[Archived] West Ham Preview

[modes98]

10th December 2005, a date to remember. The last day that Blackburn Rovers FC defeated West Ham FC in the Premier League, before countless interventions by officials have stolen the points away from us. Not that I’m bitter in anyway towards West Ham or the fact that they have somehow managed to escape relegation when fielding an illegible player and said player managed to score against us when he was stood in an offside position and the ball didn’t cross the line.

Like I said no bitterness to the cheating…..anyway.

Going back to 2005 only 2 of the team that played that day may feature for Rovers this time round. Morten Gamst Pedersen has not hit the form he reached that season and Tugay is as good as ever, if a tiny bit slower. Depressing to think that only 2 of our 10 elite premiership athletes, and Keith Andrews who is now hitting the kind of level that saw him named league 2 player of the year last season, know what it feels like to beat West Ham.

Remembering the good old days before Sir Trevor took up office inside the FA. Rovers used to enjoy a more healthy home record against the Hammers, most memorably the 7-1 crushing in 2001. It’s a shame Tomas Repka isn’t still with them!

West Ham even used to like us enough to pull results out of the bag to help Rovers out. Most notably in May 1995 and a certain draw with Manchester United.

Match News

Rovers will be without long term absentees Steven Reid and Brett Emerton. Roque Santa Cruz could be in contention for a spot in the 18 as could Vince Grella. Recent knocks to Stephen Warnock and Gael Givet have yet to be assessed.

Whilst West Ham will be without Ashton, Behrami and Gabbidon for certain. With doubts as to the fitness of Tristan, Collinson, Collins, Boa Morte and unbelieveably Keiron Dyer.

BRFC Home Form: WDWDLD

WHU Away Form: DWDDLW

[1864roverite]

You hit the nail on the head recalling that "Tevez moment".

I have no time whatsoever for the Argy gimp, he is a cheat and he cheated us big time. Sheffield United were the ones who lost most and all because of West Ham.

I remember the 7-1 win, I was sat in a bar in Ixia, Rhodes with some whammers. Had the last laugh of a fantastic holiday.

Wham have been a Rovers bogey team for many a year. This season more than most wants me to see Rovers bury the hoodoo forever. Not just because its wham, not because of tevez BUT because it the last link this season with INCE.

Rovers have an injury pile up at the wrong time and we have no midfield to speak of.

I think Sam and co will realise that 3 points in this game is a massive massive stride to safety and the team will go all out to ge them.

For me, Rovers have to win. It will be close 2-1 Rovers.

For the record, Collinson is also out.

[RoyRover]

Of our remaining games, this is one that we can definitely win on paper, but we have struggled against West Ham over recent years. Yesterdays results saw the teams at the bottom move closer together and we are now only a point above the relegation zone, so a win in this game is a must. Sam will have targeted the games that we can get three points from and this is one of them, along with Tottenham, Portsmouth and WBA. If we can win those four games, we will have 42 points which should be enough to stay up.

[tony gale's mic]

If we win this, we're staying up IMO. The other teams below us are so rubbish that even a poor run of form after this should still see enough points to keep us up. I don't even think we'll need 40 points to stay up this year.

I'm going for 2-1 Rovers.

[mode_m]

If Rovers are healthy going into this I think it's fairly evenly matched.

2 - 0 Rovers!!!!!!

[martmitch]

their away form doesnt suggest they should be hot for this, but they are a serious bogey team for us. I'm just hoping our massive need for points on the board can overcome this and push the players up a gear, plus we can get vital injured players like warnock, nelson and givet back.

[waggy]

take a point now,3 would be out of this world

[philipl]

The WHammers have the jinx on us. We will be the better team- no doubt about it.

But we will lose.

[Oklahoma]

We have to win.

3-1 for Rovers.

[Anti-Dingle-Brigade]

Upson injured in the West Brom game.

[Majiball]

Sat watching the end of the West ham game, they are there for the taking on saturday.

[allanncd]

I expect Sears and Savio to outpace the sluggish back4 (Oojier/hamstrung Nelsen) enough times to score at least once. Parker a big threat from midfield. Upson injury minor apparently. Compared to Spurs this is a winnable game but I'm not optimistic.

[Hughesy]

Need to approach with a 4-4-2 game plan.

It will be tough but we need 4 points from our next 2 home games to be on course to be safe. 3 points here would be a huge boost for the lads and put some daylight between them and the bottom 3.

Praying Givet & Warnock (I hear he will) be back in time and hopefully also RSC.

[jonv]

Carlton Cole is out suspended and a few from there midfield are out with injury. The hammers are worried about where there next goal will come from; there most definitely there for the taking.

[robborover]

Carlton Cole is out suspended and a few from there midfield are out with injury. The hammers are worried about where there next goal will come from; there most definitely there for the taking.

We have to take them as it's one of our easier matches and at home. Win this, and we put some points between us and 18th. Plus, every game we win makes it that much harder for Middlesborough and Portsmouth to a winning mentality together.

Portsmouth VS Everton (Got to fancy Everton on form)

WBA VS Notlob (Can be the final nail for WBA)

Newcastle VS Arsenal (Arsenal back in form)

Wigan VS Hull (Wigan could do us a favour)

Middlesborough VS Stoke (A win for us and draw for both?)

Win and it could be a very good Saturday evening. Lose and we shouldn't lose too much ground, but we would have lost the chance to save ourselves early.

[The Rover of Finland]

Hammers were awful last night. Hope Upson stays sidelined next match. It should be 3 pts for Rovers but Hammers have been very difficult for last few seasons to us.

[Hughesy]

I think West Brom might beat Bolton, however I cant see any of the others winning (except maybe Boro). We could really do with 3 points.

To pull ourselves above/ level with Sunderland & Bolton would be good.

[gazsimm]

massive game for us, 3 points would be very nice. Hope upson is out because hes a very good defender.

Team should be

Robinson

Oojier Samba Nelson (if fit) Zurab Givet (if fit)Warnock (if fit)Olssen

Dunn Tugay Warnock(if fit)Andrews

Diouf Gamst

Santa (if fit) Roberts

[Hughesy]

1 upfront against West ham/ at home in a game we ideally want to win? Giving them far too much respect with 1 up top alone.

[Amo]

gazsimm - I reckon we could win with 13 players in the line-up.

Robinson

Ooijer - Samba - Nelsen - Givet

Diouf - Dunn - Warnock - Pedersen

Roberts - Santa Cruz

[gazsimm]

gazsimm - I reckon we could win with 13 players in the line-up.

Robinson

Ooijer - Samba - Nelsen - Givet

Diouf - Dunn - Warnock - Pedersen

Roberts - Santa Cruz

[/quote)

sorry if it was not quite clear but i put the players in who are a doubt for the game in the team, then replaced them if they don't make it

[Anti-Dingle-Brigade]

1 upfront against West ham/ at home in a game we ideally want to win? Giving them far too much respect with 1 up top alone.

You still haven't realised?

We always play like this. First half, let them push up and try to catch them on the break, let themselves get tired out and hoof it around and hope to get a goal.

Second half - push up thus isolating opposition players. This is exactly the reason why we finish games so strongly and score so many late equalisers/winners. It does work if the defence are switched on and we keep it to 0-0. If we go at them from the get-go, we will be vulnerable near the end (see City and Arsenal when we fell apart).

[super_arran]

Warnock vs Parker.....could get ugly

[incy wincy little spider]

Just got my tickets Seems a decent crowd unless ticket lady was lying to me. Was hoping to sit closer to half way line.

Although all the games ive been to this season we have lost/drawn!

No idea on the team, hopefully satna cruz will play and upson hopefully wont. Going for 2-1 BBurn

[Presty On Tour]

We owe West Ham a beating.

As they are our bogey team, the good news is that there is probably no better time to play them with their injuries, corruption court cases and mid table mediocrity.

I think we will win with Pedersen amongst the goals.