Hughes baffled by bogey ground

Blackburn boss frustrated by 14-year winless run

By Peter Fraser   Last updated: 15th March 2008

Hughes Mark West Ham v Blackburn

Hughes: Frustrated

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Blackburn manager Mark Hughes admits he cannot understand his side's inability to record an away win against West Ham.

Rovers suffered a 2-1 defeat to the Hammers at Upton Park on Saturday as Dean Ashton and debutant Freddie Sears cancelled out Roque Santa Cruz's opener.

And the turnaround ensures Rovers 14-year wait for a win in East London continues, much to the disappointment of Hughes.

"We seem to have a problem, for whatever reason, whenever we come here," Hughes told Sky Sports News.

Situation

"West Ham seem to be our bogey team and it has happened again. We can't quite put our finger on the reason why that seems to happen.

"But probably today it is a situation that we didn't quite have enough drive in our play when we needed to ask a lot more questions of West Ham.

"In the first half there was a little bit of apprehension about the place and we should have capitalised on that."

Hughes has admitted in the past that his side may have to settle for a place in the Intertoto Cup this season, which would require a sixth-placed finish.

See-saw battle

And with European rivals Aston Villa surrendering sixth spot to Portsmouth following their defeat at Fratton Park, Hughes is confident the see-saw battle will go all the way to the wire.

"We have still got games to play and games that we feel we can win," added Hughes.

"Maybe the damage hasn't been as key as possibly it could have been, but we will have to wait and see.

"It is only at the end of the season when we will see if this defeat has a real impact on us."