Albion 6, West Ham United 1
Interim managers Andrew Crofts and Shannon Ruth enjoyed the perfect start as Albion’s under-23s emphatically returned to winning ways in Premier League 2 this evening.
Goals from Antef Tsoungui, Teddy Jenks, Evan Ferguson, Danny Cashman, Reda Khadra and Lars Dendoncker earned Albion their first win in six as they took full toll of a West Ham team reduced to ten men in the seventh minute.
In difficult conditions Albion dominated possession and put together some good attacks. They had chances to have won even more emphatically in their first game since former boss Simon Rusk left to take over at Stockport County.
Their cause was helped when West Ham were reduced to ten men after just seven minutes.
Danny Cashman was through on goal when he was brought down by Frederik Alves, who was shown a straight red. Jack Spong’s free kick from inside the D was saved but Albion broke through in the 15th minute when Ferguson’s effort was blocked and Tsoungui pounced from close range.
It was 2-0 five minutes later thanks to a well-worked goal. Tsoungui’s long diagonal ball picked out Khadra on the left. He crossed low into the box and skipper Jenks slotted home at the far post.
The third goal came on 36 minutes. This time Albion built their attack on the right and James Furlong’s cross was tapped in by Ferguson after Cashman had diverted it towards goal.
Ayo Tanimowo and Cashman could have added further goals with Cashman denied by keeper Joe Anang’s one-handed save, but it was West Ham who pulled one back just before the break thanks to a neat finish by Ademipo Odubako over keeper Carl Rushworth.
Albion took just six minutes of the second half to restore their three-goal cushion when the lively Cashman got a deserved goal, poking the ball past Anang after good work by Tanimowo.
As the heavens opened, Albion scored a fifth in the 70th minute when Khadra was put through after some neat passing in midfield and he scored from close range after rounding Anang.
Jack Wakely made a late debut from the bench after joining from Chelsea earlier this week and after Anang had palmed away Tsoungui’s shot, Albion made it 6-1 when defender Dendoncker headed homefrom close range in the closing moments.
Albion: Rushworth, Tanimowo (Wakely 85), Dendoncker, Tsoungui, Furlong, Cashman, Weir, Spong (Leonard 81), Jenks, Khadra, Ferguson (Wilson 67).
Subs not used: Desbois, Vukoje.