Blackburn Rovers – West Ham United

1. So, Ewood Park is the setting for this afternoon's Premier League commentary from ESPN. It's ninth versus eleventh and let's hope it's a goal fest.

2. Team news - Blackburn: Friedel, Mokoena, Ooijer, Samba, Warnock, Dunn, Emerton, Tugay, Pederson, McCarthy, Santa Cruz.

3. West Ham: Green, Neill, McCartney, Upson, Gabbidon, Etherington, Mullins, Parker, Solano, Boa Morte, Cole.

4. 1'

   We're off!

5. 2'

   Lucas Neill is, of course, being roundly booed by the home crowd after his move to the Hammers last year.

6. 3'

   A quick start to the game, West Ham forcing a corner, which is headed wide by Matthew Upson.

7. 4'

   Rovers fans are expressing their thoughts about Lucas Neill into song form - they think he is a greedy....errr...let's just say man.

8. 5'

   David Dunn smashes in a pile-driver from the right wing and it only just flies over the bar. Great strike from the chubby midfielder.

9. 6'

   Blackburn's players have worked out that an reducer on Lucas Neill is greeted with a big roar in the Jack Walker stand, so they're all trying to get in on the act.

10. 7'

    Carlton Cole is chucking his weight around, piling into Andre Ooijer as a looping ball fell in the area. Free-kick to Blackburn.

11. 8'

    Ooh, that was a late challenge from Mokoena, and two-footed too. Scott Parker felt that alright. Ref Alan Wiley just has a chat with South African though, it being the first dodgy tackle of the day. Generous.

12. 9'

    Bentley this time catches McCartney late, but Wiley is still keeping his cards close to his chest (pocket).

13. 10'

    This is a largely aerial contest it is far to say so far. Quite boring too in fact.

14. 11'

    A poor ball from Santa Cruz gave the dangerous Solano possession in a good area. His pass is unusually poor though.

15. 12'

    Another firm Rovers tackle goes in and Alan Wiley has had enough - Ooijer is carded.

16. 13'

    Solano's free-kick is long, and wasted. Very unlike the little Peruvian maestro.

17. 14'

    The best move of the match so far, from Blackburn. Bentley and Dunn exchange flicks and Santa Cruz's run is blocked off.

18. 15'

    Its long ball stuff from the visitors, looking for Carlton Cole most of the time. The failing of that plan though, is that he is rubbish.

19. 16'

    Pederson this time threatens to break clear but is well hustled out of danger by Neill. His eventual cross is cleared by Upson.

20. 17'

    Ooh! Tugay goes close from nearly 35 yards! It only just wobbled past the post as Green looked on helpless.

21. 18'

    A decent spell of pressure from West Ham in reply, as Ooijer cleared poorly. Boa Morte has a punt in the end but it is high, wide and not particularly handsome. At all.

22. 19'

    Good ball from McCartney down Blackburn's right, Etherington fed him but no-one gambled on a near post ball. Shame for the Hammers.

23. 20'

    Well played Nobby Solano, Santa Cruz rolled it wide for Gamst Pedersen to have a crack but the 33-year-old Solano got back in the nick of time.

24. 21'

    Poor cross from Emerton on his weaker foot, then Dunn is thwarted by a good tackle from West Ham's Matthew Upson.

25. 22'

    Ooijer gave Brad Friedel a little scare there with a slightly too powerful header back. Luckily, the American keeper had backed off to prevent it going behind for a corner.

26. 23'

    Tugay may be 123-years-old but he's still class. There he slid two balls of the utmost quality beyond the West Ham defence. Dunn just couldn't collect sadly.

27. 24'

    Carlton Cole is rubbish, as I mentioned earlier. He had acres of space on the right to pick out a decent cross for a team-mate but he scuffs it into the arms of Friedel.

28. 25'

    This time it is Lucas Neill who breaks on the right, his is a better cross but Samba rises to nod behind as Cole lurked ominously behind him. Foul given to Blackburn though.

29. 26'

    Pedersen tries his luck from distance when he had lots of time to pick out a better option. He wins a corner though, as the ball brushed Lucas Neill on the way through, and Ooijer heads just over.

30. 27'

    Lucas Neill is still getting the treatment from home fans, but he's starting to become more and more influential in this game.

31. 28'

    How about this for an insightful nugget? - the game needs a goal.

32. 29'

    In fact, this game could do with about ten goals, preferably spread at regular intervals in the next hour please.

33. 30'

    The game has gone a bit Scooby Doo. By that, I mean scrappy.

34. 31'

    Emerton charges down the right and George McCartney gets a free-kick when the Blackburn man clips his heels.

35. 32'

    Alan Wiley is going to have a stern chat with Hayden Mullins who waved a dismissive hand in the ref's face at the award of a free-kick. Naughty.

36. 33'

    The place kick is wasted, then West Ham go up the other end and Scott Parker strikes a swerving, dipping shot, that only just misses the left-hand post. Close.

37. 34'

    There isn't much quality floating around I'm afraid. A typical case of the 'best league in the world' tag being completely over-exaggerated by so called experts.

38. 35'

    Let's get this straight, I'm a huge fan of Nobby Solano, but he is having a stinker today. He belts that free-kick far too long for any of his players and a promising chance for West Ham is lost.

39. 36'

    So, is there a goal in the offing before half-time perchance? No, is the simple answer.

40. 37'

    A chance for Nobby to redeem himself with another free-kick.....but it is another poor one.

41. 38'

    Then Watrnock breaks well but his cross is just too long for Bentley, who can't direct his header towards goal.

42. 39'

    Oh dear, Santa Cruz has picked the wrong choice there. Bentley was sprinting on but he looked instead for Pedersen and his pass was crummy.

43. 40'

    Solano is involved heavily there, first judging a long ball better than Warnock and breaking into the box - he fails to find anyone with his cross though - then the ball breaks back to him on the box edge and he fires a half volley just over the bar.

44. 41'

    Up the other end Pedersen fires in a shot from a narrow angle, which Green parries behind for a corner. Upson heads clear.

45. 42'

    Decent move from Blackburn, Tugay releases Pedersen but his cross is too high for Santa Cruz and Green comes out to claim.

46. 43'

    The home side having a flurry of pressure leading up to half time....

47. 44'

    Ooh, Etherington is just flagged offside as he breaks into the area. Very tight.

48. 45'

    Cole looked to have got the better of Ooijer there, robbing him of possession in the box, but Samba covered well to snuff out the danger.

49. 45'

    That's half time folks. Let's hope for better in the second period.....

50. 46'

    Some changes to inform you of, West Ham have replaced Etherington with Dean Ashton while Blackburn have replaced Mokoena with everyone's favourite pantomime dame Robbie Savage.

51. 47'

    Looks like West Ham's change was enforced, whereas Blackburn's was tactical.

52. 48'

    Savage is making up for lost time by running around like a peroxide-blond haired chicken.

53. 49'

    Something must be up with my man Solano; his control is all over the place today, wasting another good chance to cross there. Come on man, you're making me look clueless!

54. 50'

    It's Pederden's turn to waste a good crossing opportunity this time.

55. 51'

    Any managar outside the top four or five would love two wide men of the calibre of Solano and Pedersen, but today they have been a shadow of their former, hugely talented, selves. What's going on I wonder?

56. 52'

    Boa Morte picks up Emerton's stray ball and charges towards goal. Ooijer mops up and concedes a corner.

57. 53'

    Goal! Dean Ashton! On the pitch for seven minutes, he is in the right place at the right time when McCartney crosses into the six yard box. Blackburn 0-1 West Ham.

58. 54'

    Just prior to the goal McCartney had a decent handball shout from the corner, he volleyed toward goal and Tugay looked to have handled. Then, 20 seconds later, Solano releases the left back and his cross for Ashton was inch perfect.

59. 55'

    Savage is trying to spark a Blackburn recovery charging into tackles and and spreading passes far and wide.

60. 56'

    West Ham have been pretty solid in the air, and they demonstrated that again from Blackburn's most recent corner. Cole, of all people, won the first header, then Upson won the second. Good work from the, now very, 'appy 'Ammers.

61. 57'

    Oh dear, McCartney slices a clearance there and gifts the home side a corner.

62. 58'

    Nearly an equaliser! Samba's header is well saved by Green while Ooijer can't get past the keeper from the rebound. Good work from the West Ham stopper.

63. 59'

    The game has come to life with that goal, and Carlton Cole again demonstrates how criminal it is that he plays regular top flight English football with a weak cross when well placed again. Get him off Curbs.

64. 60'

    Samba does well again as Ashton chases down a long through ball.

65. 60'

    Solano gives away a sloppy free-kick on the wing and Savage will have a chance to deliver a cross.

66. 61'

    He went short to Tugay who fired in a shot but it arches wide of the far post.

67. 61'

    Ashton plucks one out of the air from a Green goal kick, but spoils his good work with an ambitious shot from distance.

68. 62'

    The wide players on display have been poor today. Pedersen and Solano look off the pace, Boa Morte has been poor and David Bentley and David Dunn have been anonymous.

69. 63'

    Tugay tries one again but Parker takes the sting out of it allowing Green to gather comfortably.

70. 64'

    Ashton this time fizzes a lovely ball into the Blackburn box but the pathetic Carlton Cole is very late arriving and can't capitalise.

71. 65'

    The ball flashes across West Ham's net this time and Pedersen just can't flick it into the onion bag.

72. 66'

    A spell of pressure from Blackburn ends in another handball shout - then Emerton slides it in to Pedersen who smacks his right-foot shot miles wide.

73. 67'

    I'm going to elevate Carlton Cole to hapless status after that tackle, which leaves Samba rolling on the floor. An awful challenge, he is rightly carded and will now miss the Middlesboro game.

74. 68'

    In other games, Bolton beat Wigan 4-1 and Spurs beat Man City 2-1. Bang. You're up to date.

75. 70'

    Dunn and Savage converge on Boa Morte, who wins a free-kick.

76. 71'

    A Blackburn change, Steven Reid is coming on for David Dunn.

77. 72'

    Nice move from Blackburn, a lovely flick from McCarthy releases Pedersen but his cross just eludes Santa Cruz.

78. 73'

    Dean Ashton has looked sharp since he came on at half time. Hopefully, he can get a decent run of games to build his stamina and fitness.

79. 74'

    Great move by West Ham! Ashton controls and feeds Solano whose cross is met on the volley by Boa Morte. Friedel saved smartly.

80. 75'

    Looks like changes are coming Jonathan Spector is stripping on for West Ham while Jason Roberts is limbering up for Blackburn.

81. 76'

    Ooh, great leap by Santa Cruz! Pedersen crosses, and Cruz rises above Upson to head inches wide.

82. 77'

    Solano is off for Spector and Pedersen is off for Roberts.

83. 78'

    What a miss! Tugay flicks a ball to Santa Cruz who touches it neatly away from Upson. With only the keeper to beat the striker fires over the bar. Great chance.

84. 79'

    Decent ball from Mullins looking for Spector, he can't collect and the move breaks down with Cole. He left his foot in as Friedel came out but Ref Alan Wiley gives him a talking to and not another yellow.

85. 80'

    Ten minutes left for Blackburn to avoid their second defeat in three home games.

86. 81'

    Steven Reid is going to be booked for a rash tackle on Scott Parker. He was late but didn't make much contact with the Hammers' midfielder.

87. 82'

    The game is getting stretched now as Blackburn push on and West Ham had a great chance! Ooijer pulled up but Cole carried on and squared it for Ashton who blasts it over from 12 yards!

88. 84'

    Ooijer has to go off and Blackburn are down to ten men, having made all three of their permitted substitutions. Not ideal when chasing an equaliser.

89. 85'

    Wes Ham just need to play keep ball now, utilise their man advantage and this game should be won.

90. 86'

    A hearty chorus of 'I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles' eminates from the away end...they can sniff victory here now.

91. 87'

    Corner for Blackburn, after Emerton's cross was blocked by McCartney.

92. 87'

    Matthew Upson nearly pots one in his own net, the ball dropped, hit him on the knee and just crept wide.

93. 88'

    From the next corner the ball drops on the volley to Tugay who smashes one goalward but Green saves magnificently.

94. 88'

    Henri Camara is coming on for the violent and useless Carlton Cole. Honestly, why do people keep buying him?!

95. 89'

    More pressure for Blackburn, as West Ham get back in numbers.

96. 90'

    Free-kick for Blackburn who lump it in the box. Samba wins it but the ball falls for Upson rather than Santa Cruz.

97. 90'

    Four minutes of injury time begin.....NOW!

98. 91'

    A burst forward again from McCartney, who wins a corner.

99. 92'

    Great football from West Ham. Ashton lifts a lovely ball over two defenders and Boa Morte whacks a volley at Friedel. Corner.

100. 93'

     Time is running out for Blackburn's ten men...

101. 94'

     Great saving tackle by Samba as Camara looked to streak clear.

102. 94'

     Emerton tried a volley but it rolls feebly wide, oh for the ball to have dropped to Tugay. That should be that.

103. 94'

     The whistle blows and West Ham celebrate their fourth away win of the season. A poor game in truth but the travelling fans care not a jot. Until next time...

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