A cold crisp afternoon, perfect for football saw West Ham seemingly doing their best to get into their opponent’s half after the last three weeks’ slow, ponderous starts. The Hammers spent the early moments camped in Blackburn’s half, accompanied by the noise of 7000 visiting fans making Ewood Park sound more like London Stadium on a good day.
Most of West Ham’s early movement was through Mayers and Austbø down the left, the two combining well with the full back pushed right forward in an adventurous set up by Scott Parker.
However it was Blackburn who almost struck first thanks to an overlap down their right and a shot that looped agonisingly over Hermansens’ goal. Mayers responded by fizzing one cross just out of reach of Piroe -nil nil at 20 minutes.
Mukasa came closest, a right foot shot being denied by Rovers’Keeper Balázs Tóth as West Ham pressed.
Engels, Austbo and Mayers combined well as the Hammers attacked repeatedly down Blackburn’s left, Austbø impressing in place of Solomon. Half an hour gone and few scares for West Ham: A more competitive, aggressive start than in recent weeks. Piroe had one ball played through but his lack of pace allowed defenders to crowd him out.
The half continued in the same vein, West Ham looking well capable of scoring with most of the attacking coming down the flanks, Mayers on the overlap giving Scott Parker a new dimension to his Hammers offensive work.
Worryingly, Engels went over on his ankle just on the stroke of half time – the teams went in at 0 – 0, a far more measured, controlled half than West Ham fans have been treated to in recent weeks.