Possession: 54% Rovers
Shots: Rovers-9 Hammers-5
Shots off Target: Rovers 10 Hammers 6
Corners: Rovers 5 Hammers 2
Fouls: Rovers 13 Hammers 18

Basically every single stat you want to see except Final score. That was alllll Zeros.

But we got our first point. And the team isn’t playing poorly, they’re just not playing great. Even with our rag tag midfeild and our brand new injuried strike force, our defense is still playing solidly. And that’s something we can’t take for granted. The goals will come…..or they better come, and the defense just needs to keep doing what they’re doing and we’ll be climbing the table quickly. Highlights below, and enjoy cause it’s an off week this weekend.

But enough with this witchcraft bogey side. I think we have a chance come Saturday. Hell, more than a chance, I think we’ll walk away from this one with all three points.

West ham have a win and loss, and that win came against Prem noobs Wolves. They were beaten by Spuds most recently, and sit only a few table places above us on 3 points.

We all know the beginning of the season is no time to make any calls about any team and what they’re outcome will be. But you can never argue against getting points early and often, and this is the game ot get our first ones after dominating in our last two showings. Hopefully the team worked on just shooting the ball into the net this past week and are ready for tomorrow.

Fans in the USofA, this one won’t be on TV until a replay of it on Setanta US at 6:45pm EST. Feel free to leave any comments or predictions about the game below. Personally, I think it will be 2-0 Rovers. We’ll see tomorrow!

(EDIT:This next paragraph was added after initial posting)However, I am really tired of players thinking that it is so bad here at Rovers. To be fair, in interviews since the move Warnock has not slated the team or club, and has actually been pretty classy. But when the fan’s player of the year jumps ship for “European football” (which villa were eliminated from today) you really have to wonder. It wasn’t too long ago Rovers were in Europe. And we all know what happens when individuals feel too big for the club: See Bellamy, Bentley, Santa Cruz, etc. I like Warnock, the guy always gave his all and usually I like Villa too, only rooting against them when they play us. But the sad truth is Warnock will probably be one of those to see the hard way that the grass isn’t always greener. All the same, I dont wish him bad, but if Villa finish 16th, I won’t be shedding a tear.

What I didn’t expect though, was this move for Chimbonda right away. Now, some people have been concerned that this gives us a million Right backs and no leftbacks up to par and still hasn’t addressed the midfield situation. However, I think Salgado was brought in to play a holding midfield in front of the back four as a transition guy and first line of defense. I see Chimbonda playing the RB off and on with Jacobsen until one of them lock up the spot with Samb and Nelsen at CB and Givet on the left. Not too shabby if you ask me.

Plus, this is pretty shrewd money wise as well. The deal is reportedly in the £1.5m-£2m pound range and the 30 year-old defender has signed for two years while the Warnock sale is speculated at around £7m.

For the sake of sanity, I will keep my blue and white Spectacles on, and not get into the reasoning behind letting a player like Warnock leave.

Also, we beat Gillingham to advance to the Carling Cup third round. Goals from Dunn, Junior Hoilett and MGP secured our passage through. No highlights available for posting, will update when I’ve got my hands on them.

West Ham preview up tomorrow and as always, UP THE ROVERS!

The Hammers are sitting pretty comfortably in the top half, holding onto the 7th place with 40 points and fighting for a place in the UEFA Europa League. Robert Green has recovered from the knock he picked up during the Hammers’ Monday game and fill be starting between the sticks against us. West ham also won 4-1 in the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign.

Lucash Neill, ex Rover extraordinaire will be captaining the West Ham side like usual, but it always does the heart good when we beat him.

Points are points and boy do we need three. We could also use some luck in the resukts of the teams aorund us but if all goes according to plan, while we won’t jump too much higher in the league ladder, we will put some space between us and the bottom three. So lets shake off the Le Arse crushing and come out string. Some solid, physical work to take out their jets and confidence, a goal or two early and we’ll be on our way. UP THE ROVERS!

Our defense is a bit of an enigma at the moment. It was shocking on Saturday in a 4-1 defeat to West Ham – lazy and incompetent. However, I wouldn’t say the personnel are inadequate, so Ince needs to get them sorted and in gear for us to get anywhere.

Although the scoreline flattered West Ham, we should not have been 2-0 down after 10 minutes. Robinson was nowhere for a corner and then Samba made himself a fool by directing Mark Noble’s shot in.

Roberts took a great turn to bring it to 2-1 and showed that he can be a great player when he finishes well – which is rarely. This was shown later on when his poor penalty was saved by Rob Green. Roberts has what I call Henry-itis (after the Arsenal legend): always looking to pass the ball past the keeper, and it looks great when you pull it off. Sometimes I just wish Roberts would blast it.

Two late goals finished us off after some horrendous defending, especially by Warnock. Surely players are taught when they are kids that you keep going untill the whistle goes. No matter, I’m sure Ince will have words.

So some thoughts:

-Although Roberts has scored twice in two games I’m not sure if he gives us enough all around. He misses a lot of chances. Tough action may be needed.

-Hence I ask – where is Benni Mac? We are paying this guy far too much to sit on the bench. Ince seemed adament that he couldn’t leave, so lets get him on the field.

-If not, I think Villanueva needs some EPL time in a 4-4-1-1 formation behing Roque. Could be deadly….

Highlights can be found here:

What do you guys think about Roberts, Benni Mac and the defense?

Oh, and the new kits looked great.

45th +1- Nelson heads out for a corner to prevent aston from getting it. 2 mins of added time.
43rd: the game has its highs and lows. right now just back and forth.
41st: Rovers corner, Reid with the worst kick ive ever seen. It goes out at the other flag for a GK.
40th: Samba immense right now. rovers def holding well.
37th: Good break by westham. cross headed out for a gk by cole.
36th: good hold of possesion for us here. showing good build up, hammers forced to clear. just need the finish.
32 and 33- Fouls and corners and the like for west ham.. Nothing to come of it.
30th: Samba heads it, Derbs heads it in, but flagged offside. OH MY hes played onside by Bararmy. Linesman flags offside incorectly. The kick played quickly by the hammers. Ooijer forced to foul as rovers have no men back. Yellow for him.
29th: RSC cant shake the knock. Matty derbs on to replace.
28th: Corner for west ham, taken short, noble cross. cleared away
27th: Roberts called for a ghost foul. Doesnt like it and lets the ref know it. Cared fo this troubles.
22nd: OH yes Jason roberts, 1-2 now. Roberts turns his defender and pokes it right to the farside of the keeper. Rovers 1-2 Hammers
21th: Samba with an OG but an offsides Aston clearly interfered. Apperently the offsides rule isnt in effect today. 0-2 Hammers
19th: Santa looks with a knock. Limping in the offensive third
18th: Rovers using the super goal kicking abilities of Robbo too much.
16th- FK after foul called on the hammers. Roberts should have been alowed to play on he was working with the man fouling him. Peds Fk out for a GK.
0-1 Hammers
13th: Davenport scores off the corner.
11ht; Robbo knocks the ball back for another corner. Then the second corner cleared away. Ball plpayed down to Santa who gets it with no opositing. The ball into Roberts getts muddled and cleared. Rovers with the throw, peds cross in, cleared then Rovers get it back. Stolen and charged down the wing for Hammers. Nelson puts it out for a corner.
10th- Mystery foul call.ed The ball into the Rovers box away my Nelson. Peds forced to put it out for Hammers corner.
6th- Grella comes in really late, clumsily and studs up. Yellow card.
6th- Nelsen knocks the corner away.
5th min- Samba with a horrid header back that Robbo doesnt even come get. He makes up for it, hustleing back. Hammers corner.
3rd min- Rovers going into challeneges clumsily. Giving away possession. AS I type, build u down the left, centered into Santa SOG saved and cleared.
1st min- Rovers going right to left.
0 min- Rovers in the new Blue away kit. No red and black halves today.
0 min- It’s good to see V. Grella in the side and also good to see King Carlos and new boy Andrews on the subs bench. Hope to see them factor in positively.

Welcome one and all, sorry about the lack of preview. Here’s the starting lineups:

WEST HAM: Green, Neill (c), Parker, Ashton, Etherington, Cole, Noble, Mullins, Faubert, Behrami, Davenport.
Subs: Lastuvka (GK), McCartney, Bellamy, Boa Morte, Spector, Reid, Sears.

ROVERS: Robinson, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen (c), Warnock, Emerton, Grella, Reid, Pedersen, Roberts, Santa Cruz.
Subs: Brown (GK), Mokoena, Andrews, Villanueva, Simpson, Treacy, Derbyshire.

SO Lets just talk about Carlos for a sec. Yes? Yes. Okay it’s Grimsby Town. However, quality is quality and reports from fans at Ewood tonight all agree that he should be and probably will be the creative midfield link we’ve been missing. Some other fans at the game tonight hinted that he’d be better suited in a RM/RW/CAM sort of role since he seems to be lacking in pace. Hmmm, over to you Ince.

Transfers: Keith Andrews MK Dons Capt. should be in tomorrow. Teams fees are agreed, personal terms are finalizing. This kid better be worht whatever money we’re shelling out. On second thought, any money at all is a waste. Poor buy.*

In League news: Right Back Behrami of the ‘ammers went down with a knock tonight. Should be out for our meet up at the weekend. Preview tomorrow, Liveblog Saturday morning and David with the report. Keep it locked here.

*I hold the right to retract this statement at anytime if he turns out to be amazing, and also reserve the right to say “I told you so” when he tanks and fails.

Highlights after the jump.