Blackburn 0 West Ham 0

A fairly even first half, with West Ham playing the better football and Blackburn playing the long ball, saw few chances for either side.

Blackburn made a few half chances from set pieces and balls pumped long. In the 9th minute Roberts shot wide from 5 yards, stretching for a headed down ball from a free-kick. In the 27th minute Keith Andrews headed a corner over from 8 yards.

West Ham's chances came from the more pretty football. In the 14th minute Jimenez set up Cole on the edge of the area but Cole's shot was blocked. In the 18th minute Cole picked up the ball 40 yrds out, beat three players as he drove into the box, but then shot wide from 6 yrds out. In the 22nd minute Cole set up Jimenez just inside the penalty area but Jimenez's shot was blocked.


West Ham started the second half quite brightly, Collins and Cole both shooting over in the first four minutes of the half. However as the half went on the West Ham players started to tire.

The Blackburn players however began to realise that they are a far better side if they ignore Fat Sam's advice and start passing the ball along the ground. Dunn, in particular looked lively. He set Roberts up in the 67th minute only to see Roberts fire wide from 7 yrds. In the 71st minute Dunn shot himself, but the shot flew straight at Green from 25 yrds.

In the 76th minute the best chance of the half came when Dunn played Hoilett through on goal. Green rushed out and Hoilett tried the chip from just outside the area, only to see the ball fly just over the bar.

In truth it was a poor game and a draw was probably the fairest result.