Sears secures sweet dreams

Sears: Debut drama

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• Blackburn Rovers
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• Curbs hails starlet Sears
• Hughes baffled by bogey ground
• Premier League round-up

West Ham manager Alan Curbishley is ready for his full allocation of forty winks on Saturday night after debutant Freddie Sears fired his side to a 2-1 win over Blackburn at Upton Park.

Hammers boss Curbishley has admitted he has been struggling to nod off following a hat-tick of 4-0 thrashings at the hands of Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham over recent weeks.

However, goals from Dean Ashton and youngster Sears cancelled out Roque Santa Cruz's opener to ensure Curbishley will be looking forward to his bedtime this weekend.

Blackburn had taken the lead in the 19th minute as a swift counter-attack allowed Morten Gamst Pedersen to break down the right before crossing to Santa Cruz and the Paraguayan forward made no mistake as he headed in from close range.

West Ham, though, hit back on 39 minutes as Bobby Zamora flicked on allowing Ashton to take advantage of some poor defending from Blackburn centre-back Christopher Samba to dink past goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

Fearless

And with nine minutes of the match remaining Sears, who had come off the bench just five minutes earlier, was in the right place to finish at the second time of asking after Friedel could only palm his initial shot to secure a fairytale finish.

With both sides looking for European qualification, the game opened up a little in the second half but the lack of goalmouth action explained why finishing in mid-table looks likely.

It took the introduction of a fearless youngster to change the game, with Romford lad Sears immediately sparking excitement from home fans every time he received the ball, while the defeat also lifts some of the pressure on Curbishley.

Blackburn started the stronger and Pedersen drove in a dangerous early corner that fizzed across Green's goal, and the winger also headed wide after a sweeping move down the right when David Bentley and Brett Emerton combined.

Samba should have given Mark Hughes' men the lead in the 18th minute when Bentley's corner found him in the six-yard area and the defender put his header over the crossbar.

Immediate reply

But they were not to be denied with their next attack. Bentley spread the ball wide to Pedersen, who had plenty of room down the left flank. Santa Cruz was unmarked in the penalty area and headed past Green when Pedersen found him for his 16th of the season.

The goal woke West Ham up and they tried for an immediate reply, with Friedel needed to tip an Ashton header around the post when Zamora found his strike partner with a cross from the left.

Friedel also tipped over the crossbar from Nolberto Solano's 30-yard free-kick before the break.

The hosts were then rewarded for their efforts six minute before the interval as Green helped set up the equaliser with a long free-kick.

Zamora flicked on with his head, Ashton spun around Samba before lofting his finish over Friedel and in.

Debut

Hughes took off Emerton at the break for Zurab Khizanishvili, with the second half starting like the first - Pedersen driving over a dangerous free-kick.

Friedel was almost embarrassed at the other end when he sliced a back-pass, but he had less trouble with a shot from Zamora that drifted wide.

Green was not tested either when Pedersen fired wildly over from close range when Jason Roberts' low cross found its way to him just before the hour mark.

Friedel was forced into action when Ashton tried his luck from long range and the American was down well to stop the striker's effort.

David Dunn, who had been booked earlier, was taken off for Matt Derbyshire as Blackburn changed shape.

Curbishley then brought on Sears for his debut, with the home fans giving the exciting youngster a huge welcome.

His goal came nine minutes from the end after Ashton had back-heeled. Friedel saved Sears' first shot but he slid in to head home the rebound.