Trevor Sinclair and Frederic Kanoute scored a couple of gems to give West Ham some kind of revenge for the 7-1 mauling they suffered at Ewood Park earlier in the season.

England winger Sinclair, back after a knee problem, was released by Kanoute after 16 minutes and skipped inside the challenge of Nils-Eric Johansson before firing past Brad Friedel from 18 yards.

French striker Kanoute scored a similar goal himself after 56 minutes, racing on to Paolo di Canio's pass and also crashing the ball past the Rovers goalkeeper from the edge of the box.

Not only did the win go some way to avenging that crushing defeat back in October, but the three points also gave the Hammers some much-needed breathing space in the battle to avoid relegation.

Skipper di Canio was playing his last game for West Ham before starting a three-match suspension, and he tried to make things happen for the home team in the early stages.

After seven minutes the Italian maestro - showing no signs of disappointment after a move to Manchester United failed to materialise this week - played a delightful curling ball into the six yard box, but Friedel just got to it before the strikers.

A minute later, Kanoute won a free-kick on the left edge of the box after being bundled over by Martin Taylor, but Don Hutchison curled the set piece high and wide of the far post.

Di Canio was at the heart of the action again in the 13th minute, playing a neat one-two with Sinclair on the left edge of the box, but then he drilled a low shot well wide.

Referee Peter Jones handed out the first yellow card to Tugay after 15 minutes when the Rovers midfielder tripped Steve Lomas on the left flank.

When the ball was worked into the box, di Canio found himself with a free header from six yards, but somehow put it wide.

But Sinclair raised the roof when he broke down the left from midfield and produced a clinical finish to give West Ham a deserved lead.

Club captain Steve Lomas had a good chance to increase the lead after half an hour when he was set up by di Canio on the edge of the box, but he shot straight at Friedel - making it a pity for the Hammers that the chance did not fall to a natural finisher.

Blackburn, who not surprisingly missed injured David Dunn, had their first serious shot on goal a minute later, but lively Damien Duff's low drive from the left angle was easily gathered by David James.

The referee made himself very unpopular with the home fans after 33 minutes. Sinclair fell over in the box as he was challenged by Lucas Neill, and although it was not a penalty, it looked a harsh decision when the Hammers goalscorer was booked for diving.

Andy Cole was Rovers' main threat and he got the better of Christian Dailly after 37 minutes, but blasted an angled shot over the bar from eight yards.

After a low-key start to the second half, West Ham had a good chance to take control when Sinclair burst clear in the 55th minute and fed Kanoute inside the box. However, the Frenchman hesitated and ended up poking his shot wide as he stretched to meet it.

But Kanoute - who scored at Chelsea last weekend to celebrate becoming a father - silenced the boo-boys within a minute when he raced on to di Canio's pass and this time crashed the ball past Friedel from 18 yards to double the lead.

Kanoute made way for young hero Jermain Defoe after 71 minutes, and he almost made an instant impression as he chased di Canio's through ball and shot at Friedel.

Joe Cole nearly scored one of the goals of the season with 10 minutes remaining.

He magically tricked his way past three defenders on the right edge of the box and only his final shot let him down as he blasted a left foot shot wide of the far post.

Cole almost had the last word in the final minute as he won a free-kick on the left edge of the box and drilled it just past the near post.

The Hammers' victory gave them a confidence boost ahead of Wednesday's FA Cup fourth round replay at home to Chelsea.

Blackburn, on the other hand, remain in the relegation scrap.

Teams:

West Ham: James, Schemmel, Repka, Dailly, Winterburn, Sinclair (Moncur 87), Hutchison (Labant 57), Lomas, Cole, Di Canio, Kanoute (Defoe 72).

Subs Not Used: Hislop, Foxe.

Booked: Sinclair, Schemmel.

Goals: Sinclair 17, Kanoute 56.

Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Johansson, Taylor, Bjornebye (Gillespie 66), Hignett, Tugay, Flitcroft (Mahon 80), Duff, Jansen, Cole.

Subs Not Used: Kelly, Hughes, Berg.

Booked: Tugay, Bjornebye, Hignett.

Att: 35,307

Ref: P Jones (Loughborough).