BLACKBURN ROVERS v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 18 DECEMBER 2010
KICK-OFF: 3PM
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Final score - Blackburn Rovers 1-1 West Ham United
94 mins - Blackburn come forward one last time, but the Hammers hold firm and clear. The final whistle is blown. A point for the Hammers. Merry Christmas to all of you and we'll be back with live text updates from Craven Cottage on Boxing Day. Now for the long journey home!!
93 mins - Boa Morte brings down Emerton right on the edge of the penalty area. This is dangerous! Pedersen again curls the ball in left-footed, but it flies wide of the far post with Boffin scrambling. Seconds to go...
91 mins - West Ham lose possession deep inside the Rovers half and the hosts break. Tomkins fouls E-H Diouf and is booked. Pedersen curls the ball in and Cole half-clears to Emerton, whose shot flies over.
90 mins - We're going to have at least four more minutes.
89 mins - Piquionne comes forward again and runs into the box with the ball at his feet. He tries to go outside Givet and shoots, but the ball flies high and wide of the near post.
87 mins - Blackburn have a corner, but Tomkins heads it clear. West Ham break and Parker leads the charge again. The ball is worked wide right to Piquionne, who attempts to float the ball over to Parker, but a defender just heads it clear.
86 mins - West Ham have a corner on their right. Stanislas to take... It is cut out at the near post.
84 mins - I get the feeling this is going to be an eventful final few minutes. West Ham have three strikers on, for starters... Cole threads a ball through and McCarthy has half a chance, but his touch lets him down.
82 mins - Grant makes his final change, replacing Dyer with Benni McCarthy. The former Rover gets a warm welcome!
81 mins - Rovers win a corner from Tomkins. It is taken short and Boa Morte blocks. The ball spins behind again. This time, the ball is sent into the box and a Blackburn player stabs it into the net, but not before referee Dean has blown for a foul on Gabbidon. Phew!
79 mins - Cole's pass hits the heel of Stanislas and falls to a Blackburn player. The hosts come forward and, thankfully, Dunn can only curl his shot well over the top.
78 mins - GOAL! They can now! Stanislas! Ben Haim crosses from the right and the clearing header falls to Parker. The No8 drives to the edge of the penalty area and when he is tackled, the ball breaks to Stanislas, who calmly slots the ball across Robinson and into the far corner.
76 mins - West Ham probably hold the upper hand in terms of possession, but they can't make the most of it for the moment.
73 mins - Cole runs in behind and wins a corner from Parker's pass. Stanislas takes the flag-kick and Piquionne rises high but can only power his header a yard over the crossbar.
71 mins - When it's not your day... Stanislas crosses from the left and the ball bounces off a Blackburn defender - Givet - and falls to Upson, whose first-time shot clips the post on its way wide.
67 mins - Jones walks off under his own steam, but his brief appearance is over. He is replaced by youth-team product Grant Hanley. Today marks Hanley's second Barclays Premier League appearance.
64 mins - Great play by Dyer to hold up the ball on the edge of the Rovers box before playing a lightning-quick one-two with Parker. Dyer crosses low, but Cole can only stab the ball wide of the near post from six yards. It looks like Jones was hurt trying to prevent Cole from scoring. He has the stretcher on.
61 mins - The crowd is announced as 21,934. The 1,500 Hammers among them will not be pleased with things if they stay as they are.
59 mins - Stanislas and Cole are both involved immediately as West Ham press, but Jones is there to cut out Cole's low cross.
57 mins - Two changes for West Ham. Barrera is off and Stanislas is on, while Spector is replaced by Cole. Blackburn also make their second change, replacing captain Samba with Phil Jones.
55 mins - E-H Diouf wins a corner down the Blackburn left. Boffin comes and claws the ball away before Ben Haim is fouled.
53 mins - West Ham attack through Dyer. He passes inside to Parker, who finds Barrera. The Mexican's cross is headed clear by Salgado. Seconds later, the same player crosses again but Samba is there to head clear.
51 mins - GOAL! Blackburn win a corner and it initially comes to nothing. Barrera tries to dribble the ball clear and is caught in possession. Emerton crosses and Nelsen forces Boffin to make a fantastic save. The ball rebounds straight to the New Zealander and he stabs the ball in with his left knee.
49 mins - That is a fantastic chance that has just gone begging. Piquionne has time and space and two runners to his left and just one Blackburn defender. The No30 wastes the chance by passing straight to Salgado.
47 mins - Ben Haim is the first player booked for a lunge on M-B Diouf near the corner flag. Samba wins the header at the far post, but his effort flies back across the face of goal and is cleared by Boa Morte.
46 mins - Parker and Dyer get things underway again. Barrera gets the ball wide right and crosses, but the ball flies over the top and goes out for a goal kick.
Half-time score - Blackburn Rovers 0-0 West Ham United
46 mins - That's half-time! It's cold and goalless so far, with West Ham improving as the half went on. Join us again in 15 minutes for the second half.
45 mins - We're going to have at least one more minute...
44 mins - Spector sends Boa Morte away with a fine pass and the No13 shoots first time. Robinson blocks with his legs and the ball flies behind for a corner. Barrera takes, but Blackburn deal with it comfortably enough.
43 mins - Blackburn build up patiently down their right before E-H Diouf curls in a cross. Boffin comes and punches to the edge of the penalty area, where Spector in on hand to smash the ball upfield.
41 mins - Boa Morte turns and sends the ball between Samba and Salgado for Piquionne. The striker takes a touch before driving a shot into the side-netting at the near post. That was another decent chance.
39 mins - Another chance! Barrera finds Spector, who turns and tries to play in Dyer. Again, the assistant referee's flag goes up for offside.
38 mins - Another good opportunity as Spector threads the ball through for Barrera. He runs at Givet before crossing, but Nelsen is there to intercept.
37 mins - West Ham have a real chance as the ball breaks to Parker and he sends Ben Haim away down the right. Spector, Dyer and Barrera are all available, but the No3 over-hits his pass and it rolls through to Robinson.
34 mins - Pedersen's shot is on target, but Boffin is there with a flying catch. The away fans respond with a chant of 'Ruuuuuuuud!'.
33 mins - Gabbidon slides in and looks to get a toe on the ball, only for referee Mike Dean to penalise him for a foul on Salgado. This will give Pedersen yet another chance to shoot from 25 yards.
30 mins - Dyer brings the ball forward and delays before releasing Barrera down the right. The No12 wins a corner, but it comes to nothing.
29 mins - West Ham have a free-kick in a dangerous position about eight yards outside the Blackburn box to the left as Piquionne is fouled. Barrera will take it. The Mexican over-hits it and Robinson collects.
28 mins - Boffin has the stadium holding its collective breath by dribbling the ball around M-B Diouf and clearing left-footed. Confident play from the Belgian.
27 mins - Piquionne wins the flick-on from Boffin's long clearance and Barrera pokes the ball to Boa Morte. The No13 brings the ball forward and shoots from nearly 30 yards. The ball dribbles wide of the target.
25 mins - Blackburn have another corner down their right. Pedersen again to deliver... The Norwegian sends it over deeper this time, but the ball curls beyond the far post and out for a goal kick.
23 mins - Dyer has the ball in the net, but he was offside when Boa Morte helped Spector's pass into his path. The No7 ran free through the middle, but he was about three yards behind Samba and Nelsen.
22 mins - Upson heads clear and Parker helps the ball on before a high foot catches Tomkins in the face. Free-kick and a chance for West Ham to clear their lines.
21 mins - Givet crosses and Parker blocks the ball behind for a corner. Some Blackburn fans want a penalty for handball, but Parker is rubbing his head. Pedersen crosses and Barrera sees the ball behind at the far post for another corner.
20 mins - Samba sends a long punt forward for M-B Diouf to chase but Boffin is out smartly to claim the bouncing ball on the edge of his penalty area.
18 mins - Upson sends a diagonal ball up to the edge of the box and Piquionne knocks it down. Spector runs on to it and has time, but instead he shoots first-time and screws his effort into the stand behind the goal.
16 mins - Half a chance as Piquionne wins a flick and then tries to latch on to the bouncing ball himself. Piquionne loses control but Dyer is there to pick up the pieces. Again, though, the No7 is crowded out on the edge of the Rovers penalty area.
14 mins - Boa Morte sends a ball out right for Piquionne to chase. He keeps it in before twisting and turning past a defender, getting into the penalty area and shooting, but his effort flies over the crossbar.
12 mins - Parker hacks the ball down the right for Piquionne. He collects and runs at Nelsen before crossing to the near post, where Samba sticks out a long leg and clears into the stand.
11 mins - Blackburn attack and the ball breaks to Salgado about 25 yards out. The Spaniard tries a half-volley with his weaker left foot and it flies into the stand.
10 mins - Still no sign of a Blackburn sub coming on, but it's going to be Benjani and not Kalinic. West Ham try to take advantage down the right, but Dyer is crowded out as he attempts to run into the penalty area. A break in play allows Benjani to come on.
8 mins - It looks like Nikola Kalinic will be the man to come on. First, Blackburn take the throw. Boa Morte concedes another, but a bit of mis-communication between Salgado and E-H Diouf allows Gabbidon to shepherd the ball behind for a goal kick.
7 mins - West Ham have a half-chance when Piquionne charges down Nelsen's clearance, but Dyer is caught in possession and Rovers come forward. Roberts looks to break away down the right but Tomkins slides in to concede the throw. Roberts has hurt himself here and is going to have to go off.
5 mins - Pedersen shoots ambitiously from long-range and the ball scoots past the right-hand post and thuds into the advertising boards.
4 mins - The free-kick is well hit, but Parker blocks and the ball spins behind for a corner. Pedersen crosses again and Boa Morte heads clear at the near post. West Ham have a chance to break, but Salgado is there and Blackburn come again through M-B Diouf, who is fouled by Upson about 30 yards out.
3 mins - The Belgian might be tested here as Gabbidon brings down M-B Diouf three yards outside the penalty area. Pedersen to take left-footed...
2 mins - Boffin gets his first touch, hacking a clearance over the halfway line, where Samba gets in ahead of Piquionne.
3.01pm - El-Hadji Diouf and Dunn get things underway...
3pm - The two mascots have their photo taken and trundle off to the touchline. Following the handshakes, Blackburn will kick-off, attacking the Darwen End.
2.58pm - To the strains of 'Wild Rover', the two teams emerge from the tunnel led by captains Matthew Upson and Chris Samba. Tal Ben Haim goes up to Boffin and gives the goalkeeper a pat on the back. Good to see from the experienced Israeli.
2.56pm - A late, late change to the West Ham team. Behrami is out and Jonathan Spector is in.
2.55pm - The away fans are gathered in the upper tier of the Darwen End away to my right. They announce their arrival with a chorus of 'Come on You Irons'.
2.53pm - West Ham have got a decent recent record against Blackburn, both at Ewood Park and overall. The Hammers have won twice and drawn twice on their last four visits to Blackburn. Overall, West Ham are unbeaten in nine matches against Rovers.
2.50pm - Blackburn, of course, have coach Steve Kean in charge this afternoon following the mid-week departure of Sam Allardyce. Kean is on the big screen telling Rovers fans how he is confident off getting to a winning start against the Hammers. Goalkeeper coach David Cole and Jake Larkins are last to leave the field of play. For a youngster, Larkins is a big lad.
2.45pm - I know a lot of you will be wondering where Victor Obinna is today. He received a kick on the leg in training and should be fit for the Boxing Day trip to Fulham. The floodlights are on here at Ewood Park, but I'm not quite sure why as the sun is shining brightly and there is hardly a cloud in the sky. West Ham's players have returned to the Away dressing room, while Blackburn's substitutes are still out there passing the ball to each other.
2.40pm - Welcome to a sunny yet decidely chilly Ewood Park. The area surrounding the stadium is picture perfect, with everything bar the pitch, the main roads and the pavements surrounding the ground covered in at least six inches of snow. If you go to the club's official Twitter site here now, then you will see that conditions are fine.
Good afternoon and welcome to a wintry Ewood Park for West Ham United's final Barclays Premier League fixture before Christmas.
The Hammers avoided the worst of the weather by travelling up to Lancashire on Friday afternoon, arriving at their hotel before an overnight deluge of snow covered the north west of England.
A few inches lie on the ground outside the stadium, but the Rovers staff have done a fantastic job to clear the pitch, stands and surrounding areas and get the game on. Some 1,300-plus West Ham supporters have made the long journey north and all of them will be grateful that their trips were not wasted.
On to the game itself and Hammers manager Avram Grant has made no fewer than five changes to the side that was defeated 3-1 at Manchester City a week ago.
The most eye-catching change comes in goal, where Belgian Ruud Boffin makes his Hammers debut in place of the injured Robert Green. The England stopper is sidelined after undergoing minor surgery to remove a cyst earlier this week. Green has not missed a league start for the Hammers since 3 February 2007.
Boffin is a tall 23-year-old who came through the ranks at Racing Genk before moving to Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven in 2007. He moved on to MVV Maastricht in 2008 and had a loan spell at Eredivisie club VVV Venlo last season before joining the Hammers in the summer. He has started three Barclays Premier Reserve League fixtures for West Ham this season.
In defence, Tal Ben Haim moves to right-back, with Danny Gabbidon replaces Julien Faubert and comes in at left-back. In midfield. Valon Behrami and Luis Boa Morte come in for Junior Stanislas and Jonathan Spector. Up front, Kieron Dyer replaces Victor Obinna.
On the bench, U18s goalkeeper Jake Larkins has been called into the squad to back-up Boffin. Larkins was between the sticks for West Ham's 1-0 FA Premier Academy League victory over Fulham last weekend. He has been handed the No46 shirt for today's match.
Blackburn Rovers: Robinson, Salgado, Nelsen, Samba (Jones 57, Hanley 67), Givet, Emerton, Duff, Pedersen, E-H Diouf, Roberts (Benjani 10), M-B Diouf
Subs: Bunn, Olsson, Hoilett, Kalinic
West Ham United: Boffin, Ben Haim, Tomkins, Upson, Gabbidon, Spector (Cole 57), Parker, Boa Morte, Dyer (McCarthy 82)s, Barrera (Stanislas 57), Piquionne
Subs: Larkins, Reid, Faubert