Burnley's under-21 side resumes its Premier League 2 schedule on Friday with an away game against West Ham United. The team, led by former professional Andy Farrell, hopes to move up from its low position in the league table, just as the senior side aims to climb from 22nd in the Championship where they have eight points from one win, five draws and five losses.
So far this season, their sole league victory came against Derby County in September, featuring two goals from Zach Johnson. Johnson also scored in a cup match against Fleetwood Town. The squad's confidence is boosted by a midweek cup win against Blackpool.
West Ham's under-21 team, under manager Mark Robson, has similarly struggled at the start of the campaign and occupies a place in the lower half of the standings. They have secured one win from their first few games, following a loss to Norwich City in their last match.
Mark Robson, who played for Manchester United and Charlton Athletic, took charge of the under-21s in late 2021. This fixture marks the initial Premier League 2 encounter between these clubs, as Burnley's youth setup previously played in a different league.
The game represents an opportunity for Burnley's young players to gain some positive momentum, while the club's first team is also in a lower league position. Their next Championship fixture is away to Lincoln on Saturday 24 October. The U21s will be trying to better their previous season's result, when they finished at the foot of the table.
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