- U23s coach Liam Manning is pleased to see the back of Brighton after a four games without a win over the Seagulls this season
- The Hammers were beaten 3-0 away from home in the Premier League Cup on Monday
- West Ham were already through to the knockout rounds of the competition before the game, however
West Ham United Premier League 2 coach Liam Manning labelled Brighton and Hove Albion the Hammers’ bogey team on Monday after a third defeat of the season against the Seagulls in the Premier League Cup.
The U23s were beaten 3-0 at the American Express Elite Performance Centre in their final Group E match of the competition – their fourth encounter with Brighton this campaign.
And after picking up just one point against the side in the four clashes, Manning is pleased to see the back of Monday’s opponents.
He said: “It was extremely frustrating yet again against this side and they seem to be our bogey team down here. We just can’t get a result.
“The game was very similar to the three before and how they’ve ended up. We had large amounts of possession but a bit of naivety on that turnover has been the frustrating thing and we’ve had the same problems yet again.
“We spoke about what we expected before, and the boys’ job was to go and deliver that. That’s what happens in the first team, the manager gives you a game plan and you have to go and deliver it on the pitch. That’s their jobs.”
Having got the victory, Brighton finished top of Group E and will therefore host the first knockout round of the Cup in the next stage, while West Ham will travel for their next tie.
Manning insisted, however, the tournament is still one the Hammers are taking seriously, having lifted the trophy last season.
“Any competition you’re in and any fixture you’re involved in, you want to do well in that so it’s frustrating when you don’t get a result,” he continued. “It’s hard to take as you want to perform well in every game.
“We just looked too vulnerable when Brighton came forward today. Once they got the lead and given how they play, they made it tough and they do it very well to be fair.
“There were a lot of bodies to get through and we found that a challenge. At times, it wasn’t good enough in the attacking third.”