Blackburn and West Ham in dull goalless draw

Aug 29, 2009 - 6:14 PM By GEOFF McALLISTER STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - West Ham ended their dramatic week in the headlines with a forgettable 0-0 draw at Blackburn.

Gianfranco Zola's side have had to deal with the shock of defender Calum Davenport's stabbing, the sudden death of midfielder Jack Collison's father and the crowd violence and all its aftermath that marred their midweek Carling (League) Cup tie with Millwall.

For all the stories off the pitch there was little to speak of on a late summer's afternoon in Lancashire with neither side able nor apparently willing to stretch themselves for all three points although Blackburn, to their credit, did produce the best football.

Zola said: "It has been a tough week and this was our third game in six days so the players were a little tired, especially because against Millwall we played 120 minutes.

"It was exhausting and we dropped away in the second half which gave them their chances but we were able to hang on and a point away from home is not a bad result.

"It is a good point for us, I was pleased with the defending and although Carlton Cole had a chance to score a draw was probably the fair result."

The most vibrant parts of the game were at the beginning and towards the end as debutant Pascal Chimbonda skipped down the line and fed Morten Gamst Pedersen who was crunched by James Collins.

The free-kick was in a dangerous position and David Dunn's delivery was headed back across goal by Chris Samba but Jason Roberts could not connect.

West Ham from that scare grew in possession and Luiz Jimenez was twice denied by Chimbonda blocks as he shaped to shoot but still neither side could create a chance worthy of a save.

Cole had been otherwise quiet but in the opening minutes of the second half lashed a 20-yard effort over with Collins also blasting off target from Mark Noble's corner.

Blackburn boss introduced lanky Croatian 21-year-old striker Nikola Kalinic for his home debut in the hope of giving his side another option up-front but the 6.4 million pound signing from Hadjuk Split was largely anonymous.

It was another replacement who fashioned the best chance of the game for the home side as Canadian teenager David Hoilett whose chip ten minutes from time beat Green but nestled on the roof of the net and minutes later Collins outstretched to block another chance.

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce said: "I did not think we created too many chances in the first half but I do not think West Ham did in the whole game.

"We got better and stronger as the game went on but unfortunately the clinical finish is not with us at the moment.

"For long periods we outclassed and outplayed West Ham \2013 it was just that final finish but at least we are creating opportunities.

"If we continue down this route we will start winning games more than we draw or lose."