Skipper Steve Lomas smashed home the penalty shootout clincher that put West
Ham into the FA Cup quarter-finals.<
In a nailbiting climax to this fifth round replay, the Ulsterman kept his cool
to ensure a London derby at Arsenal in the next round for the happy Hammers.
Poor Colin Hendry, Rovers' tower of strength over the years, had Rovers'
crucial fifth penalty saved by Craig Forrest's feet.
From then on, Lomas knew that by just putting the fifth spot kick away, he
would ensure a dramatic victory for his side - and did just that.
Previously, Chris Sutton, Kevin Gallacher, Jason Wilcox and Jeff Kenna had
dispatched their spot kicks with assurity. West Ham's David Unsworth, John
Hartson, Frank Lampard and Ian Pearce had done likewise.
Then came Hendry's moment of horror, and Lomas's cool clincher, to send him
scampering all over the pitch in a dizzy dance of delight followed by his
delirious colleagues.
The game exploded in extra time when West Ham took the lead through John
Hartson, but Stuart Ripley headed Blackburn level six minutes from the end of
the extra period.
Until then it had been a war of attrition with West Ham defending deep and
looking for the counter-attack. They had produced a display of resolve and
concentration that had frustrated Rovers, who had so much of the ball but found
the Hammers capable of a sound defensive display.
The game had been overshadowed by claim and counter claim involving cheating
and racial abuse following the incident in the first match that saw Kevin
Gallacher sent off following a clash with Eyal Berkovic.
The little Israeli star was howled at every time he went near the ball, but to
their credit, neither side attempted to milk the situation and there was barely
a bad foul in the entire game.
West Ham opted for deep, controlled defence. Blackburn struggled for space and
time, but had so much possession they should have caused more trouble in the
Londoners' back line.
Rovers were without England keeper Tim Flowers with a shoulder injury, Alan
Fettis coming in for only his second game of the season. But Chris Sutton and
Stephane Henchoz had recovered from injury and played.
West Ham, without the injured Paul Kitson, opted to play five across the
midfield and leave John Hartson up front on his own.
That served to concede space and possession to Blackburn, who had the
Londoners pinned back for long spells.
West Ham did not help themselves by conceding a string of free kicks around
their own box, and eventually David Unsworth was booked for pulling back Sutton
after he had been caught in possession on the right.
In the third minute, a Stuart Ripley corner was met by Hendry unmarked beyond
the far post, but his header was straight at Forrest.
Another Ripley set piece, this time a free kick on the left, saw Gallacher
arrive on the near post and flick his header over the bar.
Rovers lost Billy McKinlay with an injury after 17 minutes, Garry Flitcroft
coming on as substitute. Seconds later, Damien Duff crashed a 30-yarder that
clipped the top of the bar.
Rovers still had virtually all the play, but West Ham did break out down the
right when Frank Lampard set up Berkovic in the box, but although he managed a
drag back, it failed to create enough space to thread a shot through a forest of
defenders.
Gallacher produced a stunning piece of skill in the 35th minute when he cut
into the box, beat former team-mate Ian Pearce twice with clever control in a
couple of yards, and lashed a shot that was held by Forrest.
Rovers started the second half with three glorious chances. After 50 minutes
Duff got round Stan Lazaridis on the right, and crossed for Gallacher to power
in a close range header that Forrest turned away with a fine reflex stop.
A minute later a Duff long throw reached Sutton right on the far post, but
somehow he managed to put his shot across goal and wide of the far upright.
From the corner, Tim Sherwood rose to send a downward header that deflected
off Pearce virtually on the line and over the bar.
Samassi Abou came on as substitute for Berkovic after 55 minutes, a decision
that delighted the home fans! John Moncur was booked for a foul on Gallacher,
and Rovers maintained their pressure, with Duff striking a fierce low drive from
12 yards that went straight at Forrest, who could hardly believe his luck that
he managed to block the effort.
West Ham were trying to stay calm and build-up their passing game, and
Lazaridis almost got clear onto a one-two with Abou.
Then from a Lampard free kick on the right, Pearce arrived at the far post for
a free header that flashed inches wide.
Lomas, who had a fine game battling in midfield, rose in the six-yard box to
meet a right wing cross from Lampard to power a header wide of Fettis' post as
West Ham launched counter-attacks to pinch the tie.
Rio Ferdinand at the back, along with Unsworth and Pearce, had stood firm
against the onslaught for lone spells, and West Ham's confidence and adventure
grew as the game headed towards extra time.
The pattern of the tie continued in the extra period. Hendry hooked over from
12 yards after a corner, but Henchoz was almost caught by a quick break from
Abou, and was booked for blocking the striker's run.
Hendry looked to be pulling Hartson back as the pair battled their way into
the box, but to the Welshman's anger, he was the one penalised for pushing.
Lazaridis blocked a Hendry header on the line in an other furious assault on
the Hammers' goal.
But Blackburn's fear that West Ham would snatch something despite all their
possession came to fruition after 103 minutes.
Unsworth's free kick was brilliantly turned back into the box for Hartson to
chest down and drill past Fettis from six yards.
Blackburn battled back furiously and should have equalised after 108 minutes.
Duff chested the ball down in the box and Tim Sherwood cracked a close range
shot against the bar.
Rovers finally got level after 114 minutes when Stuart Ripley headed home a
Duff cross.
Teams
Blackburn: Fettis, Kenna, Sherwood, Hendry, Ripley (Dahlin 119),
Gallacher, Sutton, McKinlay (Flitcroft 19), Croft (Wilcox 105),
Henchoz, Duff.
Subs Not Used: Broomes, Stewart.
Booked: Henchoz.
Goals: Ripley 114.
West Ham: Forrest, Unsworth, Hartson, Lomas, Ferdinand, Moncur,
Lazaridis, Lampard, Pearce, Impey, Berkovic (Abou 56).
Subs Not Used: Breacker, Potts, Bishop, Lama.
Booked: Unsworth, Moncur.
Goals: Hartson 103.
Att: 21,972
Ref: P Jones (Loughborough).
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