Holland gives West Ham opening win

Winger's eighth-minute strike enough to edge past Valencia in group B tie

West Ham United started their Premier League International Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Valencia. 

An eighth-minute goal from Nathan Holland was the difference, the winger receiving Alfie Lewis's pass and slotting in from a tight angle.

West Ham head coach Dmitri Halajko was pleased with how a young defence, including Under-18 regular Harrison Ashby, 15-year-old Jamal Baptiste and 17-year-old Keenan Appiah-Forson, withstood their experienced opponents. 

"It was a really tough game, probably one of the hardest ones we’ve had, that we edged tonight," Halajko told West Ham's official website. 

Valencia are next in group B action on 16 October, when they face Wolfsburg.

West Ham resume their Premier League 2 campaign, where they are second in Division 2, with a home match against West Bromwich Albion on Monday.