Matchday 16 ~ Blackburn vs West Ham - Page 3

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:51 PM

Dean Ashton ensured Alan Curbishley celebrated a year in charge of West Ham United with another victory over Blackburn Rovers.

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:51 PM

Interval substitute Ashton struck seven minutes into the second half as the Hammers made it four successive wins over Rovers to lift themselves into the top half of the Barclays Premier League.

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:51 PM

Mark Hughes' side had the chances to at least clinch a draw, but poor finishing and some top-class saves from Robert Green kept them out.

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:52 PM

After a run of seven successive league and cup victories, Rovers have now taken just five points from their last six matches.

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:52 PM

The match was played at a typically high Premier League tempo, but the number of mis-placed passes and mistakes spoiled the contest in the opening period.

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:52 PM

Too often moves broke down due to players failing to find a team-mate with an incisive pass when it was required most.

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:52 PM

Instead, for the opening 30 minutes, all that warmed fans on a cold evening were two long-range, yet close-shave efforts from David Dunn and Tugay.

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:52 PM

Although Blackburn had appeared the more dangerous team early on, they surrendered that advantage due to those mistakes.

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:52 PM

Scott Parker initially threatened by stroking West Ham's first chance a yard wide in the 34th minute with a dipping shot from 25 yards.

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:52 PM

Then Nolberto Solano had two bites of the cherry in one particular counter-attack, but after his first drive was blocked, he flashed his second over the bar.

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:52 PM

Blackburn swiftly responded, forcing Robert Green into the first notable save made by either goalkeeper as he turned aside a close-range strike from Morten Gamst Pedersen, with the winger in for the suspended David Bentley.

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:52 PM

The match was in desperate need of an injection of vitality, and it arrived at the interval with Hughes replacing Aaron Mokoena with Robbie Savage.

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:52 PM

That gave the midfielder his first taste of action since 28th October following a cartilage operation, but it was Hammers' substitute Ashton who made the immediate impact.

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:52 PM

The 24-year-old striker, making his third sub appearance since recently returning from an ankle injury, was left unmarked in the 52nd minute to tap home his fourth goal of the season.

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:52 PM

Solano fed George McCartney down the left wing and from the dead-ball line the left-back teased a low cross into the area where Ashton was free to score his first goal since 26th September.

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:52 PM

It led to the match opening up and so proving far more entertaining, with Green then pulling off a double save just five minutes later to preserve his side's advantage.

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:53 PM

Green initially tipped away a downward header from Christopher Samba, and from the rebound he used his feet to deny Andre Ooijer at point-blank range.

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:53 PM

That was followed 10 minutes later by Pedersen rifling an angled drive into the crowd from 12 yards when he should have at least hit the target from Roque Santa Cruz's through ball.

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:53 PM

Following Green's heroics at one end, Brad Friedel responded in the 73rd minute with a sprawling stop to a Luis Boa Morte strike into the turf after meeting a Solano cross on the volley.

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:53 PM

If West Ham should have been 2-0 up, Blackburn should definitely have drawn level soon after as Santa Cruz missed two chances in a matter of minutes.

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:53 PM

The Paraguay international first flashed a header narrowly wide after rising to meet a superb left-wing cross from Stephen Warnock.

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:53 PM

But then after delightfully controlling a cheeky dinked ball from Tugay, he drove his 15-yard shot over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy and asGreen advanced.

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:53 PM

Ashton then sidefooted over a Cole lay-off as the latter had taken advantage of an injury to Ooijer that led to the Dutch centre-back limping off and leaving Rovers down to 10 men for the last seven minutes.

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:53 PM

Even then Blackburn came close to claiming a point, but Green brilliantly pushed aside a Tugay volley from 30 yards that had flashed through a crowd of players.

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:53 PM

"I've not really had an issue with our performances in the games we haven't won prior to today. But today was the one time our performance level was nowhere near the level it needed to be, certainly in the first half when we didn't create anything."
- Mark Hughes

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cristian Rodríguez

"I've not really had an issue with our performances in the games we haven't won prior to today. But today was the one time our performance level was nowhere near the level it needed to be, certainly in the first half when we didn't create anything."
- Mark Hughes

Poor Mr. Hughes

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:53 PM

"It's fairly tough coming here, make no mistake about that given Blackburn's achievements over the last couple of seasons. They're a top side in the Premier League, so we're delighted to come here and get a result from a very gritty performance."
- Alan Curbishley

Freddy Adu · 12-09-2007, 05:54 PM

George McCartney
The former Sunderland defender set up Dean Ashton's winner.

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12-09-2007, 05:51 PM	#62 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Interval substitute Ashton struck seven minutes into the second half as the Hammers made it four successive wins over Rovers to lift themselves into the top half of the Barclays Premier League.

12-09-2007, 05:51 PM	#63 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Mark Hughes' side had the chances to at least clinch a draw, but poor finishing and some top-class saves from Robert Green kept them out.

12-09-2007, 05:52 PM	#64 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	After a run of seven successive league and cup victories, Rovers have now taken just five points from their last six matches.

12-09-2007, 05:52 PM	#65 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	The match was played at a typically high Premier League tempo, but the number of mis-placed passes and mistakes spoiled the contest in the opening period.

12-09-2007, 05:52 PM	#66 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Too often moves broke down due to players failing to find a team-mate with an incisive pass when it was required most.

12-09-2007, 05:52 PM	#67 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Instead, for the opening 30 minutes, all that warmed fans on a cold evening were two long-range, yet close-shave efforts from David Dunn and Tugay.

12-09-2007, 05:52 PM	#68 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Although Blackburn had appeared the more dangerous team early on, they surrendered that advantage due to those mistakes.

12-09-2007, 05:52 PM	#69 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Scott Parker initially threatened by stroking West Ham's first chance a yard wide in the 34th minute with a dipping shot from 25 yards.

12-09-2007, 05:52 PM	#70 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Then Nolberto Solano had two bites of the cherry in one particular counter-attack, but after his first drive was blocked, he flashed his second over the bar.

12-09-2007, 05:52 PM	#71 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Blackburn swiftly responded, forcing Robert Green into the first notable save made by either goalkeeper as he turned aside a close-range strike from Morten Gamst Pedersen, with the winger in for the suspended David Bentley.

12-09-2007, 05:52 PM	#72 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	The match was in desperate need of an injection of vitality, and it arrived at the interval with Hughes replacing Aaron Mokoena with Robbie Savage.

12-09-2007, 05:52 PM	#73 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	That gave the midfielder his first taste of action since 28th October following a cartilage operation, but it was Hammers' substitute Ashton who made the immediate impact.

12-09-2007, 05:52 PM	#74 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	The 24-year-old striker, making his third sub appearance since recently returning from an ankle injury, was left unmarked in the 52nd minute to tap home his fourth goal of the season.

12-09-2007, 05:52 PM	#75 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Solano fed George McCartney down the left wing and from the dead-ball line the left-back teased a low cross into the area where Ashton was free to score his first goal since 26th September.

12-09-2007, 05:52 PM	#76 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	It led to the match opening up and so proving far more entertaining, with Green then pulling off a double save just five minutes later to preserve his side's advantage.

12-09-2007, 05:53 PM	#77 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Green initially tipped away a downward header from Christopher Samba, and from the rebound he used his feet to deny Andre Ooijer at point-blank range.

12-09-2007, 05:53 PM	#78 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	That was followed 10 minutes later by Pedersen rifling an angled drive into the crowd from 12 yards when he should have at least hit the target from Roque Santa Cruz's through ball.

12-09-2007, 05:53 PM	#79 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Following Green's heroics at one end, Brad Friedel responded in the 73rd minute with a sprawling stop to a Luis Boa Morte strike into the turf after meeting a Solano cross on the volley.

12-09-2007, 05:53 PM	#80 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	If West Ham should have been 2-0 up, Blackburn should definitely have drawn level soon after as Santa Cruz missed two chances in a matter of minutes.

12-09-2007, 05:53 PM	#81 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	The Paraguay international first flashed a header narrowly wide after rising to meet a superb left-wing cross from Stephen Warnock.

12-09-2007, 05:53 PM	#82 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	But then after delightfully controlling a cheeky dinked ball from Tugay, he drove his 15-yard shot over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy and asGreen advanced.

12-09-2007, 05:53 PM	#83 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Ashton then sidefooted over a Cole lay-off as the latter had taken advantage of an injury to Ooijer that led to the Dutch centre-back limping off and leaving Rovers down to 10 men for the last seven minutes.

12-09-2007, 05:53 PM	#84 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Even then Blackburn came close to claiming a point, but Green brilliantly pushed aside a Tugay volley from 30 yards that had flashed through a crowd of players.

12-09-2007, 05:53 PM	#85 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	"I've not really had an issue with our performances in the games we haven't won prior to today. But today was the one time our performance level was nowhere near the level it needed to be, certainly in the first half when we didn't create anything." - Mark Hughes

12-09-2007, 05:53 PM	#87 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	"It's fairly tough coming here, make no mistake about that given Blackburn's achievements over the last couple of seasons. They're a top side in the Premier League, so we're delighted to come here and get a result from a very gritty performance." - Alan Curbishley

12-09-2007, 05:54 PM	#88 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	George McCartney The former Sunderland defender set up Dean Ashton's winner.