Source: Eurosport
Andrews helps hosts hold Hammers
Keith Andrews came off the bench to earn Blackburn a 1-1 draw with West Ham, who had taken the lead through Mark Noble at Ewood Park.Andrews lashed home a right-footed shot from a tight angle in the 51st minute to cancel out Noble's first-half opener for the Hammers and set up a grandstand finish by the home side.But despite pinning the visitors back in their own half for long periods, chances went begging for Benni McCarthy, Jason Roberts and Morten Gamst Pedersen while El-Hadji Diouf had two efforts disallowed for offside.Rovers at least showed plenty of resolve to bounce back from their Emirates Stadium mauling by Arsenal and with striker Roque Santa Cruz soon due to return their prospects of survival still look bright.The absence of Santa Cruz will have been noted in the opening stages with Rovers guilty of wasting too much possession up front and letting the Hammers off the hook in an otherwise bright start.Benni McCarthy saw an early effort blocked in the box by James Tomkins and there were also chances for Diouf and Roberts as the home side continued to press.The Hammers finally fashioned a shot on target in the 16th minute when Noble played David di Michele into space on the right and the Italian's sweeping shot was comfortably gathered by Paul Robinson.Robinson then had to race from his goal to beat Diego Tristan to a long ball by Di Michele as the Hammers showed signs of improvement against a Rovers team in danger of paying for their missed opportunities.The home side had a lucky escape in the 25th minute when Noble's cross from the right prompted a mix-up between Robinson and Chris Samba which allowed the ball to spring free in the box with no visiting player lurking.Diouf thought he had put Rovers in front in the 31st minute when he hooked home a corner from Morten Gamst Pedersen but referee Chris Foy rightly ruled the Senegalese striker offside.The Hammers grabbed the opener in the 35th minute when Tristan's neat pass across the box set up Noble to sweep a low shot across Robinson and into the corner of the net from the right.The home side replaced Andre Ooijer with Andrews at the break and almost grabbed an equaliser in the 50th minute when Roberts drove a goal-bound shot which struck Tomkins.But Rovers were level moments later when Pedersen's long throw caused problems in the Hammers box and the ball came to Andrews who fired home.With their confidence fully restored the home side continued to threaten, McCarthy flicking on a cross from the lively Diouf into the path of Pedersen, who crashed an effort just wide.Diouf netted his second disallowed strike of the game in the 62nd minute, prodding home at close-range after Green palmed a low McCarthy effort into his path, but once again he was clearly offside.Two minutes later Roberts flicked Pedersen's cross across the face of goal and the lurking Diouf was inches away from getting the touch he needed to finally make an effort count.Rovers pushed frantically for a winner with McCarthy's effort blocked almost on the goal-line and a rising effort from Roberts screwed off-target as the home side all but camped in the visitors' half.[LNB]
