Blackburn Rovers v West Ham United
West Ham make the long trip up the M6 on Sunday hoping for better fortunes than their last visit to the north-west a fortnight ago, when the team suffered a shocking 5-0 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park.
The Hammers were dealt a further blow when Trevor Sinclair slammed in a transfer request and demanded a move away from Upton Park and all this means that the team desperately need to get something from Blackburn, if they are to raise morale inside the camp and lift some of the pressure off Glenn Roeder.
Croatian international Robert Jarni may boost the playing squad as he is currently on trial with the Hammers. The 32-year-old wing back could provide some quality down the flanks and increase the team's tally of 299 successful long passes which is the lowest in the Premiership.
Meanwhile Rovers could hand a Premiership debut to new signing Nils-Eric Johansson. The 21-year-old signed from FC Nuremberg for £2.7 million and should be a major assest for the club and will certainly provide competition for places in defence.
Johansson was credited as being the driving force behind Nuremberg's promotion to the Bundesliga last season and he has the experience of having played in the Champions League for current holders Bayern Munich a few seasons ago.
But Johansson may not receive his stiffest test of the season on Saturday, as he will face a West Ham team that has only scored in two out of their six games and their total of 62 shots is one of the lowest tallies in the Premiership.
And Rovers have shown their commitment this season by making a total of 221 attempted challenges - only Sunderland have made more. This is unsurprising when you consider that manager Graeme Souness was never one to duck out of tackle during his successful career as a player.
In contrast the Hammers, have only made 150 tackles this season - the fewest in the Premiership - and Roeder's team may have to roll their sleeves up and be more physical if they want to avoid their sixth consecutive league defeat at Ewood Park.
Online bookmakers WHUFCbet.co.uk offer 11/2 on a Hammers breaking this trend with a 1-1 score draw on Saturday.
Benji Romaner
Match referee: A. D'Urso
Essex-based official Andy D'Urso, like the Hammers faces the long trip north to control this Premiership encounter. But like the professional he is he has shown no bias towards West Ham as he sent off Stuart Pearce last season in the last time he reffed a match at Upton Park. He has dismissed three Premiership players already this season so both teams have been warned about stepping out of line.
Referee's Name FoulsPenaltiesYellow CardsRed CardsAve
Disc pointsA. D'Urso 164 0 22 3 49.60
PLAYER HEAD-TO-HEAD
click below for in-depth comparisonJansen v Kanoute
TEAM NEWS
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MATCH BETTING
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Match Result
Blackburn4/5Draw11/5West Ham3/1 Correct
Score
Blackburn 1-06/1Blackburn 2-013/2Blackburn 2-17/1Blackburn
3-012/1Blackburn 3-112/1Blackburn 3-225/1Blackburn 4-033/1Blackburn
4-128/1Blackburn 4-250/1Blackburn 5-080/1Blackburn 5-180/1Blackburn
6-0100/1Blackburn 6-1100/1Draw 0-08/1Draw 1-111/2Draw 2-214/1Draw
3-350/1West Ham 1-017/2West Ham 2-020/1West Ham 2-114/1West Ham
3-040/1West Ham 3-133/1West Ham 3-233/1West Ham 4-0100/1West Ham
4-1100/1West Ham 4-2100/1 Double Result
Blackburn/Blackburn2/1Blackburn/Draw15/1Blackburn/West
Ham33/1Draw/Blackburn7/2Draw/Draw7/2Draw/West Ham7/1West
Ham/Blackburn25/1West Ham/Draw15/1West Ham/West
Ham7/1 First Goalscorer
M Jansen4/1C Grabbi9/2M Hughes6/1E Ostenstad13/2C
Hignett8/1D Dunn10/1D Duff12/1K Gillespie12/1A Mahon14/1J
Mcateer16/1Tugay16/1G Flitcroft20/1L Neill25/1D Johnson33/1J
Curtis33/1S Bjornebye40/1C Short50/1H Berg50/1G Greer66/1No
Goalscorer8/1F Kanoute13/2P Di Canio13/2J Defoe15/2S Todorov8/1D
Hutchison9/1T Sinclair12/1J Cole14/1Carrick16/1Mccann20/1J
Moncur25/1Courtois25/1C Dailly33/1R Song40/1T Repka40/1S
Schmemel40/1N Winterburn50/1R Soma50/1S Potts66/1
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