Sears Takes Honours for Hammers' Academy

This was a game that might have meant more to Blackburn, who still had a few lingering hopes of securing a European place. But for West Ham, whose season has run aground with a flurry of big defeats, it was of fundamental significance. Had they contrived to lose 4-0 for a fourth consecutive time, they could have started to believe they were fated to do so every time they played. 'West Ham 04' they would have come to be called.

For a while in the first half this seemed possible as Blackburn scored and the Hammers looked fragile. But greatly to the Londoners' credit they fought their way back into the game and deserved to win it through a late strike from home-grown talent Freddie Shears.

Both sides made a lively start as the game settled into a satisfyingly open contest. To the fore was West Ham's Freddie Ljungberg who nearly wriggled his way through. At the other end, Morten Gamst Pedersen headed over. Next, Christopher Samba skimmed the bar from a David Bentley corner.

Third time lucky. A consummate pass from Bentley was controlled beautifully by Pedersen and then crossed with pinpoint accuracy to Roque Santa Cruz to head home. It was as easy as 1-2-3.

West Ham responded through Dean Ashton whose crafty header was palmed round the post by an alert Brad Friedel in the visitors' goal, but Bentley continued to torment the bewildered Hammers' defence.

The home side were porous at the back and playing like a team who had not scored for getting on for five hours. Their closest moment in the first half-hour came through Bentley who, having been booked nearly contrived to get himself sent off, put the ball just wide of his own goal while defending a corner.

The pattern of the game seemed set only for it to be immediately upset in the 39th minute by Ashton cleverly taking the ball round Samba before delicately placing it past Friedel.

After the interval, the West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green nearly gifted the lead back to Rovers when he knelt to collect the ball only for it to bounce off his knee. The negligence was catching and Friedel almost immediately skewed a kick out for a corner. Minutes later Bobby Zamora teed up a shot which he sent skidding wide.

At the other end, Pedersen had a half-chance but was profligate. Blackburn were finding promising positions but tending to cross too deeply. West Ham were playing with increased vigor and skill. The game was up for grabs.

It was frantic stuff but hard as everyone was trying there was a scarcity of genuine chances. Until, with nine minutes left, the crowd erupted as Sears, a local boy and 18-year-old substitute, scored with his first significant touch for the club. The goal was created by Ashton's muscular run and strong drive which Friedel could only parry into the young striker's path and he headed home with some aplomb.

Their joy might have been short-lived had it not been for a good save from Green and West Ham hung on to the delight of their fans.

Man of the match: Dean Ashton

Few English strikers possess Ashton's combination of power and finesse. The striker, who has struggled recently after his long injury lay-off last season, used the latter to score the first and the former to set up the second. A fine performance.