- Terry Westley believes his players will learn to see out games after conceding a late equaliser at home to Wolves in Premier League 2
- West Ham PL2 drew 2-2 with Wolverhampton Wanderers PL2 at the Chigwell Construction
- Toni Martinez contributed to the scoring, making it six in five for the Spaniard
Terry Westley believes his West Ham PL2 squad are capable of learning from their mistakes, after letting a lead slip in the last minute at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Wolves, who came into the match just behind the Hammers in the Premier League 2 table on goal difference, took a first half lead through Christian Herc.
The Hammers responded in the second half after Domingos Quina’s inviting free-kick was deflected into his own net by Wolves winger Donovan Wilson.
Toni Martinez sidefooted home debutant Edimilson Fernandes’ cross to give the Hammers the lead with 20 minutes to play, only for Morgan Gibbs-White to fire in a late equaliser for the West Midlands side.
Westley said: “We didn’t really play well enough in all fairness. Nothing like the style and panache we have been playing with.
“It’s understandable to be honest, when you get players late into the squad makes it difficult in terms of cohesion.
“There was flashes of quality first half, but nowhere near enough and that was really the signal. Second half, we tried to get back to passing the ball, moving it quickly and playing at a higher tempo.
“Part of the development sometimes is if you’re not playing well and you’re 2-1 up with 30 seconds to go, you’ve got to see it through. You’ve got to win.”
The crowd at the Chigwell Construction were treated to a host of big names within the Hammers starting eleven, with new signings Sofiane Feghouli and Edimilson Fernandes and England U20 star Reece Oxford among the names on the teamsheet.
Feghouli was continuing his recovery from a recent hamstring injury and Westley thought he and Fernandes showed their class.
“Feghouli in the first half showed some flashes of real class when he got in one on one situations and hopefully the 45 minutes he got has given him a lot in terms of his fitness
“I thought the young boy Fernandes showed some real quality, one ball especially in the first half when he put Martinez through.”
Toni Martinez was once again on the scoresheet, netting after a terrific cross from Fernandes in the second half to give the Hammers the lead; it’s now six in five for the Hammers No9.
The two linked up in the first half as well, only for Martinez to be thwarted by a great save from Wolves stopper Harry Burgoyne.
“He [Martinez] really wants to come alive when he thinks he’s got a chance to score. First half when he ran through, held the defender off; the keeper made a terrific save,” said Westley.
“It was a terrific finish for the second goal and now he has six goals in five games; that’s a goalscorer and they’re often priceless.”