Source: Team_Talk
Irons and Rovers share bore draw
The Hammers - playing in front of co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold for the first time at the Boleyn Ground since their successful takeover - had plenty of possession but lacked a cutting edge in attack even after the second-half introduction of fit-again England striker Carlton Cole.[LNB]Indeed, the relegation battlers could have found themselves behind just before the break when Morten Gamst Pedersen's 25-yard free-kick crashed against the crossbar and then substitute Jason Roberts failed to beat Robert Green when clean through with 15 minutes left.[LNB]Sullivan and Gold have been working hard to bring in new talent ahead of Monday's transfer deadline, with a deal for Rovers striker Benni McCarthy expected to be concluded shortly - something on this afternoon's evidence which cannot come soon enough.[LNB]The Hammers started the day out of the relegation zone only on goal difference and faced a Rovers side who had won back-to-back league games despite their Carling Cup semi-final defeat to Aston Villa.[LNB]However, the hosts slowly built some pressure, with Valon Behrami almost getting on the end of a decent cross by Alessandro Diamanti from the left channel.[LNB]Christopher Samba diverted a dangerous ball into the six-yard box from the right wing behind as West Ham pressed again.[LNB]Jack Collison and Behrami then got in each other's way as a loose ball presented itself just inside the 18-yard area.[LNB]The home side continued to have the better possession, but lacked a decisive pass.[LNB]In a rare moment of action at the other end, Nikola Kalinic went down under pressure from Jonathan Spector, but referee Peter Walton waved away half-hearted penalty appeals.[LNB]West Ham had another chance to send the ball into the Rovers danger area when Ryan Nelson fouled Behrami wide on the right channel.[LNB]Diamanti whipped the free-kick goalwards and Paul Robinson punched clear at his near post.[LNB]After 35 minutes, an inswinging corner from Pedersen had Hammers goalkeeper Green backpedalling to tip the ball over.[LNB]Just before half-time, Rovers came within inches of going ahead.[LNB]Behrami tripped Pedersen around 25 yards out.[LNB]The midfielder took the shot himself and was unfortunate to see his effort crash off the crossbar with Green beaten.[LNB]There was little action in the opening exchanges of the second half, and just before the hour mark, West Ham made a change when Cole - returning for the first time since November following a knee injury - replaced Radoslav Kovac.[LNB]The visitors had a chance to deliver a decent ball into the West Ham box after Julien Faubert brought down Kalinic.[LNB]Pedersen, though, failed to clear the wall, and eventually Pascal Chimbonda drilled his angled shot well wide.[LNB]The introduction of Cole gave the Hammers fresh impetus, and they forced a succession of corners, but yet again they came to nothing.[LNB]Rovers injected some fresh legs into their attack as Roberts replaced Kalinic, before Green pushed Pedersen's goal-bound drive away and Cole was back to clear Gael Givet's shot off the line after it appeared to hit Mark Noble on the arm.[LNB]The substitute should have beaten Green when shrugging off James Tomkins just inside the penalty area, only to then, 12 yards out, shoot too close to the England goalkeeper.[LNB]At the other end, Robinson tipped Diamanti's 25-yard free-kick over.[LNB]Substitute Scott Parker rolled the ball across the six-yard box, but there was no-one on hand for what would have been a tap in.[LNB][LNB]
