West Ham - 2 Blackburn - 1: As West Ham fans gave a rousing rendition of "One Alan Pardew" in the final 10 minutes, they were not just sending a message of support to their manager but outlining their feelings to the board and prospective new owners. It is too early on the back of one win to talk of Pardew's future being secure or his team's season being up and running but yesterday's nervy and narrowly deserved win has at least given West Ham a platform from which to try to rebuild form and confidence.

In ending a run of eight straight defeats and lifting West Ham out of the relegation places, it also made Pardew's position look less precarious. Only 44 seconds had elapsed when his name was sung loudly. "I'm not the most emotional of people but I was a little bit choked at the start with the way they backed me," said Pardew.

As he acknowledged, this was merely the start. "We have still got considerable amount of battling to do to get up the league," he said. The next three games are Arsenal at home and Middlesbrough and Chelsea away.

Nervous West Ham had to endure an edgy finale before maximum points were confirmed. Had Francis Jeffers directed a header on target deep in stoppage-time, the most belief-sapping of draws could have been the outcome. West Ham had been 2-0 up and it was also in added-on time that Blackburn scored.

The home team's dominance before the interval brought a goal for Teddy Sheringham, the striker losing his marker to meet Benayoun's teasing cross with a firm header into the top corner.

Benni McCarthy had a goal ruled out before Lucas Neill drew a save from Green. Zamora ought to have extended West Ham's lead on the break. It seemed game over when an Etherington corner was flicked on and Mullins scored from close range but Blackburn responded. David Bentley finished after Green had saved from McCarthy and then came Jeffers' late effort before Pardew could breath easily.

Guardian Service