Hammers end losing streak

The teenager came off the bench with a quarter of an hour left and made his mark six minutes later, finishing with a diving header after Brad Friedel had saved his first shot.

Roque Santa Cruz had given Rovers the lead in the 20th minute but Dean Ashton levelled before the break.

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

In the next attack Bentley spread the ball wide to Morten Gamst Pedersen - who had plenty of room down the left. Santa Cruz was unmarked in the penalty area and headed past Robert Green when Pedersen found him.

Friedel soon needed to tip an Ashton header around the post when Bobby Zamora found his strike partner from the left. Friedel also tipped over from Nolberto Solano's 30-yard free-kick.

Bentley, booked for a trip on Scott Parker, threatened with a dipping cross and a speculative shot. But Green helped set up the equaliser with a long free-kick, Zamora flicked on with his head and Ashton spun around Samba before lofting his finish over Friedel.

Hughes took off Brett Emerton at the break for Zurab Khizanishvili.

Friedel was almost embarrassed when he sliced a back-pass - but he had less trouble with a shot from Zamora that drifted wide. Ashton tried his luck from long range, and Friedel was down well to stop the striker's effort.

David Dunn, booked earlier, was taken off for Matt Derbyshire. Alan Curbishley then brought on Sears for his debut - and his goal came nine minutes from the end after Ashton had backheeled.