30.01.2010
West Ham United v Blackburn Rovers
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 30 January 2010
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Peter Walton
Final score - West Ham United 0-0 Blackburn Rovers
94 mins - Into the final minute and Faubert wins a corner on the right.
Diamanti races across and curls the ball into the box. Blackburn clear and
Diamanti falls to the ground under a challenge. Referee Walton puts the
whistle to his mouth, but he blows for full-time rather than a free-kick.
92 mins - A long, raking pass from Upson finds Parker inside the box, but
his low cross is too close to Robinson at the near post. Blackburn break and
Green has to be alert to clear the danger on the edge of his own penalty
area.
90 mins - We're going to have at least four more minutes.
89 mins - On the plus-side, it looks like West Ham are going to k,eep
another clean sheet. Also, as results elsewhere stand, West Ham will climb
one place to 15th.
86 mins - Good defending there as Upson heads Pedersen's cross clear under
pressure from Hoilett at the far post.
85 mins - Diouf is replaced by Hoilett for the final few minutes. Parker
links up with Sears and drives past two defenders before poking the ball
across the six-yard box, but there is nobody there to supply the finishing
touch.
82 mins - It might be West Ham's as Sears wins a corner down the right.
Diamanti takes it short to Noble, who works it back to the taker. Diamanti
curls the ball in and it hits a leg before bouncing to Collison, whose shot
is also blocked. Finally, Noble and Diamanti combine again, and his shot is
well gathered by Robinson.
81 mins - Into the final ten minutes and this is anyone's game.
78 mins - Nouble is replaced by Sears. The young man scored two goals in his
first reserve-team game back from his loan spell at Crystal Palace. Can he
add to it with his second goal at senior level?
77 mins - Robinson is the goalkeeper to shine this time, doing well to tip
over Diamanti's rapier-like free-kick. The resulting corner is headed
straight to Collison by Samba, but the Wales midfielder's shot is deflected
wide.
75 mins - Another good chance for Rovers. N'Zonzi fires horribly over the
top from ten yards. Seconds later, Roberts passes up and even better chance,
beating Tomkins before shooting too close to Green. Put simply, he should
have scored.
73 mins - Green has to be at his best to keep out a rasping shot from
Pedersen. Spector takes the safety-first option and heads behind. The corner
drops to Givet, whose shot hits Noble and is cleared off the line by the
alert Cole.
71 mins - The Hammers are back on top here as Nelsen hacks Cole's downward
header out for a throw. Blackburn make a change, replacing Kalinic with
Jason Roberts.
70 mins - Scott Parker is the second West Ham substitute to enter the fray,
replacing Behrami.
68 mins - Nouble gets the wrong side of Nelsen, who appears to tug at the
young forward. Nouble stays on his feet, though, and wins a corner off the
New Zealand defender. Diamanti curls the ball in and Robinson claims it
above the jumping Tomkins.
67 mins - Cole wins a corner and the ball is worked back to taker Diamanti,
The Italian's second ball hits a defender before Tomkins's stabbed effort is
deflected over the top. The second corner is too high and flies harmlessly
over everybody.
65 mins - Blackburn are playing quite well, all of a sudden, as Diouf wins
another corner down the right. Pedersen trots across and takes it
left-footed, and Cole is there to head clear at the near post.
61 mins - Kalinic shows good strength to hold off two West Ham players
before going to ground under a challenge from Faubert. He won the ball, to
be fair. Blackburn get the ball in the box and it breaks to Chimbonda, whose
shot is absolutely nowhere near the goal.
59 mins - Cole is up top with Nouble, with Diamanti wide on the right,
Collison wide on the left and Noble joining Behrami in central midfield.
58 mins - Time for Cole to enter, with Kovac the man to make way. That can
only mean a switch to a 4-4-2 formation, with Cole joining Nouble up front.
Blackburn also make a change, replacing Emerton with Republic of Ireland
midfielder Keith Andrews.
56 mins - West Ham have spent the last few minutes camped in the Blackburn
half. Twice Diamanti crossed and Blackburn cleared before the attack petered
out with Spector heading too close to Robinson.
53 mins - It looks like Cole will be on soon as Zola calls the big man back
to the bench.
52 mins - Away from the ball, Spector goes down under a challenge from
N'Zonzi. The South African claims the American had walked into his shoulder.
Replays are inconclusive. Spector, who had a good first half, receives some
treatment.
50 mins - Blackburn win a rather fortunate corner off Noble. Diouf crosses
and Kovac heads clear.
48 mins - Tomkins is penalised for a foul on Kalinic. That looked a bit
soft. Diouf curls the ball in, it flicks of Kovac's head and Givet heads it
well wide.
46 mins - The second half is underway with West Ham now attacking the Bobby
Moore Stand end. No changes for either side at the interval.
Half-time score - West Ham United 0-0 Blackburn Rovers
46 mins - After exactly a minute of added time, referee Walton brings the
first half to a close. Will we see Cole emerge after half-time?
45 mins - To be fair to Sam Allardyce's team, they have come into it in the
last ten minutes or so. Chimbonda and Diouf combine down the right, but the
latter's cross is mis-hit and bounces straight through to Green.
43 mins - Pedersen did fancy it! He steps up and curls a shot over the
four-man wall and it pings back off the crossbar!
42 mins - Behrami loses his footing 25 yards out and brings down Pedersen.
The Norwegian will fancy this set piece.
40 mins - Faubert brings down Diouf wide on the left. That will give
Blackburn the chance to send Nelsen and Samba forward. Pedersen delivers the
ball low and Tomkins clears well at the near post.
38 mins - Matthew Upson does well to head the ball clear to Diamanti, who
turns and drives forward. Emerton decides to stop him by any means and pulls
the Italian back. He is rewarded with a yellow card.
35 mins - Diouf wins a corner off Behrami. That is Blackburn's first of the
game. Pedersen curls the ball and it looks like it might dip under the
crossbar until Green intervenes. A shot apiece then. Pedersen takes his
second corner and curls it into the side-netting at the near post.
32 mins - At present, the statistics read no shots on or off target for
either side. Behrami tries to change that by romping down the right wing
before being brought down by Nelsen. Diamanti whips in the free-kick and
Robinson can only punch it behind at his near post. Diamanti's resulting
corner is cleared by Samba.
29 mins - Blackburn almost get lucky from a Pedersen free-kick. The ball
bounced back to the Norwegian and he headed it over the home back four as
they came out. Kalinic looked like having a second to get his shot off, but
he fell to the ground and the chance was lost.
28 mins - Spector goes on a superb 60-yard run, beating two Blackburn
defenders before being challenged as he entered the box. Great stuff.
26 mins - Cole swaps places with Stanislas on the touchline. The sight of
the England man is again welcomed by the Boleyn Ground faithful. I'm sure we
will see Cole on the pitch later in the game...
24 mins - Spector finds Diamanti wide on the right. The Italian cuts outside
Olsson before crossing low, forcing Nelsen to poke the ball behind for a
corner. The ball is curled in, but the visitors clear with ease.
21 mins - Parker, Stanislas and Sears are sent out for a run along the
touchline, and receive a nice cheer from the fans for their troubles. On the
pitch, Nelsen makes an important challenge to stop Collison going clear into
the Rovers box.
20 mins - Faubert picks up a pass from Noble near the halfway line before
surging past N'Zonzi. He finds Kovac with a raking pass, but the Czech is in
an offside position.
19 mins - Pedersen launches another throw into the box, where Samba flicks
on, but the ball bounces harmlessly wide of the far post.
18 mins - When Blackburn do get the ball forward, it is invariably a long
ball or clearance towards Kalinic, who is getting no joy out of Upson and
Tomkins. West Ham, in contrast, are knocking the ball around confidently.
16 mins - Blackburn are carrying no attacking threat whatsoever. They
literally cannot get out of their own half at present.
14 mins - Superb ball in from Faubert, but it's just too far in front of the
sliding Kovac. That was a teasing cross, and Samba did well to divert the
ball wide of his own far post. Noble's corner is punched clear by Robinson.
That really was a magnificent ball in by Faubert.
11 mins - West Ham are seeing plenty of the ball. Blackburn are leaving
Kalinic up on his own and he's not had a sniff of the ball yet. Jonathan
Spector is showing plenty of endeavour down the left flank.
8 mins - Diamanti wins the ball back near the touchline and curls a cross
over that is just too high for Behrami. Faubert picks up the loose ball wide
on the right and launches the ball into the box, but Behrami cannot direct
his header on target. Encouraging signs for the hosts, however.
7 mins - Behrami turns in the midfield and tries to release the rampaging
Faubert, but the ball skips off the turf and behind for a goal kick. Nice
idea from the Swiss, there.
5 mins - Spector blocks Diouf's cross out for a throw-in. Pedersen hurls the
ball long into the six-yard box, where Green is there to claim.
4 mins - Absolutely no sign of the snow that has ravaged the north east this
morning. Aside from a few clouds, it's a beautiful winter's day here in east
London.
3 mins - Not a lot to report in the early going, aside from a Martin Olsson
cross headed clear by Radoslav Kovac.
3pm - Gianfranco Zola gives his players a last-minute roar of encouragement.
West Ham kick-off towards the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand.
2.59pm - There is a buzz about the place this afternoon as Mr Sullivan and
Mr Gold prepare to watch their first home match as owners of the club they
support. West Ham's players look focused on the job in hand. A win could
lift the home side to 13th in the table and further away from the
bottom-three.
2.57pm - The teams are in the tunnel as the PA system belts out a succession
of traditional East End tunes. On the touchline, machines blow pretty
bubbles in the air. The stadium is filling up nicely, as you would expect
for an important Premier League game. Here come the two teams...
2.56pm - The new chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold take their seats in
the West Stand. Both have big smiles on their faces and are joined by their
families, and who can blame them? Mr Gold, who grew up just a few yards from
the Boleyn Ground, is sporting a claret scarf as he chats with England
goalkeeper coach Ray Clemence.
2.55pm - There are a few familiar faces back at the Boleyn Ground for this
afternoon's game. Martin Peters, Phil Parkes, George Parris, Mark Ward and
Keith Rowland are all in the stands. Rowland, I am reliably informed, has
been given the afternoon off coaching non-league Aveley to attend the match.
Aveley travel to Sutton United this afternoon...
2.50pm - Looking at the two teams, it looks like both sides will be lining
up with a 4-5-1 formation. Frank Nouble will lead the line for West Ham,
while Croatia international Nikola Kalinic will do likewise for Rovers. The
22-year-old has scored three goals in his last two games, having netted
three in his opening 19 appearances for Blackburn.
2.45pm - The Scandinavian Hammers are in town today, with a 40-odd strong
group from across Norway and Sweden attending today's game. The chairman,
Gjermund Holt, is joined by a pair of youngsters from the supporters' club
on the touchline for a quick interview.
2.25pm - The two teams shared a goalless draw at Ewood Park in their first
meeting in August, but last season's match at the Boleyn Ground was a
different story as the Hammers ran out 4-1 winners against Paul Ince's side
in August.
2.15pm - West Ham will be looking for their eleventh straight home win
against Blackburn today, while at the same time trying to maintain their
unbeaten start to their 2010 Premier League campaign. The players will be
making their way out for their warm-up in five minutes and the home support
will no doubt be delighted to see Cole, Parker and Ilunga out on the pitch
with their team-mates once more.
West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola has named an unchanged side from the
one that drew 1-1 at Portsmouth for Saturday's Barclays Premier League visit
of Blackburn Rovers.
However, the big news comes from the substitutes' bench, where Herita Ilunga
and Scott Parker have both returned from hamstring injuries to take their
place among Zola's replacements. The duo come in for Fabio Daprela and the
departed Luis Jimenez, whose loan spell from Italian club Internazionale has
ended.
For Blackburn, Christopher Samba returns from suspension to take his place
in the starting XI. David Hoilett is the man to drop to the bench.
The Hammers go into today's match unbeaten in their last 14 home meetings
with Blackburn. Should Zola's side triumph, the result would make their
eleventh consecutive victory over the 1994/95 Premier League champions.
Indeed, Rovers' last win at the Boleyn Ground came way back in April 1994.
West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Tomkins, Upson, Spector, Diamanti, Noble,
Kovac (Cole 58), Behrami (Parker 70), Collison, Nouble (Sears 78)
Subs: Stech, Da Costa, Ilunga, Stanislas
Blackburn Rovers: Robinson, Chimbonda, Samba, Nelsen, Givet, Emerton Andrews
58), N'Zonzi, Olsson, Pedersen, Diouf (Hoilett 84), Kalinic (Roberts 71)
Subs: Brown, Salgado, Reid, Di Santo
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Goalless at the Boleyn
WHUFC.com
West Ham United maintained their unbeaten league start to 2010 with a 0-0
draw with Blackburn Rovers
30.01.2010
West Ham United and Blackburn Rovers shared their second goalless draw of
the season at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday afternoon. In a match of few
chances, it was the two goalkeepers who will been most pleased with their
afternoon's efforts, as both made key second-half stops to ensure the spoils
were shared. Before kick-off, there was a typically warm east-end welcome
for the club's new chairmen and suitably, the first home game under the new
owners got underway in fine afternoon sunshine, which was mirrored by a
bright start from the hosts. But for all their possession and endeavour
Gianfranco Zola's side could only trouble Paul Robinson once, when a fierce
Alessandro Diamanti free-kick forced a tip over from the Blackburn No1. As
the half wore on, however, the Hammers had their own England international
goalkeeper to thank for keeping the score level as Robert Green pushed
Morten Gamst Pedersen's goalbound corner over the bar. After Brett Emerton
was booked for pulling back Diamanti, Rovers were to come even closer to
taking the lead as Pedersen was felled by Behrami 25 yards out. The
Norwegian international nearly followed up his stunning midweek strike
against Wigan Athletic with another, as he curled the subsequent free-kick
against Green's crossbar.
Gianfranco Zola had handed the task of picking up an eleventh straight home
win over Rovers to the same eleven players that started the 0-0 draw at
Portsmouth in midweek. The big story, though, was the return of Herita
Ilunga and Scott Parker to the bench following their recoveries from
hamstring injuries. Carlton Cole was also on the bench again following his
successful comeback from a knee injury and the game was not an hour old when
Zola chose to introduce him to the action in place of Radosalv Kovac. After
hitting the bar in the first half, Pedersen was next denied by the
acrobatics of Green in the second, as he brilliantly tipped a 20-yard drive
from the midfielder away from the top corner. The Hammers then had Cole to
thank for hacking Gael Givet's close-range shot off the line. The game was
quickly becoming a battle of the two England hopefuls between the sticks.
Green was almost singlehandedly keeping West Ham in the game as he
brilliantly stopped substitute Jason Roberts' shot from eight yards out. The
save drew a huge round of applause from the majority of the 33,093 crowd and
they were almost cheering even louder shortly after as Robinson had to be at
his best to tip Diamanti's 30-yard set-piece over the bar. Zola threw on
Freddie Sears and Parker in place of Nouble and Behrami as they went all out
for the win but, after four minutes of added time, they had to settle for
their third straight Premier League draw. The point stretches their unbeaten
run against the Lancastrians to seven matches. A trip to Blackburn's local
rivals Burnley follows next for Zola's side, who move up a place to 15th in
the Premier League table.
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Zola demanding more
WHUFC.com
Gianfranco Zola is looking for more quality in the final third from West Ham
United
30.01.2010
Gianfranco Zola is looking for greater application in the final third of the
pitch following the 0-0 draw with Blackburn Rovers. The Hammers competed for
much of the match, particularly in the first half, but struggled to create
many clear-cut openings against a strong and physical Blackburn team. But,
with other results going in their favour, the point moved the Hammers up
another place to 15th in the Premier League table. There were further
positives with the likely arrival of South Africa striker Benni McCarthy and
the appearance off the bench of Carlton Cole and Scott Parker. Next week's
trip to Burnley could also see Kieron Dyer and Herita Ilunga in contention
to play but it was Blackburn that occupied the manager's thoughts on
Saturday night. "I was expecting us to create a little more quality but we
were not able to do that," he said. "The difficulties of the game, like the
tension, caught us a little bit and we couldn't express the quality that we
needed to break them down. We knew they would come here to defend with a lot
of players and so they did. "When they come here to do that you need extra
quality. You have to be good at taking your player on and putting your right
ball in the box. I don't think we played a good game, but considering the
circumstances and looking at the other results we step up the table which is
a good thing for us. "Everyone knows it was an important game that we had to
win. Sometimes when you are too nervous you can't express yourself at the
best and that was the case today."
The Hammers' third straight draw in the league maintains their unbeaten
start to 2010 but Zola said the steady improvement in form still had a way
to go to rival last season's surge up the table. "In the last six games we
have only one defeat so is getting better but slower than last year. Why I
don't know, as the difficulties this year are even bigger than last year.
I'm not finding excuses but we could have done better and we will do
better."
Although there were no goals to lift the Boleyn Ground crowd, the welcome
sight of Ilunga, Parker and Cole returning to the substitutes' bench will
have no doubt warmed them on a chilly January afternoon. Parker and Cole
were introduced in the second half as Zola chased all three points. "The
crowd were worried as well, everybody was frightened. I was expecting us to
lift them a bit more but it wasn't the case. It will be there the next time.
"I knew Scott and Carlton were not 100 per cent fit and it wouldn't be wise
to do play them from the start. I thought it would be better to have them
coming in late in the game where they could change the game. The quest for
greater quality could be boosted by McCarthy, who Zola revealed is set to
formally arrive at the club this Monday. "Benni McCarthy looks like it is
done which should be a good thing for us," he said. "I don't know the terms
but it looks like the deal is done. "He will be a threat in the last third.
He is a type of player that will score goals. He will be a big help for us."
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West Ham 0 - 0 Blackburn
By Jamie Lillywhite
BBC.co.uk
West Ham remain in trouble with only goal difference keeping them clear of
the relegation zone as a dour encounter at Upton Park ended in stalemate.
Morten Gamst Pedersen's free-kick hitting the bar was the only moment of
note in an abject first half. Hammers substitute Carlton Cole made a key
impact on his own goal-line when he hooked Gael Givet's effort clear. Rovers
substitute Jason Roberts had the chance of the game but shot straight at
Robert Green when through. David Gold and David Sullivan took their seats in
the directors' box at Upton Park for the first time at the helm of their
beloved club and received a rousing cheer when fans were asked by the public
address announcer to celebrate the Irons being "back under West Ham
ownership."
Having confirmed the signing of Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy, Gold had
earlier assured fans that no enforced sales would take place, despite the
club being £110m in arrears. The new owners were soon no doubt wondering how
they could inject some creative new talent into the playing staff on such
limited resources as the low quality of the match flattened the atmosphere.
The Hammers started with no shortage of endeavour, and a teasing Julien
Faubert cross was steered narrowly wide of his own net by Chris Samba.
However, their lack of cutting edge was highlighted by Valon Behrami's wild
swipe, which was closer to making contact with a team-mate than the ball.
Alessandro Diamanti looked the one player capable of inspiration, his right
foot barely making contact with the ball but his skilful left hinting at
menace cutting in from the right. Diamanti's firmly struck right-wing
free-kick knocked Paul Robinson off balance as he punched clear, but a
desperate half saw the ball more in the air than played neatly along the
turf.
Having offered little in terms of attacking threat, Blackburn might have
stolen the lead in the closing stages of the half when Pedersen's curling
23-yard free-kick cannoned off the top of the bar, but the whistle for
half-time brought merciful relief. The famous West Ham songs continued from
the patient home contingent after the interval but on the pitch the standard
of play remained horribly untidy. Finally, with 15 minutes remaining, the
match kicked into gear, and Blackburn exerted some pressure on the home side
when Martin Olsson's curling shot towards the top corner was tipped away by
Green. From the resulting corner, Givet squeezed a low shot that deflected
up towards the centre of goal - possibly off a West Ham hand - but Cole
acrobatically cleared.
In a rare passage of end-to-end excitement, Robinson pushed away another
sweetly struck long-range effort from Diamanti. The Hammers pressed again
and Scott Parker, another second half substitution, weaved his way down the
left flank and centred invitingly across goal but there was no-one to finish
the move. Gold and Sullivan will know that finding that missing ingredient
could be vital in their battle against the drop. Blackburn, who remain
without a victory at Upton Park since April 1994, conceded 14 goals in their
first three league visits to London this season, but their seventh point out
of a possible nine in the last three league matches puts them in a
comfortable mid-table position.
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West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola: "It wasn't a nice game. The tension got to
us and we couldn't produce. "When you play teams like that you need to
produce something extra."
West Ham joint-owner David Gold: "In an ideal world we'd like to bring in
one more (player), then we've got to get on with the business of retaining
our Premier League status.
"I'm very confident we can turn this around. It's extremely difficult and
the only way we're going to get out of it is to be a single unit - players,
staff and - most of all - the fans."
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce: "We're bitterly disappointed we haven't
grabbed all three points. "Our plan was to see what West Ham had to offer
and nullify it but what we weren't doing was causing enough problems with
the ball. "In the second half we started to outplay them and was a mixture
of poor finishing, good saves and what should have been a definite penalty
for us wasn't, because if he has not handballed it, it was in. "That aside,
we have had enough chances to put the ball in the net more than once, and we
failed to do that."
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West Ham striker Zavon Hines set to miss rest of season
BBC.co.uk
West Ham striker Zavon Hines is likely to miss the rest of the season after
undergoing knee surgery. The 21-year-old, who has not played since 5
December, scored twice in 15 first-team appearances this season. "I am just
looking to work as hard as I can to get back," the England under-21 player
told the club's website. West Ham say they hope to wrap up a loan deal for
Blackburn forward Benni McCarthy and the signing of an unnamed Brazilian
striker on Monday. Manager Gianfranco Zola acknowledged the absence of Hines
was a blow for a side which has only scored twice in their last five
matches. "It is a real pity for us to have lost Zavon," said Zola. "He is
still young and hopefully his recovery will go well."
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Faubert goes beyond call of duty
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 31st January 2010
By: Staff Writer
Full-back Julien Faubert went into today's game with Blackburn nursing a
secret heartache after his mother passed away just 48 hours earlier. The
26-year-old received the sad news on Thursday and flew back to France
immediately. Despite remaining in France on Friday, Faubert insisted upon
returning to England to feature for West Ham in today's goalless draw with
Blackburn. Faubert - who sported a black armband during today's game, in
which he was one of United's better performers, in memory of his mother - is
set to return to France later this weekend. The Frenchman's decision to play
echoes that of team mate Jack Collison, who insisted on featuring against
Millwall in the Carling Cup earlier in the season having lost his father
just days before.
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Zola - We need McCarthy magic
Hammers boss says co-owners will give club stability
By Hayley Paterson Last updated: 30th January 2010
SSN
Gianfranco Zola believes Benni McCarthy will provide the firepower West Ham
need following a goalless draw against Blackburn. The 32-year-old striker is
on the verge of a £2.5million move from Blackburn to the Hammers, who left
Upton Park on Saturday frustrated at having not taken all three points. The
Hammers - playing in front of co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold at
home for the first time since their successful takeover - had plenty of
possession but lacked a finishing touch despite a second-half introduction
of fit-again England striker Carlton Cole. Zola hopes the imminent arrival
of the McCarthy can add the cutting edge upfront which was lacking in his
side's latest Premier League fixture. "It looks like it is done and next
week he (McCarthy) should be coming to train with us," the Hammers boss
said. "I do not know the terms yet, but they have told me the deal is done.
"He should be available for the next game. Benni will be a threat in the
last third. "He is a player who can score goals and he will be a very good
help for us."
The Italian also said Hammers fans Sullivan and Gold will provide the club
with the stability they need to stay in the Premier League. "They have given
us stability and maybe some more players to strengthen the team, and that is
a good thing," said Zola. West Ham failed to get out of first gear against
Rovers and on another day could have lost. Just before the break, Morten
Gamst Pedersen's 25-yard free-kick crashed against the crossbar and then
substitute Jason Roberts failed to beat Robert Green when clean through with
15 minutes left. Zola said: "I was expecting us to create a bit more
quality, but we were not able to do that. "The tension caught us a little
bit, everybody was nervous and we could not express the quality we needed to
break them down. "But I take it as a good day, because this point means we
step up the table."
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Allardyce - We deserved to win
Rovers boss rues missed chances
By Hayley Paterson Last updated: 30th January 2010
SSN
Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce believes his side can feel somewhat hard done
by at not leaving Upton Park with all three points. In a game lacking
clinical finishing, West Ham rode their luck when Morten Gamst Pedersen saw
his free-kick cannon back off the woodwork and then with 15 minutes to
spare, substitute Jason Roberts failed to beat Rob Green from close range.
Allardyce also thought Green pulled off a brilliant save to deny Martin
Olsson's bullet effort and then claimed Mark Noble handled in the area to
deflect a Gael Givet strike which Carlton Cole eventually cleared off the
line. "We are disappointed we have not turned a very, very good second-half
performance into a victory," the Rovers chief said. "We had the free-kick
which hit the bar, and then Jason Roberts' chance, Martin Olsson's drive is
going in the top corner and Robert Green has saved it, then there is the
penalty. "The handball on the line is just one of those things you hope the
referee would spot, but he has not been able to. "What should have been a
definite penalty for us wasn't, because if he has not handballed it, it was
in. "That aside, we have had enough chances to put the ball in the net more
than once, and we failed to do that." The point has arguably stalled Rovers'
progress, given they were coming off the back of an impressive 2-0 victory
against Fulham earlier in the month. "We feel a little hard done by, but in
the main we should have been a bit more clinical in front of goal - then we
would have won," Allardyce added. "It was a satisfying performance again,
but not the right result."
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Hammers and Rovers all square
Both teams denied penalties in quiet affair
By Hayley Paterson Last updated: 30th January 2010
SSN
Moment of the match: Pedersen's free-kick which crashed off the bar just
imuntes before half-time could have changed the game around.
Attempt of the match: Roberts had a glorious chance to win the game when he
was one-on-one with Rob Green, but his effort lacked pace, power and
direction.
Save of the match: Robinson had to stretch his limbs when a Diamanti
free-kick troubled and had him scrambling across his goal, but he managed to
tip it over.
Talking point: With West Ham lacking that clinical edge upfront, will the
new co-owners be digging deep for more quality strikers?
Man of the match: Pedersen probably saw most of the ball and looked
dangerous at times.
Upton Park saw a goalless draw ensue as few chances were created by either
West Ham or Blackburn as the two sides shared the spoils. Morten Gamst
Pedersen came the closest for the visitors when he saw his curling free-kick
cannon off the bar in the first-half. Substitute Jason Roberts, who has been
linked with a move to Upton Park, could have put Rovers ahead late on when
he side-stepped James Tomkins and found himself one-on-one with Rob Green.
However the striker's effort was tame and the England goalkeeper gathered
well. The Hammers had good possession and seemed to step up a gear when
long-term absentee Carlton Cole came off the bench and added another
dimension and strength up front to trouble Rovers at times. Frank Nouble
could have had a penalty when Ryan Nelsen tugged at his shirt in the box,
but the 18-year-old stayed on his feet and could not regain his momentum to
have a strike on goal. Blackburn's Christopher Samba also went down in the
box earlier on, but nothing was given. West Ham began a new era of Upton
Park as new co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold watched from the stands
for the first time since their successful takeover. However their
performance failed to merit new beginnings as neither side looked likely to
break the deadlock in a quiet game. The home side could have found
themselves behind just before half-time when Gamst Pedersen's 25-yard
free-kick crashed against the crossbar and then substitute Roberts failed to
beat Green when clean through with 15 minutes left.
Sullivan and Gold have been working hard to bring in new talent ahead of
Monday's transfer deadline, with a deal for Rovers striker Benni McCarthy
expected to be concluded shortly - something on this afternoon's evidence
which cannot come soon enough.
The Hammers started the day out of the relegation zone only on goal
difference and faced a Rovers side who had won back-to-back league games
despite their Carling Cup semi-final defeat to Aston Villa. However, the
hosts slowly built some pressure, with Valon Behrami almost getting on the
end of a decent cross by Alessandro Diamanti from the left channel.
Christopher Samba diverted a dangerous ball into the six-yard box from the
right wing behind as West Ham pressed again. Jack Collison and Behrami then
got in each other's way as a loose ball presented itself just inside the
18-yard area. The home side continued to have the better possession, but
lacked a decisive pass. In a rare moment of action at the other end, Nikola
Kalinic went down under pressure from Jonathan Spector, but referee Peter
Walton waved away half-hearted penalty appeals.
West Ham had another chance to send the ball into the Rovers danger area
when Nelsen fouled Behrami wide on the right channel. Diamanti whipped in
the resulting free-kick goalwards and Paul Robinson punched clear at his
near post. After 35 minutes, an in-swinging corner from Pedersen had Hammers
'keeper Green backpedalling to tip the ball over.
Just before half-time, Rovers came within inches of going ahead when Behrami
tripped Pedersen around 25 yards out. The midfielder took the shot himself
and was unfortunate to see his effort crash off the crossbar with Green
beaten. There was little action in the opening exchanges of the second half,
and just before the hour mark, West Ham made a change when Cole - returning
for the first time since November following a knee injury - replaced
Radoslav Kovac. The visitors had a chance to deliver a decent ball into the
West Ham box after Julien Faubert brought down Kalinic. However in a game
littered with poor deliveries, Pedersen failed to clear the wall and when
the ball fell to Pascal Chimbonda, the defender lashed his volley well wide.
The introduction of Cole gave the Hammers fresh impetus, and they forced a
succession of corners, but yet again they came to nothing. Rovers injected
some fresh legs into their attack as Roberts replaced Kalinic. A scramble in
the box saw Green push Pedersen's goal-bound drive away and Cole was back to
clear Gael Givet's shot off the line after it appeared to hit Mark Noble on
the arm. Roberts should have beaten Green when shrugging off James Tomkins
just inside the penalty area, only to then, 12 yards out, shoot too close to
the England goalkeeper. At the other end, Robinson tipped Diamanti's 25-yard
free-kick over. Substitute Scott Parker also rolled the ball invitingly
across the six-yard box after a decent surge forward, but there was no-one
on hand for what would have been a tap in.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Vinny's Blackburn Report
Vinny - Sat Jan 30 2010
West Ham Online
West Ham United 0 Blackburn Rovers 0
West Ham and Blackburn played out a dismal goalless draw at Upton Park in
yet another disappointing result and one which does little to ease any
relegation worries.
This game was arguably the worst spectacle I have witnessed this season
although the reverse fixture at Ewood Park was not much better. It seems
that playing Blackburn brings out the ultimate worst in our football.
This should have been a game were we took all three points. It cannot be
seen as anything other than a terrible result. The whole performance was
disappointing with the tactics from the beginning looking all wrong.
Most of the fans would have thought we would come out in the second half and
look a lot brighter and maybe even create some chances but if there was
anyone likely to score it was Blackburn who should have taken at least one
of their golden chances.
Our passing was generally poor, there was a lack of movement from the
midfield, players such as Diamanti and Collison went missing for large
periods of the games and others such as Noble and Behrami just huffed and
puffed running themselves into the ground in the process.
Going forward we offered nothing with Frank Nouble isolated and looking well
out of his depth with the best player on the pitch Christopher Samba winning
everything.
The new owners must know that a couple of strikers are an absolute necessity
to get in by next Saturday's encounter with Burnley as we cannot continue to
play the way we are playing.
Gianfranco Zola made no changes to the side who only came away with a point
at bottom club Portsmouth last Tuesday evening.
This was a surprise given the amount of talk about players returning. Those
players suggested to return to the fold were available but on the
substitutes bench. Carlton Cole, Scott Parker and Herita Ilunga were all
included in the eighteen man squad but obviously not deemed fit enough to
start.
It does beg the question that if they were fit enough to be on the bench
then surely they were fit enough to start? I was always under the impression
that you should start with your best team but maybe that is an old way of
looking at things now.
The formation we began with is bordering on upsetting me every time I see
it. I'm frustrated before the ball has even been kicked. What gets to me is
that Zola trains with the players all week and gets paid for it yet unlike
me (and many others) we can see that one upfront does not work for us, has
not worked for us, and will never work for West Ham.
The game started as it meant to go on with a truly boring opening fifteen
minutes. The first real moment of the game came when Julien Faubert whipped
in a quite fantastic cross (which I would think is why we purchased him for
all that money) for Blackburn defender Samba to get to the ball first and
nearly divert it into his own net but it went just wide.
The next chance came from a dead ball situation which saw Diamanti take a
free kick from what looked a very difficult angle and former Spurs keeper
Paul Robinson in somewhat unorthodox fashion punched the ball wide for a
corner.
We should have done a lot better as Collison burst into the area but lost
possession and as the ball came out to Berhami who looked as though he may
get a strike in on goal Collison got in his way and he ended up taking a
wild swipe at the ball.
With a few moments of the first half remaining Blackburn won a free kick and
this was taken by Pederson who hit a curling effort at goal which crashed
off the cross bar.
It is difficult to recall such a poor first half although last season at
home to West Brom was pretty bad. This though seemed to hit home a little
more due to our current plight and the threat of relegation still looming
large.
With this being the first home game since the David Gold and David Sullivan
takeover Upton Park should have been an atmospheric wonder for everyone to
behold. Instead it was flat and tense just like the performance from the
players and the 33,093 (with Blackburn bringing just the four fans) would
have been left wondering when things are going to take a turn for the
better.
The hope would have been that at half time we would bring on a couple of new
faces and really take the game to what must be said was a very poor
Blackburn team. In fact watching Blackburn and seeing that tonight as I
write this they are 10th in the Premiership does make me question just how
shit this league is. It also makes me question how bad have we been this
season if they can be that high in the league playing that type of football.
Our untidy football continued in the second half as we made no changes to
our shape or personnel. I would conclude that Zola must have thought we
doing well? It is that sort of thing which worries me about Zola because
surely he must be able to see that we had nothing in the first period to
hurt Blackburn with and hoping for some 'magic' from the erratic Diamanti is
not really a game plan.
Only twelve minutes of the second half had gone when Zola finally woke up
and realise something needed to change and he took off Kovac (who prior to
his removal had given the ball away at least twice to the increase the
gathering frustration of the home support) and replaced him with Carlton
Cole.
This incredibly saw us go to 4-4-2. Yes, you read correct folks.
Trouble was in midfield Diamanti, Collison and Behrami offered us so little.
Only Noble looked a little adventurous going forward as he put in his second
consecutive impressive display.
Blackburn were a bit like a stupid dog that you keep going to hit but never
do and eventually they worked this out and started to bite back and they
could sense that maybe they could nick all three points.
Martin Olsson cut inside and hit a curling effort at goal but Robert Green
was on hand to make a brilliant save to tip wide for a corner.
From the resulting corner Blackburn so very nearly took the lead with both
teams scrapping for the ball in the area. Givet managed to turn and hit the
ball at goal for it to deflect and just as it was about to go over the line
Carlton Cole managed to clear it of the line.
Blackburn's best chance of the game then came soon after as a long and
hopeful ball saw James Tomkins get himself into a complete mess and let
Jason Roberts in on goal but the shot was easily saved by Green. It should
have been a goal and although Green was equal to it, I have to point out it
was a terrible and weak finish.
At the other end it was very quiet although Diamanti saw his low drive at
goal saved easily by Robinson. Zola made his second change of the day with
the ineffective Behrami coming off for Scott Parker.
Parker showed some great determination and skill to get round the back of
the Blackburn defence only for his ball across goal to evade everyone. I say
evade everyone but no one was actually there. This send frustration levels
through the roof of Upton Park as everyone sensed that we could be here till
midnight and still not score.
Frank Nouble was the third player to be taken off with Freddie Sears
replacing him with just over ten minutes to go.
The game continued to fizzle out with only a free kick from Diamanti which
was well saved by Robinson causing the away side any real problems.
Boo's rang out at the final whistle more in frustration than anything else.
This was a game we had all identified as a 'must win' and once again we have
failed to do so. Just four wins in twenty three games is an appalling
record.
Player Reviews
Robert Green
I keep pointing out his kicking simply because his kicking is fucking awful.
It never seems to go where it is intended. As for his overall performance,
he made two or three really top saves as he continues to show what a good
shot stopper he is.
Jonathan Spector
This bloke always gives it his all and this was apparent once again. He does
lack the ability at times and playing as a left back is quite clearly
difficult for him. He did have one run in the first half where he went from
his own half into the opposition area. I thought he was going to score the
goal of the season and we would know these years as the "Spector Years".
Sadly this wasn't to be.
Matthew Upson
The positive from this game is that we have kept another clean sheet. Upson
played very well again today and I can't help but be impressed on how
commanding he was in the air. He was rarely caught in possession and his
distribution was decent.
James Tomkins
Found it a little more difficult but on the whole I thought he put in a very
good showing. Yes, he did make a near fatal mistake which Roberts let him
off the hook for but he is continuing to learn and he is cementing his
position as a starter once again.
Julian Faubert
Believe it or not but in the first half I saw him make two excellent passes.
Don't laugh or turn your nose up at that. It is true. I was there. I saw it
happen. Actually I thought Faubert had a pretty good game today given that
he was given no help at all from Diamanti. He was strong and worked hard
throughout.
Jack Collison
I am not familiar with magic but I would love to know where Jack Collison
disappeared to in the second half because I can't recall him doing anything.
My issue with him is just this because far to many times he just drifts out
of games. He struggles to make an impact on the left wing and although there
were moments in the first half where I thought he was beginning to get a
hold on the game this just disintegrated and I am left wondering what
happened to his second half performance.
Radoslav Kovac
Never got to grips with the game and his passing seemed to be at an all time
low. I was surprised he even got to come out for the second half.
Mark Noble
With Parker not starting Noble is given that holding midfielders role and I
have to say I am impressed at what I see. He was our only player who really
looked capable of making anything happen (I do not count Diamanti's blind
passes as 'creative') and my faith in Mark Noble is being brought back.
Valon Berhami
He works hard, but then he always has worked hard. What he was able to do
last season is make things happen but I saw little of that today. He ran
himself into the ground, often kept the ball for too long and was correctly
taken off given his ineffectiveness. Last season he played on the right and
was great, this season he is playing in the middle and is not. You make your
own conclusions.
Alessandro Diamanti
He is just not a right winger. He was very poor in my opinion despite a
couple of shots from free kicks. You cannot keep a player on just because
you think he may score one of his free kicks (which I may add since being at
the club he has score no free kicks). Not involved in the game other than
giving away silly free kicks.
Frank Nouble
Way out of his depth in this one. Fair enough, Samba is a fierce opponent
(how I would love to have him at West Ham) but Nouble looked quite lost.
What Nouble seems to want to do is get the ball at his feet, turn and run
with pace and power. Unfortunately with our slow passing game this is never
going to happen.
Subs Used
Carlton Cole (on for Kovac 57 mins)
Not sure why he wasn't just brought on at half time (or why he didn't even
start). His biggest impact was actually at the other end when he cleared
Givet's goal bound shot off the line. Expecting him to start against
Burnley.
Scott Parker (on for Behrami 70 mins)
Great to see our player of the season back from injury. Got a good run out,
nearly made a goal and will be a big plus for the next game.
Freddie Sears (on for Nouble 78 mins)
Saw a bit of the ball and was doing his best to try and make things happen
but little came off for him.
Subs Not Used: Stech, Da Costa, Stanislas, Ilunga
Bookings: None
Man Of The Match: Mark Noble
Attendance: 33,093
Overall
No doubt about it, this was a poor performance and a terrible result. We
should have been winning this game and the players out on that pitch I felt
were good enough to break down Blackburn.
We say we need creativity but last season Collison, Noble and Berhami were
all part of the midfield four which did so well.
Up front we have problems but I would think Diamanti is better than Di
Michele. So although we need new personnel do take a moment to think about
how we have largely the same players yet have not been able to play the same
football or grind out the same sort of results as last season.
Surely this is something the management team have failed to get out of the
players. I just do not think that we are getting the very best from players
we currently have. We know there is more - we saw it last season.
Next Game - Burnley (a)
I am still trying to work out how I will get there given the trains are
costing millions. This is a game against a side who are down the wrong end
of the table just as we are. To come away with a loss is unacceptable. To
come away with a draw is unacceptable. Only a win will do. You will have
noticed that drawing games do little to take us away from danger.
By next week we should have one new striker in Benni McCarthy who will
hopefully help bolster our weak and tepid strike force. But if the midfield
do not learn how to create then could have Fernando Torres up front and it
will make no difference.
Zola's View
"I was expecting us to create a little more quality but we were not able to
do that,"
"The difficulties of the game, like the tension, caught us a little bit and
we couldn't express the quality that we needed to break them down. We knew
they would come here to defend with a lot of players and so they did.
"When they come here to do that you need extra quality. You have to be good
at taking your player on and putting your right ball in the box. I don't
think we played a good game, but considering the circumstances and looking
at the other results we step up the table which is a good thing for us.
"Everyone knows it was an important game that we had to win. Sometimes when
you are too nervous you can't express yourself at the best and that was the
case today."
"In the last six games we have only one defeat so is getting better but
slower than last year. Why I don't know, as the difficulties this year are
even bigger than last year. I'm not finding excuses but we could have done
better and we will do better."
"The crowd were worried as well, everybody was frightened. I was expecting
us to lift them a bit more but it wasn't the case. It will be there the next
time.
"I knew Scott and Carlton were not 100 per cent fit and it wouldn't be wise
to do play them from the start. I thought it would be better to have them
coming in late in the game where they could change the game.
"Benni McCarthy looks like it is done which should be a good thing for us,"
"I don't know the terms but it looks like the deal is done.
"He will be a threat in the last third. He is a type of player that will
score goals. He will be a big help for us."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 0 Blackburn 0
The Sun
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GIANFRANCO ZOLA claims Benni McCarthy can solve West Ham's lack of
firepower. The Hammers - playing in front of co-owners David Sullivan and
David Gold - wasted ample possession, even after the second-half arrival of
fit-again England striker Carlton Cole. Zola said of Blackburn frontman
McCarthy: "It looks like it is done and next week he should be coming to
train with us. "I do not know the terms yet, but they have told me the deal
is done. He should be available for the next game. "Benni will be a threat
in the last third. He is a player who can score goals and he will be a very
good help for us."
Zola insists the Hammers takeover can take the struggling club to a new
level. He added: "They have given us stability and maybe some more players
to strengthen the team, and that is a good thing." The Upton Park chief
admitted, though, that his side must improve quickly. He said: "I was
expecting us to create a bit more quality, but we were not able to do that.
"The tension caught us a little bit. Everybody was nervous and we could not
express the quality we needed to break them down. "But I take it as a good
day, because this point means we step up the table."
Rovers boss Sam Allardyce bemoaned the visitors' fortune, including Mark
Noble escaping unpunished after appearing to handle Gael Givet's shot before
it was cleared off the line. Allardyce said: "We are disappointed we have
not turned a very, very good second-half performance into a victory. "We had
the free-kick which hit the bar, and then Jason Roberts' chance, Martin
Olsson's drive is going in the top corner and Robert Green has saved it,
then there is the penalty. "The handball on the line is just one of those
things you hope the referee would spot, but he has not been able to. "What
should have been a definite penalty for us wasn't, because if he has not
handballed it, it was in. "That aside, we have had enough chances to put the
ball in the net more than once, and we failed to do that. "We feel a little
hard done by, but in the main we should have been a bit more clinical in
front of goal and would have won. "It was a satisfying performance again,
but not the right result."
Nonetheless, a dull first half highlighted why both the Hammers and
Blackburn are in the lower half of the table. And although the game came to
life after the interval, neither side deserved anything more than a share of
the spoils. The Hammers started the day clear of the relegation zone on goal
difference alone and faced a Blackburn side boasting back-to-back league
wins. But it was the hosts who slowly built some pressure, with Valon
Behrami almost getting on the end of a decent cross by Alessandro Diamanti.
Christopher Samba then diverted a dangerous ball into the six-yard box
behind as West Ham pressed again. In a rare moment of action at the other
end, Nikola Kalinic went down under pressure from Jonathan Spector, but
referee Peter Walton waved away half-hearted penalty appeals. And it was
Rovers who nearly broke the deadlock after 35 minutes, an inswinging corner
from Pedersen leaving Green backpedalling to tip the ball over.
Just before half-time, the visitors came even closer to going ahead. Valon
Behrami tripped Pedersen and the midfielder took the resulting set-piece
himself, only to see it crash off the woodwork with Green beaten. There was
little action in the opening exchanges of the second half, prompting Zola to
introduce Cole before the hour mark in place of Radoslav Kovac. But it was
the visitors who had the next chance to deliver a decent ball into the box
after Julien Faubert brought down Kalinic. Pedersen, though, failed to clear
the wall and eventually Pascal Chimbonda drilled his angled shot well wide.
Cole gradually began to find his feet and West Ham forced a succession of
corners, but yet again they came to nothing. Rovers injected some fresh legs
into their attack as Roberts replaced Kalinic, before Green pushed
Pedersen's goal-bound drive away and Cole was back to clear Givet's shot off
the line. Roberts should then have beaten Green after shrugging off James
Tomkins, only to shoot too close to the keeper. At the other end, Paul
Robinson tipped Diamanti's 25-yard free-kick over before no-one was on hand
to tap home Scott Parker's ball across the six-yard box. And the missed
opportunity summed up exactly why the Hammers have aged Zola so dramatically
this season.
West Ham: Green, Faubert, Tomkins, Upson, Spector, Collison, Noble, Kovac
(Cole 57), Behrami (Parker 70), Diamanti, Nouble (Sears 78). Subs Not Used:
Stech, Da Costa, Ilunga, Stanislas.
Blackburn: Robinson, Chimbonda, Samba, Nelsen, Olsson, Diouf (Hoilett 83),
Emerton (Andrews 58), Givet, Nzonzi, Pedersen, Kalinic (Roberts 71). Subs
Not Used: Brown, Reid, Di Santo, Salgado.
Booked: Emerton.
Att: 33,093
Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
New owners but same old problems for West Ham
West Ham 0 Blackburn 0
The TImes
(Daniel Hambury/PA)
Nick Townsend at Upton Park Recommend? AN AFTERNOON of rheumy-eyed
sentimentality for the two Davids who have, as they put it, "finally come
home". Yet the foreboding reality will have dawned on Gold and Sullivan well
before the end of this game that their acquisition is in a more perilous
state than they possibly dared imagine.
With ownership of West Ham having passed from Eggert Magnusson, under whom
the business crumbled, and Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, to men who have thrived
in the adult entertainment business, one anticipated that the Hammers would,
dare one suggest it, rise to the occasion.
Not a hint of it; Gianfranco Zola's men were fortunate to escape with a
point. The West Ham manager pointed afterwards to one defeat in six league
games, but a more pertinent sequence is one win in nine. Zola admitted:
"There was tension around the game. When you are too nervous you don't
express yourself."
Zola at least has Carlton Cole back after a lengthy hiatus with a knee
injury. The striker was unleashed from the bench for the last half-hour.
With Zola spurned by Eidur Gudjohnsen, who belatedly switched his allegiance
to Spurs, there should be another striking option available with Benni
McCarthy set to sign for the Hammers today. "It looks like it's done," Zola
said of the reported £2.5m purchase of the South Africa player, who will
join them from Blackburn Rovers.
Forward power was decidedly missing in the Hammers' performance. While
Champions League contention is the long-term target as the owners dedicate
themselves to reducing the club's £110m debts, there exists a short-term
danger of relegation to the Championship.
That was all too evident in a barren first period. Half an hour had passed
before Alessandro Diamanti's volley warmed Paul Robinson's hands. At the
other end, Morten Gamst Pedersen smashed a free kick against Robert Green's
crossbar.
After the interval, with Cole and Scott Parker joining the fray, the tempo
increased and both goalkeepers had to demonstrate their international
pedigree. Martin Olsson forced Green to make a splendid save. From the
resulting corner, Gael Givet's shot struck Mark Noble on the hand before
Cole cleared off the line. "If he hadn't handballed it, that's a goal," Sam
Allardyce, the Blackburn manager, said. "I hoped the referee would have
spotted it."
Star man: Christopher Samba (Blackburn)
Yellow card: Blackburn: Emerton
Referee: P Walton
Attendance: 33,093
West Ham: Green 7, Faubert 6, Tomkins 6, Upson 7, Spector 5, Collison 6,
Noble 7, Kovac 6 (Cole 57min, 6), Behrami 5 (Parker 69min, 6), Diamanti 6,
Nouble 6 (Sears 77min)
Blackburn: Robinson 7, Chimbonda 6, Samba 8, Nelsen 7, Olsson 6, Diouf 6
(Hoilet 83min), Emerton 6 (Andrews 57min, 5), Givet, Nzonzi 5, Pedersen 6,
Kalinic 5 (Roberts 70min)
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
DYER'S GET FIT OR GET OUT STUNNER
Hammers chiefs get tough on midfielder
News Of The World
By Rob Shepherd, 30/01/2010
WEST HAM'S Kieron Dyer has been given a month to prove his fitness or face
being forced into retirement. Hammers new owners David Sullivan and David
Gold have embarked on a severe cost-cutting regime. The main focus has been
on reducing club debts but they are also viewing player excesses. It is felt
that the time has come for Dyer to prove he can still perform or face being
offered a severance package. Midfielder Dyer, 31, has made just 18
appearances since a £6million move from Newcastle 2½-years ago. The former
England player is on £60,000 a week and each outing has effectively cost the
club around £460,000. Dyer has 18 months of his contract to run but a
verdict on his future is expected in three weeks. This season every time
Dyer has returned to action he has rapidly broken down again. If the player
was paid up until the end of the season then an insurance package could save
the club £2m. Only two months ago striker Dean Ashton was forced to accept a
retirement deal after losing a two-year battle against crippling injury.
West Ham's owners have already revealed a tough streak by suspending
£20,000-a-week defender Calum Davenport's wages. Although the player is back
in training after a stabbing incident, he faces assault charges. The PFA and
Premier League are currently investigating if West Ham are in the right to
have stopped paying the player prior to a court case. Behind the scenes the
cost cutting continues with the departure of chief executive Scott Duxbury
last week. Technical director Gianluca Nani is set to follow out of the door
next week. Meanwhile, West Ham continue to chase at least one more striker
before tomorrow's transfer deadline having set up the signing of Benni
McCarthy from Blackburn last week. Stoke's Dave Kitson and James Beattie are
now on their radar as well as former Spurs striker Mido but they still hope
to beat Sunderland for the services of Manchester City's Benjani.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
HAMMERS ATTEMPT TO LAND HUTTON
News Of The World
By Marc Isaacs, 30/01/2010
WEST HAM hope to seal a loan move for Tottenham defender Alan Hutton.
Hutton, 25, has failed to cement a regular first-team place and is desperate
to get his career back on track. The Hammers failed to bring in a
replacement for Lucas Neill when he left the club last summer and Julien
Faubert has been playing out of position at right back.
Gianfranco Zola has money at his disposal to bring in new faces and is
hoping to agree a move for Hutton before the transfer window closes on
Monday. Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp admits he is willing to let the
Scotland international go on loan to another Premier League club. Spurs boss
Harry Redknapp said: "Alan is a good player and he needs to play. So if he
wanted to go out, it's something that could happen. "I have had one or two
people ask about Alan. "Up until now, I have said I don't want to loan him
but, if he really wants to, I wouldn't stand in his way." The two clubs fell
out over Eidur Gudjohnsen but could still do business.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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