Hammers sink Blackburn

Trevor Sinclair is mobbed by team-mates after scoring

West Ham 2-0 Blackburn Rovers
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Trevor Sinclair and Frederic Kanoute scored as West Ham recorded a deserved victory against a lacklustre Blackburn.

The win avenges the 7-1 defeat at Ewood Park earlier this season - and Glenn Roeder's team now go into Wednesday's FA Cup replay against Chelsea full of confidence.

But another Premier League defeat worsens the plight for Worthington Cup finalists Blackburn.

We are not going to become a 'lump-it and see what happens' team

Graeme Souness

Graeme Souness' team are now level on points with Bolton and Derby - and are hovering perilously close to the relegation zone.

Souness kept faith with the team narrowly beaten 3-2 at home by Arsenal on Wednesday.

But it was West Ham who started the better - with Paolo di Canio orchestrating play and creating chances.

The Italian's one-two with Sinclair almost resulted in a goal after 13 minutes.

  Key moments

16 mins: Trevor Sinclair puts West Ham 1-0 up

56 mins: Kanoute makes it 2-0 for Roeder's side

And three minutes later the Hammers were ahead.

Sinclair picked up Frederic Kanoute's cross and ran from midfield before burying the ball in Brad Friedel's net.

The goalscorer was booked for diving after 33 minutes after he was challenged by Lucas Neill in the Blackburn penalty area.

Rovers best chance of the first half came eight minutes before the break but Andy Cole - having got the better of Christian Dailly - shot over with a shot from a tight angle eight yards out.

It was a fine team performance from everybody, and one that we needed because we were under a bit of pressure having to come back here and get the win

Glenn Roeder

The second-half started quietly - there were openings on both sides but neither team was able to dominate.

On 56 minutes, though, the home team took the initiative, this time Kanoute pouncing on Paolo di Canio's pass and doubling his side's advantage.

Jermain Defoe replaced Kanoute after 71 minutes and almost made an instant impression.

But after latching on to Di Canio's through-ball he shot straight at Friedel.

And Joe Cole twice came close to scoring a third goal for West Ham.

He beat three defenders before shooting wide with his first attempt and blasted a free-kick inches wide with full-time looming.

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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.

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).