Blackburn vs West Ham United EPL 2011 Betting Picks + Odds
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Matchup: Blackburn v West Ham United
Date/Time: Saturday, May 7, 2011 10:00 AM ET
Venue: Upton Park, England
Broadcast: ESPN2
Money Line: Blackburn (+275), West Ham (-105), Draw (+240)
Spread: West Ham – ½
Over/Under: 2 ½
BET ON Blackburn vs. West Ham United HERE
Two teams that are not out of danger of being dropped from the top flight in next year’s competition will meet this Saturday morning as West Ham Untied takes on the Blackburn Rovers at Upton Park.
The Hammers are just three matches away from relegation and three points from safety while sitting dead last in on the Premier League table having lost five games in a row. They will play 18th place Wigan in their next match, making this Saturday’s contest even more important for Avram Grant’s side.
However, they may be without the services of Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year, Scott Parker. The English midfielder has missed the last three games with an Achilles injury but is desperate to be involved. The Hammers will give Parker a late fitness test and also assess defender Matthew Upson, who went off to injury at Man City last week.
Defender James Tomkins is also doubtful, meaning Jordan Spence has been recalled from his loan spell with Bristol City.
Blackburn who is also in danger of finishing in the drop zone remained three points out and two places removed in 16th, with last week’s 1-0 win over Bolton. It was the clubs first victory in 11 games as the Rovers have picked up just one point from their last seven away matches. They also have the worst defensive record away from home, conceding 40 goals on their travel. 
This is the 107th time these clubs have met. Blackburn lead by 45 wins to 41 – but has failed to win any of the last 10 meetings. In fact, Rovers have just one win in their last 14 meetings with West Ham, who haven’t lost at home to Blackburn since April 1994.
That’s not good news for Rovers’ manager Steve Kean who believes his side needs one more win to guarantee their safety, and whose away form is dire, with their last win on the road coming back on December 28.
Meanwhile, West Ham’s record is slightly better at home than away, losing their last two, but winning the two before Aston Villa and Manchester United.
The last four meetings between these two sides have ended in a draw, and a similar outcome would not be disappointing for Blackburn. But with their remaining matches at home to Manchester United at Wolverhampton in their final match, Kean knows he must look to secure three points at Upton Park.
The Rovers will need to defend well against West Ham striker Demba Ba who has five goals since arriving in January, including a strike against Manchester City in the side’s most recent fixture.
The Rovers will need to attack West Ham’s permeable defense while the Hammers try to crowd the midfield to protect what will be a second-string back four due to injuries.
Matt’s Free Prediction: Blackburn 2, West Ham United 1
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Matt Martz is a sportswriter for the Bakersfield Californian located in Central California. “Football (soccer) is a game in which a handful of fit men run around for one and a half hours watched by millions of people who could really use the exercise.”
