Nigel and Big Sam are at this one to see West Ham's side of kids in the Carabao Cup. It's a brave selection from Nuno starting with youngsters Herrick, Golambeckis, Mayers, Kante, Orford, Lamadrid, Mukasa and Josh Ajala up front. Max Kilman is on babysitting duty. Billy Bragg is in midfield for the Saints, hoping to be called up for Tuchel's new England.
It looks like the weakened Hammers will be going out after ten minutes when Kilman's header is gathered by Scienza who slaloms across the area without a challenge and slides it past Herrick. "One-nil to the empty seats!" chant the West Ham fans, referencing the empty stand at St Mary's.
But slowly the Irons grow into the game. Lamadrid has a shot, Kilman heads a corner wide and some nifty footwork from Piroe produces a good save.
West Ham are level when keeper Peretz gets under Orford's corner and Josh Ajala is at the back post to head home an easy first goal for the Hammers.
The Irons take the lead early in the second half when Stephens' clearance falls to Ajala who scores with a quick finish. That's a lovely moment for Ajala who definitely has something about him and might save the club a lot of money.
Nuno brings on four first-teamers in Bowen, Castellanos, Engels and Solomon on 59 minutes. Golambeckis's long ball is gathered by the overlapping Veltman who sets up Taty for a tap-in. Encouragingly Taty is all smiles after his goal and doesn't look like a player who might seek a move before the window closes. Its gets better as Orford finds Bowen, who cuts inside the Saints' defence for a typical finish to make it 4-1.
There are a lot of positives from this. Ajala got two goals, Orford had two assists, Golambeckis and Herrick marked their full debuts with a win, it's more experience for Kante, Lamadrid and Mayers and Mukasa looks a skilful addition for the season. Agent Nigel reports that Veltman was excellent too.
This is a morale-boosting result after the Charlton defeat and now some of these players must be pushing to start at Watford. The Cup Final breakfast at Nigel's gaff remains on. Come on you Irons!
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