If Blackburn fans were looking to gain three easy relegation-busting points against a team that looked tired and jaded just five days before, then they obviously hadn't looked at the past meetings between these two sides.

To say that West Ham are Blackburn's bogey side is an understatement and, with wins by the Lancashire side against the Hammer's about as rare as hen's teeth, some people might look at the territorial advantage gained by the home side in this match and opine that the curse had struck again.

However, that would deny the Hammers defence the rightful praise due to them for a rearguard action of almost epic proportions; Lucas Neill alone blocking ten shots that Robert Green didn't even need to get his gloves dirty to save. Also, despite the usual bleating of Sam Allardyce, who complained about Boa Morte being offside in the build up to the Hammers excellent opening goal - scored by Mark Noble after a neat pass by Tristan - it was West Ham who could complain about the injustice of being denied a certain penalty late on when Dyer was clearly bought down when clean through.

Inbetween though, it was the home side that pressurised in the match and it was this that gave rise to most of the press reports that Blackburn had failed to make the most of things. West Ham though will point to another awayday success and rightly laud what is now becoming a mean and spirited defence which, considering it was shorn of Matthew Upson and the Ginger One, is really beginning to become a bit of a cause to celebrate.