MORTEN Gamst Pedersen came closest to breaking the deadlock at Upton Park as Blackburn Rovers frustrated West Ham in a goalless first half.

The Norwegian midfielder cannoned a 20-yard free kick against the cross bar on 43 minutes, after Rovers had spent most of the half stifling the hosts creativity.

An Alessandro Diamanti cross from the left that flashed across goal and over the inrushing Behrami was the closest either side came in a tentative opening 10 minutes.

It took some cool defending from Samba on 15 minutes though to prevent the deadlock from being broken, as he calmly volleyed Julien Faubert’s vicious cross from the right wide with Behrami just waiting to tap home.

The Londoners continued to control play with Rovers unable to keep possession and kicking the ball away too quickly whenever there was a chance to settle – leaving Kalinic to just feed on scraps.

Defensively though, Rovers were frustrating their opponents and the home fans with their hard working and packed midfield stifling the Hammers’ creativity.

Diamanti’s inswinging free kick forced the first save of the clash from either side on 32 minutes, Paul Robinson punching the ball away for a corner, with Pedersen’s corner a few minutes later almost catching Robert Green out, with him tipping it over the bar.