David Gold and David Sullivan will hope to witness more affirming occasions than their first home game as West Ham’s freshly ensconced joint-owners.
The pair had entered once the strains of Any Old Iron, Run Rabbit Run and various other cockney melodies had faded. Yet after a rousing reception for what was billed as “Home At Last” by the West Ham programme, the two Davids saw an encounter imbued with a reserve game’s quality and atmosphere until the closing 20 minutes.
West Ham may have about edged possession during the opening period, but the “highlights” boiled down to the odd corner plus too few chances from the teams, who had lined up 4-5-1, and with a seemingly identical intent to cause stupor in the stands.
On 33 minutes Alessandro Diamanti’s free-kick from the right at least worried Paul Robinson, requiring England’s ex-No1 to punch to safety.
Blackburn’s best effort appeared to have also derived from a free-kick on the angle. Morten Gamst Pedersen swung this one in from the left on a low parabola. The ball was allowed to bisect the box, before it was shinned away.
Thankfully, some genuine premium fare did arrive, two minutes before the oranges and teas. This time Pederson lined the free-kick up 25 yards from Robert Green’s goal, and the Norwegian’s sweet left-footed shot rasped the ball beyond the keeper, only for it dip against the bar.
The game stirred after Carlton Cole made a second entrance since recovering from the knee injury that had kept him out since November. He was quickly followed by Jason Roberts, whose opening contribution was to remove James Tomkins with a playground body swerve before the striker unloaded straight into Green’s midrift.
Earlier Gaël Givet would have scored had Cole not cleared off the line. His expertise, though, had been required in front of the opposing goal.
Robinson also tipped over from Diamant but David G and David S retired to their executive lounge knowing West Ham have to start winning soon.
Premier LeagueWest Ham UnitedBlackburn RoversJamie Jacksonguardian.co.uk
