Blackburn Rovers earned their first point of the Premier League season in a goalless draw with West Ham that suggests they have a long and difficult campaign ahead of them.

More Stories

• Matchcast: Blackburn v West Ham
• Match gallery

In a game of few clear-cut chances, Rovers finished strongly but manager Sam Allardyce will be worried by their failure to retain possession and produce any decent service for their front men.

Striker Jason Roberts cut a lonely figure up front for most of the afternoon, and while replacements David Hoilett and Nikola Kalinic, in tandem with David Dunn (pictured), caused some concern for the visitors, only once did Rovers really look like finding the back of the net.

Gianfranco Zola's West Ham were no better but can at least console themselves with another point on the road to go with their opening win of the season at Wolves.

Dunn was the most dangerous player on the field and created the two best chances of the game, but for too long Rovers relied on long balls from their largely untroubled keeper Paul Robinson and long throw-ins from Morten Gamst Pedersen.

In a dreadful first half, Carlton Cole went closest for West Ham when he forced his way past three Rovers defenders in the 19th minute but then failed to get his shot on target.

Scott Parker and Luis Jimenez produced a few nice touches in the centre of the park for West Ham but after a bright start to the second half they had their hands full with Dunn and looked content to play for a draw.

In the 68th minute, Dunn produced a surging run from midfield and set up Roberts, but the striker's effort was well blocked by Hammers defender James Collins.

The best chance of game fell to Rovers in the 78th minute when Dunn broke from deep before finding Hoilett with a lovely pass with the outside of his boot.

The 20-year-old Canadian controlled the ball well and did everything right bar find the back of the net as his chipped shot over Green went inches over.

Junior Stanislas had his moments on the left-hand side for West Ham and when he was put clear by Parker in the 86th minute he cut inside and unleashed a rising shot when he should have fed Cole or substitute Kieron Dyer.

In the final minute of normal time defender Christopher Samba did well to dispossess Dyer and cause panic in the Hammers' defence before a last-ditch tackle by Collins cleared the danger.