Terry Westley praised a youthful Dev Squad as they earned a draw at league leaders Derby
Academy director Terry Westley said his Development Squad deserved to beat league leaders Derby County at St George’s Park.
With Dev Squad regulars either out on loan or being saved for the first team’s game with Aston Villa tomorrow evening, Westley named a young West Ham side which included ten U18s in the squad, seven of which featured on the pitch.
Reflecting on a hard-fought point, Westley said: “We did very well considering, they are league leaders, playing in very difficult conditions.
“Then, playing for an hour with ten men makes it even more difficult. But the way we kept the ball and moved it around, you’d think we were the team with the extra player.
“We deservedly went a goal up, we didn’t quite hold out for the win but we can be very proud. Tonight, every player looked like they could have a career in the game based on that performance.”
Despite being a man down after Marcus Browne was somewhat harshly dismissed, the Hammers took the lead through Luka Belic who netted his first goal for the club after being played in by Grady Diangana.
However, Derby’s man advantage slowly took it’s toll and their superior numbers paid off as Ivan Kalero equalised from close range from a corner.
Westley continued: “We’ve got a very tired dressing room. But that is the limit you need to push yourselves to. We’ll get back late tonight and then we’re in for a recovery session tomorrow morning, but that’s how it is. They are the demands you need to put on young players.
“Nowadays they get things given to them so we need to be tough with them and really work them hard.”
The draw sees the young Hammers extend their phenomenal unbeaten run to 11 games, and Westley is pleased to see his squad benefit from the confidence generated from the titillating form.
“At any level, in any sport, it is hard to go 11 games unbeaten. Everyone is trying to beat us, so to have gone this far is not easy. Tonight was a real challenge and we’ve come out the right side of it.
“We finished up with seven U18s on the pitch, and they did very well but also our more experienced players – Chambers, Dobson, Declan Rice and Moses Makasi were all fantastic. I also have to give a word to Luka Belic up top, he did really well for us, that’s the best he’s done and he needs to maintain that belief.
“We’ve got to keep going, we’re developing a winning mentality. Tonight we very nearly won the game, yes Sam (Howes) made a good save right at the end but we had chances to win it, one I think would have been a deserved victory.”
With Dev Squad regulars either out on loan or being saved for the first team’s game with Aston Villa tomorrow evening, Westley named a young West Ham side which included ten U18s in the squad, seven of which featured on the pitch.
Reflecting on a hard-fought point, Westley said: “We did very well considering, they are league leaders, playing in very difficult conditions.
“Then, playing for an hour with ten men makes it even more difficult. But the way we kept the ball and moved it around, you’d think we were the team with the extra player.
“We deservedly went a goal up, we didn’t quite hold out for the win but we can be very proud. Tonight, every player looked like they could have a career in the game based on that performance.”
Despite being a man down after Marcus Browne was somewhat harshly dismissed, the Hammers took the lead through Luka Belic who netted his first goal for the club after being played in by Grady Diangana.
However, Derby’s man advantage slowly took it’s toll and their superior numbers paid off as Ivan Kalero equalised from close range from a corner.
Westley continued: “We’ve got a very tired dressing room. But that is the limit you need to push yourselves to. We’ll get back late tonight and then we’re in for a recovery session tomorrow morning, but that’s how it is. They are the demands you need to put on young players.
“Nowadays they get things given to them so we need to be tough with them and really work them hard.”
The draw sees the young Hammers extend their phenomenal unbeaten run to 11 games, and Westley is pleased to see his squad benefit from the confidence generated from the titillating form.
“At any level, in any sport, it is hard to go 11 games unbeaten. Everyone is trying to beat us, so to have gone this far is not easy. Tonight was a real challenge and we’ve come out the right side of it.
“We finished up with seven U18s on the pitch, and they did very well but also our more experienced players – Chambers, Dobson, Declan Rice and Moses Makasi were all fantastic. I also have to give a word to Luka Belic up top, he did really well for us, that’s the best he’s done and he needs to maintain that belief.
“We’ve got to keep going, we’re developing a winning mentality. Tonight we very nearly won the game, yes Sam (Howes) made a good save right at the end but we had chances to win it, one I think would have been a deserved victory.”