- Toni Martinez scored twice in West Ham United’s 4-2 defeat at Coventry City in the Checkatrade Trophy
- In the new EFL Trophy format, a young Hammers side came up against an experienced Coventry outfit and performed well
- Martinez believes results will come in the competition if the side continue to work hard on the training ground
Toni Martinez believes he and his teammates will see better results in their upcoming fixtures if they continue to work hard on the training ground.
The young Spaniard was on the scoresheet twice in West Ham United’s 4-2 defeat to an almost full-strength Coventry side in the Checkatrade Trophy; his fourth and fifth goals of an already impressive first campaign at the Club.
Martinez opened the scoring on half an hour, poking home after good persistence inside the penalty, but the Hammers were pegged back just three minutes later by Jordan Turnbull.
Coventry went on to make the score 4-1 after goals from Ruben Lameiras, Jordan Willis and Turnbull again before Martinez netted a late consolation with a superb volley.
He said: “It was an important game for us, to play against good opposition, to show what we’ve got and use it as part of our development.
“Hopefully we’ve shown some of what we can do but obviously we know there are a few things we can do better.
“If we keep working the way we are the results will come, for sure.”
Martinez’s second goal was the pick of the bunch – a dipping right-footed volley which left Coventry keeper Lee Burge stranded.
Since joining the Hammers in the summer from Valencia, Martinez has bagged five goals in just four competitive matches and hopes his good form catches the eye of the first team coaches.
“Confidence is really important for scoring goals but it’s also important to have an objective in your mind," the 19-year-old continued. "I set myself objectives in pre-season and I have that in my mind every time I head out onto the pitch.
“For forwards, the goals are really important but they only come because of the hard work everyone else is doing in the team.
“It wasn’t my intention to lift the ball over the keeper but it’s one of those goals which you’ll take! They all count and it’s a good feeling to score no matter how you do. I’m very happy.
“I want to keep trying to score goals so I can catch the eye of the first team.”