5:03pm Saturday 30th January 2010
West Ham began a new era of hope at Upton Park with the same old problems after a goalless draw against Blackburn.
The Hammers - playing in front of co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold for the first time at the Boleyn Ground since their successful takeover - had plenty of possession but lacked a cutting edge in attack even after the second-half introduction of fit-again England striker Carlton Cole.
Indeed, the relegation battlers could have found themselves behind just before the break when Morten Gamst Pedersen's 25-yard free-kick crashed against the crossbar and then substitute Jason Roberts failed to beat Robert Green when clean through with 15 minutes left.
Sullivan and Gold have been working hard to bring in new talent ahead of Monday's transfer deadline, with a deal for Rovers striker Benni McCarthy expected to be concluded shortly - something on this afternoon's evidence which cannot come soon enough.
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