Chris Sutton proved his point to ensure reckless Rovers did not pay the ultimate Cup price for Kevin Gallacher's moment of utter madness.

Scottish international Gallacher had given Roy Hodgson's side the perfect start by poking home from striker partner Sutton within two minutes of the start.

Yet after Paul Kitson's equaliser the Ewood side lost all sense of discipline, with Gallacher red-carded for needlessly flinging his arm into the face of Eyal Berkovic.

Berkovic, seemingly targeted by the foul-tempered Billy McKinlay and Tim Sherwood, got up to add insult to any perceived Blackburn injury, helping John Hartson's goalbound effort over the line after a Tim Flowers' fumble.

Only the crossbar saved Blackburn on the stroke of half-time but Sutton, the man who so publicly burned his international bridges 10 days ago, led from the front to drag the 10 men back into contention.

It was the England rebel who popped up at the back post to nod home his 16th of the season from Jason Wilcox's cross just after the hour to leave the Rovers fans singing his praises.

And with Flowers making up for his earlier errors in a frantic finish, Hodgson's side held on to take the Hammers back to Lancashire on Wednesday week.

A draw seemed the least they would get at the outset. Hodgson's decision to use McKinlay, Sherwood and Garry Flitcroft together in midfield, while Berkovic was restored as Harry Redknapp demonstrated his attacking intent, looked a winner.

The trio were hunting in packs, hustling the Hammers off the ball, and after barely a minute McKinlay was too strong for Berkovic, setting up Gallacher for a strike that whistled a fraction over.

Within seconds, the miss was forgotten, as Sutton out-muscled Blackburn old boy Ian Pearce before spinning to cross.

Gallacher was still second favourite, but stuck out his right leg to steer his 17th of the season beyond Craig Forrest's right hand.

Sutton's physical presence was unsettling the home side, Rio Ferdinand in particular ill at ease, but fortunately for West Ham, Hartson's approach was reaping similar dividends.

And it was from Hartson's aerial threat, even Colin Hendry made to struggle, that they levelled, against the run of play, in the 24th minute.

Under pressure from Hartson, Stephane Henchoz headed out weakly, and when Stan Lazaridis skipped outside Jeff Kenna to centre, Blackburn were so busy watching the Welshman that they allowed Kitson time to get the ball out from under his own feet.

Even so, a goal looked unlikely, but Kitson somehow spotted the tiniest of gaps to squeeze wide of the slow-moving Flowers and just inside the bottom corner.

Still, Blackburn were worth parity at least, and if they had kept their heads they might well have won at the first attempt.

But now Sherwood and McKinlay started to lose theirs, especially in the vicinity of Berkovic, with referee Peter Jones receiving a fearful ear-bashing.

It undermined Rovers' concentration, and it needed a truly wonderful reaction stop by Flowers - partially atoning for his earlier failure - to foil Frank Lampard after Berkovic had combined with Kitson in front of goal.

And four minutes later, Gallacher lost it completely, charging after Berkovic - Sherwood was on the same war-path - and throwing out his right arm to send the Israeli to the ground.

Mr Jones, barely 10 yards away, had no doubt, and no option, Gallacher banished, and McKinlay and Sherwood seemed intent on joining the Scottish international in the dressing room ahead of schedule.

With Sutton alone up front, Rovers were ragged, although they only had themselves to blame as they went in behind.

Sherwood did well to rob Berkovic on the touchline, but sent the ball straight to Lampard, unmarked and 20 yards out.

Flowers fumbled his swerving right-footer, got up to foil Berkovic's rebound but only to the feet of Hartson, and when the Welshman slotted toward the spot Kitson had found earlier, it was Berkovic, no more than a yard out, who touched home.

It might have been worse for Rovers, with only a flying leap from Flowers preventing the unmolested Hartson heading home Lampard's corner, the whistle for the break going at the instant the ball struck the bar.

Steve Potts replaced Tim Breacker at the interval but now Rovers had regained their composure, and when Sherwood out-battled Hartson inside the West Ham box, Gary Croft should have done better than slice wide.

That was the full-back's last contribution, Hodgson sending on Damien Duff, and the Irish youngster's explosive pace offered them a new dimension. And three minutes after Duff's arrival, the Ewood outfit were back on terms.

Wilcox had done little to this point, but here he took on and beat Potts, finding Sutton at the far post with a header Forrest could only turn onto the post before gathering clearly over the line.

Sutton was exultant, Rovers renewed, but it became all hands to their pump as the home side surged forward.

Flowers superbly turned over a Kitson piledriver that deflected off Hendry after Hartson sent him away, but then missed his punch for a corner sparking a frantic scramble.

Flitcroft threw himself in front of Steve Lomas to block and the Ulsterman's follow-up was hacked off the line by Kenna, before Kitson twice failed to hit the target when all alone in front of goal.

Not that Rovers were entirely on the back foot, and when Pearce clambered over Duff from behind the linesman flagged by Mr Jones did not respond.

It was frantic, thrilling stuff, West Ham throwing everything forward but in danger of getting caught on the break as Duff showed his promise.

A Lampard corner eluded everybody and then Hartson - just two goals in 13 now - worked himself space but blazed over. Great stuff.

Teams

West Ham: Forrest, Breacker (Potts 46), Pearce, Ferdinand, Lomas, Lazaridis, Lampard, Berkovic, Impey, Kitson (Hodges 78), Hartson.

Subs Not Used: Lama, Mean, Moncur.

Booked: Berkovic.

Goals: Kitson 28, Berkovic 44.

Blackburn: Flowers, Kenna, Sherwood, Hendry, Gallacher, Sutton, Wilcox, Flitcroft, McKinlay, Croft (Duff 58), Henchoz.

Subs Not Used: Dahlin, Bohinen, Broomes, Fettis.

Sent Off: Gallacher (32).

Booked: Flitcroft.

Goals: Gallacher 3, Sutton 62.

Att: 25,729

Ref: P Jones (Loughborough).