Premier League
West Ham United 4-1 Blackburn Rovers 

Saturday, 30th August 2008
by Gordon Thrower

Funny old game innit. Six days ago there was I bemoaning the fact that I’d done a 400 mile round trip and £150 in watching a team that couldn’t have looked less interested in proceedings had they been a Party Political Broadcast. Seven days on, there’s two wins, eight goals for, only two against and even the sun has come out!



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Player Ratings

Robert Green
Excellent ?EUR" and that?EUR(TM)s without even taking the penalty into account. On past form he can look forward to a week off thanks to Cappello?EUR(TM)s strange insistence on having crap ?EUR~keepers. Oh well England?EUR(TM)s loss?EUR?.


Valon Behrami
Much better in midfield, he found time and space to get round the bak a lot, something that contributed to the last goal.


Lucas Neill
Another who improved on his form once he was moved back to his preferred position. Set up Bellamy for the third.


Calum Davenport
The departure of Ferdinand sees him move up the pecking order in defence. Celebrated the fact with a fine game and a goal.


Matthew Upson
A good solid performance that?EUR(TM)ll see him have a nice holiday in Barcelona and Zagreb whilst the inferior Terry will somehow be skippering the national side.


Scott Parker
Decent run out for the midfielder who had more than a passing involvemet in the fourth goal.


Mark Noble
Pulled all the strings, particularly in the first 45.


Julien Faubert
Good start in which he helped set-up two goals but his distribution deteriorated as the game wore on.


Matthew Etherington
Usually disappears when taking a kick. This time Ooijer?EUR(TM)s foul seemed to galvanize him into action.


Dean Ashton
Not quite the force he can be, which may be enough to keep him at home this week.


Carlton Cole
First touch sometimes lacking but battled constantly despite being the victim of sometimes appalling refereeing from Riley.



Substitutes

George McCartney
(replaced Faubert, 60) Looked a little rusty but improved the balance of the side when he came on.


Craig Bellamy
(replaced Ashton, 69) Possibly the most welcome return of all ?EUR" he is key to any desire we might have to play football.


Hayden Mullins
(replaced Noble, 81) Steady run out that tightened things up in the closing stages.


Jan Lastuvka
Did not play.


Luis Boa Morte
Did not play.


Kyel Reid
Did not play.


Fred Sears
Did not play.



Match Facts

West Ham United: Robert Green, Valon Behrami, Lucas Neill, Calum Davenport, Matthew Upson, Scott Parker, Mark Noble, Julien Faubert, Matthew Etherington, Dean Ashton, Carlton Cole.

Goals: Calum Davenport 12 Christopher Samba (og) 20 Craig Bellamy 90 Carlton Cole 90            .

Booked: Craig Bellamy 90          .

Sent off: None.

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

Subs not used: Brown, Mokoena, Villanueva, Simpson.

Goals: Roberts (22).

Booked: Grella (7), Roberts (27), Ooijer (30), Emerton (52), Nelsen (90).

Sent off: None.

Referee: Mike Riley.

Attendance: 32,905.

Man of the Match: Robert Green.