performance that overcame Manchester City.
“Everton is going to be a good game, we can take a lot of confidence from Friday. Of course we want another win and if we play like we did against Manchester City I’m sure we get something.”