Darren Wassall has challenged his Derby County Under-23 players to get ‘right in the faces’ of high-flying West Ham United from the off when they travel to the London Stadium.
The Rams travel to the Capital targeting an immediate return to winning ways, kick-off: 7pm.
That said, Wassall’s men have won six of their last eight matches in all competitions – a record that ensures that they travel in fine fettle – but the Hammers come into the game in good form too.
Since their promotion via the Division 2 play-offs last season, Terry Westley’s side currently sit fourth and are unbeaten in their last four outings.
Wassall, Derby’s academy director, has spoken of the importance of making sure the Rams do not let West Ham hit their stride at their 60,000 seater-stadium when they go head-to-head on Friday night.
In an interview with RamsTV, he said: “We have been to the Liberty Stadium, Stamford Bridge, Old Trafford last year and now we’re off to the London Stadium.
“It’s a terrific venue and a great opportunity for our young players to be tested against a good West Ham side.
“I remember playing them in Division 2 a couple of years back (a 3-2 defeat) and we quickly learned that they are very competitive and very athletic.
“West Ham have a great tradition when it comes to developing their young players. Particularly because they are at home, we know what to expect.
“They are going to be right in our faces and I can’t preach enough that we not only stand up to that, but we have to do that to them right from the off.”
The match in the Capital serves as the first of seven matches Derby’s Under-23s will face between now and Christmas.
That is a fact that Wassall is delighted with.
He added: “Some of the criticism of the fixtures programme in the past within academy football is that there aren’t enough games and it doesn’t compare to how regularly a first team are playing.
“How you deal with that rest and recovery between Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday games is really important.
“In that sense, we are delighted that we have got seven games between now and Christmas because that’s as close to what the first team are doing as we can get it.”
