Posted by Tim Mallow's View

TMR Football Blogger, Tim Mallows-

From what initially looked like an ordinary league fixture a few weeks back the match between Blackburn and West Ham has suddenly taken on greater significance - for both sides.

For Rovers, the pressure has been piled on club by new owners, the Rao family. They put the Lancashire outfit under the spotlight this week as far as live scores are concerned after they sacked boss Sam Allardyce, claiming he didn't fit in with their future plans, despite the club sitting in comfortable mid-table.

Those plans apparently involve £5million to be spent in the January transfer window in order to turn the club into a top five outfit. Considering Man City nearly 20 times that amount to make fifth last season suggests the new hierarchy at Rovers don't quite appreciate how tough the Premier League is - just staying in the division ins achievement for the majority of the clubs in the league, Blackburn included.

For now Steve Kean takes the reign and given the week that has gone, he will need to hit the ground quickly if he is to stay in a job himself.

West Ham boss Avram Grant is arguably under more pressure. The Israeli has been given three games to save his job by the Hammers board, with this trip to Blackburn followed up by an away day at Fulham and a home clash with Everton.

Given Livescore football pundits note that the club has only won two games all season and none of those away from home it seems almost certain that Grant will be out of a job come the New Year.

Ironically the sacking of Allardyce is rumoured to have forced the West Ham board to turn up the heat on Grant, with the former Bolton boss seen as the ideal man to dig them out of the large hole they find themselves in.

By beating West Ham, Blackburn could do their old boss one last favour accelerating the departure of Grant, leaving the door open for big Sam to save the day for the Hammers.