West Ham U23s travel to the Eppleton Colliery Welfare Fround to take on Sunderland U23s in what will be a crucial game in their push for the title, after being relegated on the final day of the 2018/19 season.
Dmitri Halajko’s men are yet to be defeated in the league this season and his side have started 2020 with a win against title rivals Manchester United and a respectable draw against Reading U23s.
January Transfers
Whilst the East London side have been flying this season, the January transfer window has allowed football league clubs to loan in some of their key players, with Joe Powell, Conor Coventry and Nathan Holland being loaned to League One clubs until the end of the season.
The Hammers currently sit two points above second placed Manchester United with seven games to go but the loss of his players could derail his title challenge.
Halajko has commented to the club’s website on the side’s current situation, after their 3-3 draw to Reading. “It’s a new group of players, with people that’ve come back from injury and some that’ve gone out.” He continued, “they’re finding their feet now and evolving as a group and there were parts of today when they showed progress in that”.
The Opposition
Sunderland go into the game in wretched form, having lost 14 of their 15 games and only picking up one point all season, away to Stoke City U23s in a 1-1 draw.
The league’s bottom side are yet to keep a clean sheet this season, which bodes well for a West Ham side who have scored in every game this season.
Whilst the Black Cats are underdogs, they could be optimistic by the fact that West Ham drawn their last two away games. It’s likely that head coach Elliott Dickman’s main priority will be to minimize the score after consecutive 4-0 losses.
The reverse fixture, which was played in September was a 4-2 win by West Ham with Nathan Holland and Anthony Scully each getting braces at the Chigwell Construction Stadium.
Player To Watch
With the untimely departure of Nathan Holland, this could present an opportunity for Dan Kemp to step up and display the performances in a similar vein to what Holland was providing on a consistent basis. Kemp, who joined the Hammers from Chelsea in 2015, has scored ten times and registered five assists in all competitions this season. The versatile attacker has already showed his class since Holland’s departure, playing a crucial role in all three of West Ham’s goals in their draw against Reading.
Point To Prove
The game presents a great opportunity for Irish striker, Anthony Scully to add to his impressive tally so far. The Hammers’ number nine has scored 15 goals in all competitions this season but has only scored once in his last four games.
With the Hammers’ goal threat being reduced due to Holland’s departure, Halajko’s dependence on Scully would be higher than ever due to the lack of goals in his squad.
