West Ham United U21s 0-1 Nottingham Forest U21s
Premier League 2, Rush Green Stadium, Monday 18 August, 7pm BST
West Ham United U21s were narrowly beaten by Nottingham Forest U21s on the opening day of their Premier League 2 campaign.
The young Hammers, who have finished inside the top four in each of the past two seasons in the 26-team division (expanded to 29 this year with the addition of Ipswich Town, Birmingham City and Burnley) opened their account for the 2025/26 season with a 1-0 defeat against the reigning Premier League International Cup champions.
Despite enjoying long spells of possession and pressing Forest back for much of the second half, a first-half error in possession ultimately proved decisive as the visitors held firm to take all three points.
Lead coach Mark Robson had named three changes to the side that began the season with victory at Woking in the National League Cup opener on Wednesday. Goalscorer Mohamadou Kanté came in for Lewis Orford, Josh Briggs replaced Luizão, and Michail Antonio, continuing his rehabilitation with the Club’s support following a road traffic accident last December, led the line in place of Josh Landers.
A bright and competitive start saw Preston Fearon go close with a powerful strike from the edge of the box, before a lapse in possession proved costly on 19 minutes. Mohamadou Kanté was dispossessed inside his own penalty area allowing Archie Whitehall to slot into the far corner after being teed up by Lamin Sillah.
The young Hammers looked for an immediate response and went closest from set pieces, with Fearon and Regan Clayton firing narrowly off target from free-kicks.
At the other end, goalkeeper Fin Herrick remained alert to deny James Sinclair and keep his side in the contest heading into half-time.
West Ham came out even more determined to turn the game around, enjoying long spells of possession, with the team working hard to prise open a stubborn Forest backline.
Herrick was called upon to make a smart save from James Sinclair, while Airidas Golambeckis was on hand with a crucial last-man challenge to prevent a second goal from a great one-touch Forest transition.
Despite positive build-up play, flashes of attacking threat, particularly through the wing play of Emeka Adiele and Ryan Battrum, West Ham were unable to find the breakthrough as Forest dug in to protect their slender advantage.
The U21s will have the chance to bounce back when they travel to face defending champions Manchester City at Joie Stadium on Friday.
West Ham United U21s: Herrick, Briggs, Golambeckis ©, Mayers, Robinson, Kanté, Fearon (Akpata 79), Clayton (Rigge 83), Battrum, Adiele, Antonio (Landers 73)
Subs not used: Hooper (GK), Brown
Booked: Clayton, Robinson, Battrum
Nottingham Forest U21s: Campbell, Thompson ©, Newton, Hanks, Abbott, Hammond, Sinclair, Smith (Anijsko 90+5), Sillah (Willows 90+5), Whitehall (Bradshaw 80), Berry
Subs not used: Powell, Modupe
Booked: Whitehall, Newton, Abbott
Goal: Whitehall 19
Robson: It was a really good game, two teams really going for it
Reflecting on the narrow defeat, lead coach Mark Robson was encouraged by much of what he saw from his side despite the disappointing scoreline.
“I thought we forced them into a low block and dominated the second half,” he said. “There were some good moments for us in the first half as well, but after the break I felt we controlled the game for long periods. Fin [Herrick] had very little to do in that spell.
“It was a really good game, two teams really going for it. It wasn’t what you’d call a typical Academy match; it was physical, full of contact and challenges, and both sides were properly at it. The goal we conceded came from a mistake, which is frustrating, but that happens in football.”
While pleased with the attacking momentum of the second half, Robson also acknowledged that his side could have done more in the final third to test Luke Campbell in the Nottingham Forest goal.
“Probably the only thing missing was that we didn’t work their goalkeeper enough. We had good build-up play and possession, but just lacked that final bit to really hurt them.”
Looking ahead to Friday’s trip to Manchester City, he added: “Today was important in terms of getting the lads who’ve been with the first team in pre-season up to speed with the rest of the group. Mo [Kanté] playing a full game was important, Preston [Fearon] getting more minutes under his belt, Airidas [Golambeckis] as well. I think everyone’s on a fairly even footing now in terms of minutes. We’ll approach the Manchester City game no differently. They’re always a strong side with good players, but we’ll be positive and go at them as we normally do.”
