Premier League - Blackburn frustrated by Hammers

Eurosport - Sat, 21 Mar 17:41:00 2009

Blackburn slipped deeper into Premier League relegation trouble after being held 1-1 at Ewood Park by West Ham.

Scott Parker, West Ham United - 0

Sam Allardyce's team went behind to Mark Noble's well-worked opener on 35 minutes, but substitute Keith Andrews drove home early in the second half to bring Blackburn deservedly level.

The home side wasted myriad chances to earn themselves a precious three points, but a combination of their profligacy and resolute defending from West Ham saw them frustrated.

The solitary point leaves Blackburn languishing just above the Premier League drop zone, and a victory for Newcastle against Arsenal this evening will put Rovers in the bottom three.

Gianfranco Zola's West Ham, meanwhile, followed their uninspired showing against West Brom on Monday night with an enigmatic display that saw them start brightly but fade away as the game went on.

Blackburn had the first genuine chance of the match on eight minutes, but Benni McCarthy blazed over from close range with the goal gaping.

Paul Robinson's mistake from Diego Tristan's cross almost provide West Ham's David Di Michele with a glorious opportunity, but the striker could not reach to poke home.

On the half-hour mark El-Hadji Diouf had the first of two goals rightly overruled for offside and soon after West Ham fell behind.

Luis Boa Morte cut a pass back from the byline and Di Michele played a delightful ball into Noble - who curled home a fine finish with the outside of his right boot.

Blackburn came out for the second half firing, however, and were soon level when Andrews capitalised on a poor clearance from the West Ham defence to fire home with virtually his first touch after coming on as a substitute.

The remainder of the match was a grossly one-sided affair, with Rovers pouring forward at every opportunity and West Ham hanging on.

Morten Gamst Pedersen cracked a fine volley just wide on the hour-mark and soon after Diouf tapped home Christopher Samba's shot, only for the offside flag to deny him once again.

Pedersen saw two further efforts denied by fine West Ham blocks, as James Tomkins and Lucas Neill - playing against his former club - put in superb displays in defence for the Hammers.

But the introduction of Keiron Dyer late on injected some energy for the visitors and when the England international went down under the challenge of Christopher Samba West Ham players appealed strongly for a penalty. The referee waved played on.

Had it been given and West Ham scored, defeat would have been harsh on Blackburn, who dominated for long periods and will look back on a match they should have won.

Will Tidey / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 20 of 20

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  1. Diane,you know as well as I do who for the size of the­ town is the best supported club in the land!!!!!!!,you­ will never have the following the Clarets do we follow­ our team no matter what,as I said Id rather watch Accy­ than @#$% @#$% Rovers

    From paul c, on Mon 23 Mar 8:48PM

  2. oh well blackburn r goin 2 stay up but go down nxt year­ up the irons i hate sheffield united scum

    From michaelgaffney22, on Mon 23 Mar 7:31PM

  3. AN EARTHQUAKE IN BURNLEY 5000 DEAD 2 FAMILIES­ AFFECTED

    INBRED SCUM, PROBABLY HAVE A CRICK NECK DUE­ TO THE FACT YOUR ALWAYS LOOKING UP AT US

    ROVERS­ DEVERSED A WIN AND WILL BE STAYING UP.

    From dianesellars, on Mon 23 Mar 7:06PM

  4. paul c "blackburn have no real fans" we have­ th best ratio of attendance compared to population of­ town in the league so shut your mouth

    From dianesellars, on Mon 23 Mar 7:02PM

  5. well done but we need the injured players back

    From john.dyer8dyer, on Mon 23 Mar 6:28PM

  6. Ron @#$% Rovers dont have any fans!!!!!

    From paul c, on Mon 23 Mar 1:13PM

  7. A big thank you to the Irons,for helping to put the­ @#$% Rovers closer to the drop as I said its about­ time you lot went to watch Accy Stanley at least they­ have real fans Up The Clarets Long Live The Claret And­ Blue

    From paul c, on Sun 22 Mar 12:06PM

  8. It wasn't a pretty game but the Irons showed a lot­ of grit and determination and got a point for their­ hard work - at a point in the season when the injuries­ are mounting up and games are getting fewer, it's­ good to see! Let's see if we can hang on till the­ end of the season, grab the Europa League place and­ look forward to getting Deano, Cole and everybody else­ fit and playing together for next season!

    From Worcs Hammer Fan, on Sun 22 Mar 9:56AM

  9. Im thinking more of the next time we play the @#$%­ ROVERS!!!!!

    From paul c, on Sat 21 Mar 9:02PM

  10. Good job Irons! Got away with a point when it could­ have been none. Let's take it and move on. Carlton­ will be back for the next match and I will be glad to­ see him back. James Tompkins needs to get a long term­ contract. A pure West Ham'er!

    From tomas.americano, on Sat 21 Mar 8:03PM

  11. Remind me of the score last time Blackburn played the­ Clarets? :O

    From Wayne D, on Sat 21 Mar 7:25PM

  12. Yes this lot dont like CLARET AND BLUE!!!!!! @#$%­ ground no real fans well done to the Hammers Sams as­ good as Kiddo a true football mastermind Id love to get­ stuck in to them at the Turf a real ground with real­ fans!!!!!! Up the Clarets Thanks to the Hammers

    From paul c, on Sat 21 Mar 6:33PM

  13. Christine,Id rather watch Accy than @#$% Rovers at­ least their fans are real!!!!!

    From paul c, on Sat 21 Mar 6:31PM

  14. Yes this lot dont like CLARET AND BLUE!!!!!! @#$%­ ground no real fans well done to the Hammers Sams as­ good as Kiddo a true football mastermind Id love to get­ stuck in to them at the Turf a real ground with real­ fans!!!!!! Up the Clarets Thanks to the Hammers

    From paul c, on Sat 21 Mar 6:24PM

  15. That is the most obvious penalty decision I've­ seen­ rejected this year, the ref should be duty bound­ to­ the, press, the FA, the fans and West Ham United­ to­ explain the specific reasons why he rejected it. it­ was­ a foul anywhere else on the pitch, why not in the­ the­ area? He's either incompetent, a Blackburn­ fan, or­ on the take. Come on FA sort it out.

    From Ronsenglish, on Sat 21 Mar 5:33PM

  16. That is the most obvious penalty decision I've­ seen­ rejected this year, the ref should be duty bound­ to­ the, press, the FA, the fans and West Ham United­ to­ explain the specific reasons why he rejected it. it­ was­ a foul anywhere else on the pitch, why not in the­ the­ area? He's either incompetent, a Blackburn­ fan, or­ on the take. Come on FA sort it out.

    From Ronsenglish, on Sat 21 Mar 5:33PM

  17. roy hodgeson's team ?, might want to sort dat out

    From MWSSSSSSSS, on Sat 21 Mar 5:26PM

  18. watched the game, west ham could have easily lost it,­ could not cope with set plays or the long throw ins by­ Blackburn... lucky but glad to get the away point

    From garybillingham, on Sat 21 Mar 5:22PM

  19. Well played Mark, West Ham should have won this one.

    From dirtdigger, on Sat 21 Mar 4:59PM

  20. blackburn are easily the best no questions asked

    From Christine, on Sat 21 Mar 3:23PM
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