Spurs under 23’s versus West Ham United: (match preview)

After recording an impressive 1-1 draw against Liverpool in the PL2 last Monday Wayne Burnett’s development side find themselves back in league action on Sunday, when they make the short trip across London to face West Ham. Sunday’s London derby at the Chigwell Construction Stadium (the home of non league side Dagenham and Redbridge) is a game in which Burnett’s side will be desperate to win. After suffering a surprise 3-1 defeat to the ‘ Hammers ‘ on the opening day of the season, Spurs will be keen to get their own back on the East London club who sit one place below Spurs in the table in tenth place. That opening day defeat was a very strange game for Spurs who completely dominated the first half and they went into the break 1-0 ahead thanks to Samuel Shashoua’s impressive goal. However, Spurs seemed to fall apart as the game went on and the quality of West Ham’s attacking players proved to be too much for the young Spurs defence. Terry Westley’s West Ham side have struggled for consistency so far this campaign despite the fact that they have recorded some impressive results. In West Ham’s last two matches they have lost 4-2 at home to Brighton before then going up to Manchester and beating Man City 5-1 in their own back yard. Burnett will hoping that his side can continue their four match unbeaten run in the PL2 and climb further up the table with a win on Sunday. Some West Ham players to look out for are experienced central midfielder Moses Makasi (22), fullback and England youth international Ajibola Alese and young attacking midfielder Joe Powell who has scored six goals from 11 PL2 games this season. Sunday lunchtimes encounter will be a close and highly competitive affair and if it’s anything like last years 2-2 draw at the same venue then it promises to be an intriguing game of football. I will be reporting on Sundays big game before heading off to Wembley to watch our first team take on Manchester United. I wish all of Wayne Burnett’s side the very best of luck for the London derby.

My predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Austin, Hinds, Tanganga (c), Eyoma, Reynolds, Marsh, Maghoma, Oakley-Boothe, Roles, Georgiou, Sterling.

Subs from: Whiteman, Walcott, Bowden, Tracey, Parrott. 

Injured/unavailable: Luke Amos and Jonathan Dinzeyi.

Doubtful: Brooklyn Lyons-Foster, Malachi Walcott, Phoenix Patterson, Shayon Harrison.

Previous meeting: Spurs 1-3.

My score prediction: Spurs 3-1.

My one to watch: At just 15 years of age 2003 born winger Amadou Diallo is a player who is being touted for big things. Diallo who primarily operates on the left hand side has scored two goals from two appearances for the ‘ Hammers ‘ development side so far this season, and the schoolboy is being touted to achieve great things at the East London club. Diallo is a tricky winger with an eye for goal and it will be interesting to see how he does against Wayne Burnett’s side on Sunday.