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Premier League Preview: West Ham United - Blackburn Rovers
Hammers looking to build on promising January...
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29 Jan 2010 17:46:00
By James Daly
Kick-off: Saturday, January 30, 2010. 15.00 GMT
Upton Park, London
David Gold and David Sullivan watched their new acquisition West Ham draw 1-1 at Portsmouth in their first game as owners. That match was a relegation six-pointer, and Saturday's home tie with Blackburn Rovers gives the Hammers another opportunity to move clear of the Premier League relegation zone.
Gianfranco Zola's side are unbeaten this year and will be looking to continue that run with this win-able home tie against a team that has a special link for the little Italian.
Zola made his debut in English football at Ewood Park on 16 November 1996 as part of the Chelsea team that drew 1-1 with Blackburn that day.
And Zola will be confident ahead of Blackburn's visit as Rovers have not beaten the Hammers since 10 December 2005, losing on their last ten visits to the Boleyn Ground.
All eyes will be on Benni McCarthy, should the Rovers forward complete his move to West Ham in time, and will be keen to show his outgoing club what they will be missing.
The Hammers can expect a rough ride as they strive for the three points, as Blackburn have committed 318 fouls this season - the highest in the Premier League.
Rovers though, are in good form and are looking for their third win on the bounce, following victories over Wigan and Fulham.
This is the 94th league meeting between the two sides, of which Blackburn have won 42, West Ham have claimed 38, and there have been 13 draws.
FORM
West Ham
Jan 26: Portsmouth 1-1 West Ham
Jan 17: Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham
Jan 3: West Ham 1-2 Arsenal (FA Cup)
Dec 28: Tottenham 2-0 West Ham
Dec 26: West Ham 2-0 Portsmouth
Blackburn
27 Jan Blackburn 2-1 Wigan
20 Jan Aston Villa 6-4 Blackburn (League Cup)
Jan 17: Blackburn 2-0 Fulham
Jan 14: Blackburn 1-0 Aston Villa (League Cup)
Jan 11: Manchester City 4-0 Blackburn
TEAM NEWS
West Ham
Striker Carlton Cole could be in contention for his first start of 2010 after impressing as a substitute against Portsmouth. West Ham's top scorer had been sidelined with a knee injury picked up in the home game with Burnley on 28 November.
James Tomkins has been training normally after the knock he took to the face in midweek, while Scott Parker and Kieron Dyer are back in full training after hamstring problems with Herita Ilunga also close to full training after his own hamstring injury.
Danny Gabbidon (hamstring) could be back in full training next week with Guille Franco (thigh) is also getting closer to returning training. Zavon Hines (knee), Luis Boa Morte (knee) and Calum Davenport (leg) are all long-term absentees.
Last starting XI (v Portsmouth): Green, Upson, Spector, Tomkins, Kovac, Noble, Behrami, Faubert, Collison, Diamanti, Nouble.
Blackburn
Rovers welcome back Chris Samba from a one-match suspension. The giant defender missed the 2-1 win over Wigan on Wednesday night.
That is the only expected change to the squad with Vince Grella, David Dunn and Lars Jacobsen still absent.
Grella is back in training but Saturday's game comes too soon for the Australian, whilst Jacobsen's thigh and Dunn's calf keep them sidelined for now.
It remains to be seen if Blackburn's two new signings, Turkey midfielder Yildiray Basturk and Algerian youngster Amine Linganzi, will feature on Saturday. Basturk having arrived from VfB Stuttgart, while 20-year-old Linganzi joined on a three-and-a-half year deal from French club AS St Etienne.
Last starting XI (v Wigan): Robinson, Chimbonda, Nelsen, Olsson, Emerton, Givet Pedersen, N'Zonzi, Hoilett, Diouf, Kalinic.
Players to watch
West Ham - Carlton Cole
West Ham's top scorer returned from a two-month lay-off with a knee injury in the 1-1 draw with Portsmouth on Tuesday as a second-half substitute.
He is expected to feature again and will be desperate to get back to goal scoring form, the sort that saw him bang in seven goals in 13 games before injuring his knee.
That and with the World Cup looming in June, Cole will be keen to show his best form in the coming weeks, starting with an excellent opportunity against Blackburn.
Blackburn - Yildiray Basturk
The little Turkish international has spent the whole of his career in Germany so a welcome to the Premier League in a fiery, bruising encounter at West Ham could be a shock to the system.
But the skillful playmaker could just be the man Rovers forward's need to unlock West Ham's defence. Expect him to play behind the front two (or one depending on how defensive Sam Allardyce plays it).
Prediction
Rovers away form is poor, having lost eight of the 22 games on the road this season, so the Hammers will be confident of an important three points. Blackburn's win over Wigan dragged them seven points clear of the drop, but a defeat at Upton Park could pull them back into the mix.
West Ham 2-1 Blackburn
Upton Park, London
David Gold and David Sullivan watched their new acquisition West Ham draw 1-1 at Portsmouth in their first game as owners. That match was a relegation six-pointer, and Saturday's home tie with Blackburn Rovers gives the Hammers another opportunity to move clear of the Premier League relegation zone.
Gianfranco Zola's side are unbeaten this year and will be looking to continue that run with this win-able home tie against a team that has a special link for the little Italian.
Zola made his debut in English football at Ewood Park on 16 November 1996 as part of the Chelsea team that drew 1-1 with Blackburn that day.
And Zola will be confident ahead of Blackburn's visit as Rovers have not beaten the Hammers since 10 December 2005, losing on their last ten visits to the Boleyn Ground.
All eyes will be on Benni McCarthy, should the Rovers forward complete his move to West Ham in time, and will be keen to show his outgoing club what they will be missing.
The Hammers can expect a rough ride as they strive for the three points, as Blackburn have committed 318 fouls this season - the highest in the Premier League.
Rovers though, are in good form and are looking for their third win on the bounce, following victories over Wigan and Fulham.
This is the 94th league meeting between the two sides, of which Blackburn have won 42, West Ham have claimed 38, and there have been 13 draws.
FORM
West Ham
Jan 26: Portsmouth 1-1 West Ham
Jan 17: Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham
Jan 3: West Ham 1-2 Arsenal (FA Cup)
Dec 28: Tottenham 2-0 West Ham
Dec 26: West Ham 2-0 Portsmouth
Blackburn
27 Jan Blackburn 2-1 Wigan
20 Jan Aston Villa 6-4 Blackburn (League Cup)
Jan 17: Blackburn 2-0 Fulham
Jan 14: Blackburn 1-0 Aston Villa (League Cup)
Jan 11: Manchester City 4-0 Blackburn
TEAM NEWS
West Ham
Striker Carlton Cole could be in contention for his first start of 2010 after impressing as a substitute against Portsmouth. West Ham's top scorer had been sidelined with a knee injury picked up in the home game with Burnley on 28 November.
James Tomkins has been training normally after the knock he took to the face in midweek, while Scott Parker and Kieron Dyer are back in full training after hamstring problems with Herita Ilunga also close to full training after his own hamstring injury.
Danny Gabbidon (hamstring) could be back in full training next week with Guille Franco (thigh) is also getting closer to returning training. Zavon Hines (knee), Luis Boa Morte (knee) and Calum Davenport (leg) are all long-term absentees.
Last starting XI (v Portsmouth): Green, Upson, Spector, Tomkins, Kovac, Noble, Behrami, Faubert, Collison, Diamanti, Nouble.
Blackburn
Rovers welcome back Chris Samba from a one-match suspension. The giant defender missed the 2-1 win over Wigan on Wednesday night.
That is the only expected change to the squad with Vince Grella, David Dunn and Lars Jacobsen still absent.
Grella is back in training but Saturday's game comes too soon for the Australian, whilst Jacobsen's thigh and Dunn's calf keep them sidelined for now.
It remains to be seen if Blackburn's two new signings, Turkey midfielder Yildiray Basturk and Algerian youngster Amine Linganzi, will feature on Saturday. Basturk having arrived from VfB Stuttgart, while 20-year-old Linganzi joined on a three-and-a-half year deal from French club AS St Etienne.
Last starting XI (v Wigan): Robinson, Chimbonda, Nelsen, Olsson, Emerton, Givet Pedersen, N'Zonzi, Hoilett, Diouf, Kalinic.
Players to watch
West Ham - Carlton Cole
West Ham's top scorer returned from a two-month lay-off with a knee injury in the 1-1 draw with Portsmouth on Tuesday as a second-half substitute.
He is expected to feature again and will be desperate to get back to goal scoring form, the sort that saw him bang in seven goals in 13 games before injuring his knee.
That and with the World Cup looming in June, Cole will be keen to show his best form in the coming weeks, starting with an excellent opportunity against Blackburn.
Blackburn - Yildiray Basturk
The little Turkish international has spent the whole of his career in Germany so a welcome to the Premier League in a fiery, bruising encounter at West Ham could be a shock to the system.
But the skillful playmaker could just be the man Rovers forward's need to unlock West Ham's defence. Expect him to play behind the front two (or one depending on how defensive Sam Allardyce plays it).
Prediction
Rovers away form is poor, having lost eight of the 22 games on the road this season, so the Hammers will be confident of an important three points. Blackburn's win over Wigan dragged them seven points clear of the drop, but a defeat at Upton Park could pull them back into the mix.
West Ham 2-1 Blackburn
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| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
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