Blair the Flair: young winger Turgott nets hat trick in closed doors friendly

A West Ham XI triumphed 3-1 over their Queens Park Rangers counterparts this afternoon at the Boleyn Ground, with 18 year old winger Blair Turgott scoring all three goals. Fresh from a productive loan at League Two outfit Bradford City, Bromley-born Turgott was in scintillating form as he rattled in three excellent goals against an experienced Rangers side including first team stars Jamie Mackie, Jay Boothroyd and Adel Taarabt.

Managers Sam Allardyce and Harry Redknapp agreed to pit their teams against each other in order to give their fringe players some match fitness, with no game for either side this weekend owing to the international break, and it was the Hammers who looked much the sharper, with Turgott firing the home side into an early lead after just 12 minutes. Defensive duo George McCartney and James Tomkins were both using the game to gain match fitness after spells on the sidelines and both looked sharp and solid.

The Irons doubled their lead just before the half hour mark with young forward Turgott grabbing his second of the game with another curler from the edge of the box following more good link up play with Development Squad team mate Kieran Bywater. Although QPR halved the deficit early in the second half via a stunning free kick from Taarabt, West Ham's two goal advantage was soon restored, 5 minutes later as man of the match Turgott completed a wonderful hat trick with another fiercely struck drive from the edge of the box. The last half hour was simply an exercise in patient, coordinated defending from the Hammers as they saw out the remainder of the game.

Good solid performance from the lads, great to see McCartney and Tomkins getting close to full fitness, but what a performance from young Blair Turgott. The lad's been a consistently excellent performer for the reserves, and after this performance against what was on paper a competent and experienced QPR side, surely he merits his chance in the first team soon?

Blair himself certainly seems happy with his performance today, tweeting "BEST HAT TRICK I'VE EVER SCORED! Won 3-1 against a strong QPR team.. #DEEC". Reserve team manager Ian Hendon was happy with his man's performance as well, telling whufc.com that "Blair has got that in his locker- (assistant manager) Neil McDonald was watching as well, so he has given him a little nudge." Turgott obviously needs to be producing displays like this on a regular basis to be in with a shot of the first team reckoning, but has massively boosted his chances with today's show.

By Alex Shilling, News Editor

@alexshilling