Saturday’s Championship tie is the first league meeting of these two sides in fifteen years: The two sides have enjoyed very different histories since the 1 – 1 draw at Ewood Park in 2010. West Ham went on to European triumph in the interim, whilst for tomorrow’s hosts, their relegation from the Premier League in 2011/12 meant they went down as we went up, and the two sides haven’t met since apart from a 5 – 1 West Ham FA Cup victory in 2016.
Last time the two sides met one Mr Dmitri Payet was in full flow
Have no doubt that the hosts tomorrow are talking up their chances for the game, despite two big losses, as Blackburn see the visiting Hammers as the league’s glamour side, well beatable in their current reduced circumstances. No doubt hoping the early game vulnerabilities haven’t been fixed, the home side will do their best to come out all guns blazing and grab early goals.
Yahoo Sport feature comments from midfielder Kristi Montgomery, who is apparently ‘relishing’ the chance to test himself against a side he sees as being of Premier League quality:
“It’s the one that I’ve been looking forward to, to be honest with you,” Montgomery said.
“Just because my whole life, really, they’ve been a Premier League team, so that’s what I see them as, really. It’s a really good challenge and definitely a winnable game as well.
“It’s a massive test and a chance to show ourselves against one of the best teams in the league.
They’re in the Championship for a reason and there’s nothing to say that we can’t beat them.”
‘Fourteenth place for a reason’, Blackburn.
However upbeat Montgomery might sound, three losses in their last five outings means the form, as well as the ‘new manager bounce,‘ favours West Ham United who will be rocking up full of confidence after somehow snatching a point from Cardiff City on Wednesday night.
I’ll bet the last thing Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray wanted to hear in advance of this game was that the Irons had sacked Nuno and brought in ‘promotion specialist’ Scott Parker in his stead.
Certainly the new appointment has re-invigorated supporter engagement and I’ll bet there’s no more of that half time booing nonsense from the expected 7500 West Ham fans due for the game.