West Ham United U23 0-1 Sunderland U23
Recap the action from East London as Sunderland under-23s continued their Premier League 2 campaign.
THE WRAP
Lee Connelly’s speculative first-half strike was enough to seal the points for Sunderland in East London this evening.
Nestling his strike into Nathan Trott’s top right-hand corner on 13 minutes, Connelly led from the front alongside debutant Connor Shields as the Black Cats produced a steely display in the capital.
Added to that, Jonny Williams completed 90 minutes as he racked up more minutes on his return from injury while the lads’ efforts also saw them return home with a clean sheet.
SHIELD IN ATTACK
Scotland striker Shields led the line of attack for Sunderland on a bitterly cold evening in the capital. The 20-year-old joined the club on Deadline Day last week from Albion Rovers after netting 12 goals in the first half of the season. Williams also featured as he clocked some more valuable minutes on his return from a dislocated shoulder while Jack Rodwell and Jason Steele also started.
SCOTTISH STRIKE FORCE
Connelly and Shields led from the front and from the first whistle. Refusing to give the West Ham backline a moments peace, Shields raced out the traps and showed some positive signs on his first outing in a Sunderland top. The 20-year-old squeezed a cross into Williams’ path on five minutes but the Wales international was denied by the arm of Trott before the tireless frontman volleyed over from 12 yards as he was presented with his first crack at goal.
TOP DRAWER
But for all Shields’ tireless work, it was his fellow countryman who came up trumps in an action-packed opening 45. Moments after failing to find either Shields or Williams as Sunderland strode forward three on one, Connelly managed to find the top corner with sumptuous strike from 20 yards. Bending it home with his left foot, Connelly send it curling away from Trott and into the top right-hand corner of the net with 13 minutes played. But it really should’ve been 2-0 less than 60 seconds later when Williams went through one-on-one. Trott, though, was equal to the midfielder’s drive and did well to turn it away from the danger zone.
STEELE AT THE BACK
But that’s the way the score stayed. The Hammers knocked furiously in spells at the door but were denied by Jason Steele who made a string of fine saves – most notably tipping over Oladapo Afolayan’s drive from distance. At the other end, Elliot Embleton flashed a free-kick over before teasing one through a gap and into Trott’s gloves as the half-time whistled sounded.
HAMMERING AWAY
Sunderland stuck to their guns in the second 45, working hard and chasing everything down. But the hosts showed glimpses of quality that wasn’t evident in the first period. Afolayan dragged his effort wide after being allowed to shoot inside the box and then Browne skipped past two before scuffing his effort wide from just six yards.
WILL-ING RUNNER
Sunderland were persistent in their efforts, however, stuck to their task and dug deep to snuff the hosts out. Shields continued to defend from the front, hassling, battling and chasing for every inch he could. His physicality brought others into play too, and as he backed into his opponent, he managed to touch Rodwell’s free-kick down for Williams who controlled before testing Trott. William’s energy on the left flank caused problems all night for the Hammers and with 73 minutes played it really should’ve been game, set and match as Williams nipped in behind – latched onto Jake Hackett’s path – and drilled an effort into Trott again. Browne struck the post in the closing stages but the lads did enough to close the game out and return with three valuable points.
West Ham United U23: Trott, Powell, Hannam, Quina (Scully, 45), Okotcha (Rosa, 79), Akinola, Haksabanovic, Diangana, Hector-Ingram (Lewis 45), Browne, Afolayan.
Subs: Jinadu, Adarkwa
Sunderland U23: Steele, Robson, Hume, Gamble, Taylor, Rodwell, Connelly, Embleton, Shields (Diamond, 84), Hackett, Williams (Kimpioka, 90)
Subs: Storey, Stryjek, Brotherton.