Speaking to whufc.com after the defeat, West Ham U23s boss Liam Manning said: “In the first five minutes, we should have been a couple ahead. We spoke about being ruthless and everything we spoke about at half time, about playing, getting on the ball, being ruthless and not making mistakes, we didn’t do that in the second half. It was the complete opposite.
On a cold and windy night in Dagenham it was on five minutes when the Irons got their first chance of the game. Conor Coventry found himself with the ball on the edge of the Rovers penalty area and released a fierce shot which was tipped over by Charlie Albinson in the Blackburn goal.
On 19 minutes Joseph Anang pulled off a great fingertip save to deny a fierce strike. However, from the resulting corner Charley Doyle rose highest for Blackburn and headed in to the net to give the visitors a lead on 20 minutes.
Quick Response
Three minutes later the Irons responded in great fashion. Dan Kemp worked himself some space on the edge of the area and fired in to the near post to bring the Hammers level in a crucial fixture.
The first half continued with half chances for both sides as Joseph Nuttall hit the side netting for Blackburn Rovers, while West Ham struggled to get in behind the Rovers defence.
Early Chances
The Hammers looked promising early in to the second half. Nathan Holland fired a shot at goal which was pushed out towards Jahmal Hector-Ingram, but he couldn’t quite reach the ball which was cleared by the defender.
However, it was Blackburn who retook the lead on 77 minutes. Nuttall was through on goal and was brought down by Ben Johnson resulting in the referee showing Johnson a yellow card and pointing to the penalty spot. Nuttall stepped up and made no mistake from the spot sending Anang the wrong way.
West Ham continued to apply some pressure but couldn’t work their way behind a resilient Blackburn defence who looked to see the game out. The Irons managed to work a corner with the ball falling to Jeremy Ngakia, but his shot went just wide of the goal.
Points Sealed
Going in to four minutes of added time West Ham were searching for the equaliser, but Blackburn were able to counter the hosts and Benjamin Brereton rounded Anang and fired in to an empty net to seal the three points for the Lancashire side.
The Hammers now travel to bottom of the table Swansea City on Monday night where they will look to pick up three points in the first of a set of crucial fixtures
Match Facts
West Ham United: Anang, Johnson, Pask (Ngakia 12), Balbuena (Belic 46), Alese, Coventry, Lewis (Dju 78), Kemp, Diangana, Holland, Hector-Ingram
Subs not used: Sanneh, Adarkwa,
Goal: Kemp 23
Booking: Johnson 76
Blackburn Rovers: Albinson, Rankin-Costello, Thompson, Davenport, Magloire, Doyle, Butterworth (Mols 89), Buckley, Nuttall, Brereton, Chapman
Subs not used: Annesley, Eastham, Vale, Saadi
Goals: Doyle 20, Nuttall 77, Brereton 90 +4
Bookings: Buckley 72, Nuttall 85
