Premier League
West Ham United 1-1 Blackburn Rovers 

Saturday, 7th May 2011
by Gordon Thrower

"It's not the despair, Laura. I can take the despair. It's the hope I can't stand."
– Brian Stimpson



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Player Ratings

Robert Green
No chance with the goal. Made one save from distance in the second half but was largely untroubled.


Lars Jacobsen
OK defensively but bereft of ideas going forward.


Wayne Bridge
No idea where he was for their goal. Got better but the damage had been done.


Manuel Da Costa
Lost Roberts for the goal. Possibly our biggest threat in the first half from headers. Spent the second half playing over hit passes off for goal kicks.


Danny Gabbidon
Showed composure on the ball but ran out of ideas for distribution as the game progressed ?EUR" the lack of quality movement in front of him had much to do with that.


Thomas Hitzlsperger
Took the goal well and his influence grew as the match wore on. MOTM by default really.


Jonathan Spector
Another who did ok up to the point at which he had to do something creative. Then his limitations became clear. Moved to right back in the second-half reshuffle.


Fred Sears
Buzzed around and looked lively but when all is said and done there was nothing in the way of end product.


Luis Boa Morte
Got stuck in well but saw little reward for his efforts.


Demba Ba
Missed a pretty easy free header. Not much else to report.


Carlton Cole
Tried to make his usual nuisance of himself but was pretty well shackled by Samba.



Substitutes

Robbie Keane
(Replaced Boa Morte, 55 mins) Was brought on to influence the game which he did. Not in a good way.


Jack Collison
(Replaced Sears, 64 mins) Good to see him back ?EUR" showed a few bright moments, notably with the pass that lead to Keane?EUR(TM)s miss.


Frederic Piquionne
(Replaced Jacobsen, 64 mins) Looked lively and made you wish he?EUR(TM)d been on for longer.


Ruud Boffin
Did not play.


James Tomkins
Did not play.


Radoslav Kovac
Did not play.


Zavon Hines
Did not play.



Match Facts

West Ham United: Robert Green, Lars Jacobsen, Wayne Bridge, Manuel Da Costa, Danny Gabbidon, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Jonathan Spector, Fred Sears, Luis Boa Morte, Demba Ba, Carlton Cole.

Goals: Thomas Hitzlsperger 78                  .

Booked: Manuel Da Costa 38 Luis Boa Morte 47 Jonathan Spector 69      .

Sent off: None.

Blackburn Rovers: Robinson, Olsen, Emerton, Samba, Givet, N'Zonzi, Jones, Diouf, Pedersen, Hoilett, Roberts.

Subs not used: Bunn, Formica, Hanley, Benjani.

Goals: Roberts (12).

Booked: None.

Sent off: None.

Referee: Peter Walton.

Attendance: 0.

Man of the Match: Thomas Hitzlsperger.