Belic delighted to score first Hammers goal

Luka Belic is targeting plenty more strikes after getting off the mark
After netting his first goal in claret and blue, striker Luka Belic is hoping it is the first of many.

After being played in by a defence-splitting pass by Grady Diangana, the Serbian fired the Hammers into the lead away at Derby County however the Rams salvaged a point when Shaquille McDonald equalised late on.

Speaking after the final whistle, Belic said: “That’s my first goal for West Ham United and I hope there are going to be more goals, I’ve had a couple of assists but my job is to score. The most important thing is that we should’ve won tonight.

“A draw, with ten men, we’re happy. We showed great character to respond to going a man down.

“I want to thank Grady, I am very grateful because he gave me a great ball. The keeper gave me an opportunity to hit it in the near corner so I took it and it went in. It was a great team goal.”

The point sees the Development Squad extend their unbeaten run to a staggering 11 games.

With the Dev Squad in the hunt for a play off spot as well as being in the semi-final of the U21 Premier League Cup, Belic has high hopes for the business end of the season.

He continued: “We were very tired towards the end, we had the wind against us in the second half too, everything was against us. We showed great character, it was a great team effort and even a draw is not a bad result.

“Eleven games unbeaten, that’s a great, great run. I hope it continues for the rest of the season, that’s our goal. We want to get promoted and win the cup, I hope we achieve it, I really believe we can.

“I’ve never been 11 games unbeaten in my career, we are all really happy. The club is doing great, the first team is doing great. I am really happy with everything and I hope we make it 20 games unbeaten!”