John Hartson gave West Ham fans the perfect leaving present of three vital
points in his last game of the season at Upton Park.
The Welsh international, who will miss the rest of the campaign through
suspension, scored twice in the first 30 minutes to set the Hammers on their
way.
And although Jason Wilcox pulled a goal back just before half-time, it proved
enough for a victory that takes West Ham above their opponents in the scramble
for a UEFA Cup place.
Blackburn's defence had been torn apart time and time again by Arsenal on
Monday but they clearly hadn't learnt their lesson.
Huge gaps were left in the middle of the field and despite playing some nice
one-touch football when they had the ball, it was no surprise when the Hammers
took the lead.
Rio Ferdinand split the Rovers back four in half with a superb ball from
defence that gave Berkovic yards of space to run into.
No Blackburn defender could get close enough to make a challenge and he had
time and space to pick out Hartson pulling away from his defender and theWelsh
international side-footed past Alan Fettis for his 23rd goal of the season.
Berkovic then had two excellent chances, shooting agonisingly wide after some
delightful passing between Hartson and Lampard on the edge of the area, and then
blasting a more difficult chance over after Sinclair had again been given the
freedom of Upton Park.
For all their nice touches, Rovers could only muster one shot on target,
Flitcroft's effort easily held by Bernard Lama, who was this week recalled to
the French squad.
In contrast, West Ham looked like scoring with almost every attack, Hartson
somehow getting the better of Hendry to get in a powerful header that Fettis did
well to get one hand to and turn it round for a corner after 26 minutes.
But that only postponed the inevitable and two minutes later Hartson grabbed
his 24th of the season.
Lazaridis switched wings to swing in a dangerous corner from the right and
Hartson was left unmarked to volley his second of the match past Fettis.
McKinlay was then booked for a foul on Berkovic under the nose of referee Paul
Durkin and it looked as though the home side were in total control.
But they took their foot off the gas and just a minute before the interval
allowed Rovers back into a game that should have already been well beyond them.
Gallacher caught Pearce in possession on the edge of the area and fed Wilcox
on the left hand side who saw his shot beat Lama and go in off the far post.
That handed the initiative to Rovers and they held on to it after the interval
and pushed forward looking for the equaliser.
Ripley failed to control Flitcroft's cross and Lama had to race off his line
to collect the loose ball as Gallacher closed in.
Ripley then turned provider, feeding Sutton in the area but after controlling
it well on his chest Sutton could not keep his shot on the turn down.
By now Sherwood had replaced Valery and Roy Hodgson then threw on another
forward in Martin Dahlin as time ran out.
And Dahlin could have levelled matters minutes after coming on, Wilcox's low
cross evading the home defence but the Swede failed to get the touch that would
have diverted it past Lama.
Fettis had been unoccupied for most of the second-half but had to produce a
reflex stop as Sinclair nodded on Lomas' long-throw at the near post.
Lama tipped over Hendry's header and produced a superb save from Dahlin as the
game came to a frantic close but West Ham held out for a win that was a lot more
hard earned than it should have been.
Teams:
West Ham: Lama, Ferdinand, Unsworth, Pearce, Lazaridis, Impey,
Lomas, Berkovic (Potts 87), Lampard, Hartson, Sinclair.
Subs Not Used: Forrest, Abou, Hodges, Berthe.
Booked: Lomas.
Goals: Hartson 7, 28.
Blackburn: Fettis, Kenna, Hendry, Ripley (Dahlin 75), Gallacher,
Sutton, Wilcox, Flitcroft, McKinlay, Henchoz,
Valery (Sherwood 56).
Subs Not Used: Andersson, Croft, Filan.
Booked: McKinlay, Sutton.
Goals: Wilcox 45.
Att: 24,733
Ref: P A Durkin (Portland).
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