• Date: Sat 30 August 2008
  • Venue: Upton Park
  • Ref: Riley, M
  • Attendance: 32,905
West Ham United

West Ham United

Davenport (12)

Bellamy (90)

Cole (90)

4 - 1

West Ham United vs Blackburn Rovers

Team Lineups

West Ham United

Robert Green
Lucas Neill
Matthew Upson
Calum Davenport
Valon Behrami
Matthew Etherington
Scott Parker
Mark Noble (Hayden Mullins, 81)
Julien Faubert (George McCartney, 60)
Carlton Cole
Dean Ashton (Craig Bellamy, 69)

Blackburn Rovers

Paul Robinson
Christopher Samba
Ryan Nelsen
Stephen Warnock
Andre Ooijer
Vince Grella (Keith Andrews, 46)
Steven Reid
Morten Gamst Pedersen (Keith Treacy, 66)
Brett Emerton
Jason Roberts
Roque Santa Cruz (Matt Derbyshire, 29)


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

Full-Time: WEST HAM 4-1 BLACKBURN. The Hammers secure a much-needed three points against a battling Blackburn side. Roberts' missed penalty early in the second half cost Rovers dear.

90
Goal
 

WEST HAM 4-1 BLACKBURN. COLE puts the icing on the cake after good work by Parker.

90
Goal
 

WEST HAM 3-1 BLACKBURN. BELLAMY races away and slots the ball under Robinson to make the game safe for West Ham.

90
Yellow Card
 

A late booking for Bellamy.

89

So close for Blackburn as Roberts glances his header wide of the target.

88

West Ham look neverous at the back. There could be a final twist in this match.

85

Blackburn defender Nelsen tries a shot at goal but his effort goes harmlessly wide.

83

The game has really slowed now and Blackburn look in danger of suffering their ninth successive defeat at Upton Park.

80

Davenport looks to double his tally for the afternoon but his 25 yard shot flies wide of the target.

78
Substitution
 

Alan Curbishley looks to strengthen the West Ham midfield as Mullins comes on for Noble.

76

Robinson keeps Rovers in the match with two excellent saves. The first was a point-blank stop from Cole, the second a diving tip around the post from Bellamy.

73

Green saves well at the second attempt as Reid tries his luck from outside the area.

70

Great save by Green. Derbyshire did well to send over a teasing cross for Emerton but Green saves his downward header with his feet.

67
Substitution
 

Fans favourite Ashton is replaced by Bellamy.

64
Substitution
 

A frustrating game for Pedersen is brought to an end as he is replaced by Treacy.

64

Derbyshire races clear and lifts his shot up and over the advancing Green - but the ball sails just wide of the target. Good chance for Blackburn.

62

Ashton smashes a shot across the Blackburn goalmouth.

60

Ooijer and Robinson get in a mess and the Blackburn centre back heads passed the keeper for a corner.

56
Substitution
 

A defensive substitution by West Ham as the impressive Faubert makes way for McCartney.

54

Ashton smacks the ball against the Blackburn post - but the linesman flagged for offside.

52
Yellow Card
 

Emerton is booked for a foul on Faubert.

50

There's a slower pace to the second half as West Ham look to pass the ball in defence. Blackburn's penalty miss was a warning to the hosts.

46

Penalty to Blackburn for a handball by Cole. Roberts steps up but Green palms the ball to safety. It was a poor spot-kick by the Blackburn striker.

46
Substitution
 

One Blackburn debutant makes way for another as Andrews comes on for Grella at the start of the second half.

Half time
 

Half-TIme: WEST HAM 2-1 BLACKBURN. A cracking opening 45 minutes is brought to an end by ref Mike Riley. Davenport and an own goal by Samba put the Hammers in control in this end-to-end contest but a neat finish by Roberts has given Blackburn hope.

45

Corner to West Ham as the fourth official's board goes up with two minutes of added time at the end of the first half.

43

West Ham fans scream for a penalty as Samba eases Cole off the ball. Mike Riley waves play on.

41

Cole can't get over a cross by Faubert and heads high and wide. He really should have hit the target.

38

The game is beginning to settle down after a frantic opening half hour.

35

Faubert slides the ball across the six yard box but there's nobody in a claret and blue shirt to make it 3 for West Ham. The french winger is having a great game.

31

Goal for Blackburn!? But no, Derbyshire is judged to be offside after forcing the ball past Green. It was the substitute's first touch.

30
Yellow Card
 

Ooijer goes into the book for bringing down Etherington.

29
Substitution
 

A blow to Blackburn's hopes of a comeback? Last season's top scorer, Santa Cruz, is injured and makes way for Derbyshire.

26
Yellow Card
 

Goal scorer Roberts picks up a booking for a foul on Behrami .

26

It's an end-to-end game at Upton Park. Just as Rovers look to be finding a way back into the game, West Ham go back on the attack. Corner to the Hamers.

22
Goal
 

WEST HAM 2-1 BLACKBURN. Rovers are back in it as ROBERTS turns superbly in the box and fires past Green.

20
Goal
 

WEST HAM 2-0 BLACKBURN. Great play by the Hammers. The move started with Parker and Faubert exchanging passes before sending over a cross for Ashton to stab the ball goalwards. It looks like it came off SAMBA for an own goal.

17

Roberts drills in a 25 yard shot but Davenport does well to block it.

14

Blackburn players are furious that Davenport isn't booked after bringing down Pedersen on his way to goal.

12
Goal
 

WEST HAM 1-0 BLACKBURN. West Ham take the lead as DAVENPORT heads home from a corner. Blackburn keeper Robinson looked to be in no man's land.

8

Etherington makes a great run at the Blackburn defence and Ooijer does well to clear for a corner.

6
Yellow Card
 

A petulant start to his debut for Grella as he goes into the book for a late tackle.

4

First clear cut chance of the game as Santa Cruz fires a shot at the West Ham goal but Neill does well to block his effort.

2

Parker makes a lung busting run from midfield but over-runs the ball and Blackburn keeper Robinson collects.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

West Ham supporters are far from happy with boss Alan Curbishley - but as referee Mike Riley gets proceedings underway, the sound of I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles rings out around Upton Park.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Blackburn: Robinson, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Emerton, Reid, Grella, Pedersen, Roque Santa Cruz, Roberts

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Paul Ince replaces Mokoena and Dunn with Emerton and new signing Grella for Blackburn. Fellow new boys Villanueva and Andrews start on the bench.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

West Ham: Green, Behrami, Davenport, Upson, Neill, Faubert, Parker, Noble, Etherington, Cole, Ashton

Awaiting Kickoff
 

West Ham start with the same eleven that lost 3-0 to Man City last weekend. Bellamy is fit enough to take his place on the bench for Alan Curbishley's injury hit side.