Sonny Perkins believes the 1-1 draw was probably the right result for both West Ham United U23s and Chelsea.
The Hammers and the Blues played out the score draw at Kingsmeadow on Friday evening, a game in which Perkins gave the developmental side the advantage with a cool finish, following from Armstrong Okoflex’s brilliant, driving run from the wing.
However, Chelsea would come back into the match and level through Thierno Ballo, while the Irons had to see out the final few minutes with just ten men after Jamal Baptiste’s dismissal.
“I don’t think we played our best,” Perkins told whufc.com. “I don’t think I had my best game personally, especially in the first half. But I do think we did well to get a decent result against this Chelsea team. We wanted to come away with three points but, on reflection, the 1-1 is probably the fair result.
“I was happy to get my goal but we’re disappointed not to get the win. For me personally it’s been a few weeks since I last played, and I’ve done a lot of travelling in that time too. To not play at my best, in my opinion, and get a goal is a good sign for me. It was a good run and pass from Armstrong and I’m glad I scored it. It’s a positive.”
The 18-year-old’s involvement and goal for the U23s comes just 24 hours after he featured as part of the first team squad for the Europa League round of 16 first leg away to Sevilla.
The forward was thrilled to be involved in such a big occasion in West Ham history, and then come back to play his part in Friday’s draw.
“It was a late one after Sevilla but we can’t complain at all,” Perkins smiled. “That’s what you want, as a young player. You want to be in and around the first team and going on those trips.
“It was great to be around it for Sevilla. It was a huge occasion for the Club and a privilege to be a part of. Then to come back and be involved in this game, it was a big game for us and we had to be mentally switched on. It wasn’t easy at all but I think we did okay. We’ll take the point and go again.”
Perkins is set to face another busy couple of days at the end of next week as David Moyes’ Hammers welcome Sevilla in the second leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie to London Stadium, before the U23s play Brighton at the same venue 24 hours later.
He added: “We’ve got a big couple of games coming up. The Europa League tie, I don’t even need to explain what that means. It’s a massive game and the atmosphere at London Stadium will be very good.
“Then on Friday, it will be good for us to play at London Stadium again against Brighton. I’m really looking forward to it.”
