West Ham United won 4-1 against Blackburn Rovers in the Premiership clash at Upton Park on Saturday. It is the first top-flight defeat for Paul Ince in his stint as Rovers boss.

In an exciting first period, the home side took the lead through defender Calum Davenport, while an own goal from Chris Samba put Alan Curbishley’s side in a commanding 2-0 lead before Jason Roberts pulled a goal back. Substitute Craig Bellamy and Carlton Cole made the scoreline emphatic with a goal each in the closing stages of the game.

The Londoners had the upper hand in the early exchanges on a sunny afternoon, which they converted into a goal when Julien Faubert curled in a corner kick for Davenport to head home in the 12th minute.

Soon after, Rovers boss Paul Ince, who formerly played for the Hammers, saw his side fall behind to an own goal by defender Samba, who trying to clear the ball off a Mark Noble pass, deflected it past Paul Robinson in the 20th minute.

The visitors almost immediately reduced the deficit when Roberts got away from defender Davenport and Valon Behrami, before slotting past Robert Green. They would have been on parity had substitute Matt Derbyshire’s goal been counted, but the linesman controversially ruled it out for an off-side.

Rovers suffered an injury blow when striker Roque Santa Cruz hobbled out of action just around the half-hour mark.

Blackburn had a great opportunity to score the equaliser in the early minutes of the second period when Mike Riley awarded them a penalty for a handball by Carlton Cole. But Roberts’ weak low penalty kick was saved by the diving Green.

Both sides came close to adding to the scoreline in quick succession around the hour-mark. Davenport’s cracking low drive from right side of the penalty area, was just a little wide of Robinson’s far post. At the other end, Derbyshire’s close-range lob fell over the roof of the net.

Former Blackburn striker Bellamy made a substitute appearance for the Hammers in the 69th minute, when Curbishley took off Ashton.

Green kept the Hammers in with a chance of winning the game as he brought off a fine save with his feet off a Brett Emerton header following a fine cross from Derbyshire.

Green’s counterpart, Robinson was then in the thick of the action as he came up with two fantastic saves to thwart Bellamy and Cole in quick succession. The former England keeper was left helpless in the injury time when Bellamy raced clear and lashed the ball into the top of the net before Cole turned Scott Parker’s assist into the back of the net for a comprehensive win.

Rovers thus fell to their first loss in this season’s league campaign, while it was a welcome three points for Curbishley, who was jeered by a section of Hammers supporters during midweek’s Carling Cup tie.

Teams:

West Ham: Green, Davenport, Neill, Upson, Parker, Noble (Mullins 81), Faubert (McCartney 60), Behrami, Etherington, Ashton (Bellamy 69), Cole.

Substitutes not used: Lastuvka, Boa Morte, Sears, Reid.

Blackburn: Robinson, Samba, Warnock, Emerton, Ooijer, Nelsen, Grella (Andrews 46), Reid, Pedersen (Treacy 66), Roberts, Santa Cruz (Derbyshire 29).

Substitutes not used: Brown, Villanueva, Mokoena, Simpson.