Key Points
- Dominant Display: West Ham United secured an emphatic 5–0 victory over EFL League One side Stevenage at Broadhall Way in their second pre-season fixture.
- First-Half Senior Impact: Midfielder James Ward-Prowse opened the scoring in the 13th minute, before striker Taty Castellanos added a second on 25 minutes after fine work from skipper Jarrod Bowen.
- Academy Graduates Shine: A rotated second-half XI—featuring multiple Academy of Football prospects—added three further goals through Lewis Orford, Josh Ajala, and late substitute Jett Murphy.
- Defensive Resilience: Goalkeeper Alphonse Areola and defender Ezra Mayers made crucial interventions alongside Airidas Golambeckis to preserve the clean sheet during a second-half spell of Stevenage pressure.
- Championship Preparation: Head Coach Nuno Espírito Santo utilized a wide selection of senior players and youth talent as preparations continue ahead of West Ham’s upcoming campaign.
West Ham United (East London Times) July 23, 2026 – West Ham United produced a polished pre-season performance to dispatch Stevenage 5–0 at Broadhall Way on Wednesday evening, giving Head Coach Nuno Espírito Santo plenty to ponder regarding his tactical options and squad depth ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
How Did West Ham United Command the First Half at Broadhall Way?
As reported by the official match reporting team on the West Ham United club website, the Hammers established control early in Hertfordshire. In the 13th minute, James Ward-Prowse initiated a team move deep inside his own half that progressed through Keiber Lamadrid, Kyle Walker-Peters, Jarrod Bowen, and Pablo Felipe.
When Felipe’s low cross reached Ward-Prowse, Stevenage goalkeeper Filip Marschall blocked the initial effort, but Ward-Prowse reacted quickest to slot home the rebound.
West Ham doubled their lead on 25 minutes. Defender Maximilian Kilman dispossessed Olly Sanderson before passing through the lines to Bowen, who turned and played a precise through-ball for Taty Castellanos to finish inside the left-hand post.
Further coverage provided by sports news reporter Alex Mitchell of ReadWestHam noted that Castellanos’ strike came amid ongoing transfer interest, with Everton retaining an interest in the Argentine striker, though West Ham now expect him to remain at the club for the upcoming season.
Which Academy Prospects Caught Nuno Espírito Santo’s Eye in the Second Half?
Following ten substitutions at half-time—with defender Airidas Golambeckis the sole player retained—Nuno introduced a selection of youth players alongside experienced figures like Alphonse Areola and Maxwel Cornet.
As detailed in the official club match report, Stevenage created several early second-half chances. Areola held headers from Josh Magennis and Luther James-Wildin and tipped a long-range drive from Terry Taylor over the bar, while defensive blocks from Young Hammer of the Year Ezra Mayers and Golambeckis preserved the clean sheet.
West Ham reclaimed the momentum on 68 minutes when Ryan Battrum set up midfielder Lewis Orford, who curled a first-time strike into the far top corner.
Nine minutes later, Maxwel Cornet delivered a corner that was kept alive before Kaelan Casey’s volley took a deflection off striker Josh Ajala and ended up in the net.
In the 90th minute, 18-year-old summer signing Jett Murphy completed the 5–0 win by tapping home from close range after entering the match as a late substitute alongside Joel Kerr and Connor Brooks.
Background of the Development
This 5–0 victory follows a 1–1 draw against Southend United in West Ham’s opening pre-season fixture. Head Coach Nuno Espírito Santo, who took charge following a turbulent period that saw West Ham relegated from the Premier League at the conclusion of the 2025/26 season, is tasked with rebuilding the squad for the Football League Championship.
Stevenage, managed by Alex Revell, entered the fixture following a strong 2025/26 League One campaign in which they reached the Play-Off semi-finals.
The fixture served as an important physical test for both sides, with West Ham distributing minutes across 22 players to build match fitness ahead of their competitive opener against Portsmouth in the Carabao Cup first round.
Prediction: How Will This Performance Impact Nuno’s Selection and the West Ham Squad?
While pre-season scorelines must always be evaluated with caution, this fixture offers distinct indicators for West Ham supporters and Nuno Espírito Santo’s coaching staff:
- Increased Youth Integration: The clinical displays from Lewis Orford, Josh Ajala, and Jett Murphy indicate that the Academy of Football remains a viable source of squad depth. Given the fixture congestion in the Championship, Nuno is likely to integrate several of these young players into the first-team matchday squad on a regular basis.
- Attacking Clarity: Taty Castellanos’ sharp movement and goalscoring presence, combined with Jarrod Bowen’s playmaking, suggest that West Ham’s starting frontline possesses the firepower required to compete at the top end of the Championship.
- Selection Headaches for Senior Players: With academy talents demonstrating high energy and tactical discipline in defensive and midfield transitions, established senior players will face immediate internal competition to hold their starting berths when the competitive season begins.
