IT was an afternoon of frustration for Rovers as they went down by a single goal at home to West Ham United.

Half-time substitute Dean Ashton got the only goal of the encounter, defensive mistakes allowing McCartney to cross for Aston to fire home from close range six minutes after the restart to liven up what had been a dull opening half memorable only for long-rage efforts from Dunn and Tugay.

In truth the second half wasn't much better, although Roque Santa Cruz should have done better when through on 77 minutes, whilst Ashton wasted a tremendous opportunity from twelve yards out in the closing stages.

There was to be no way past a stubborn Hammers defence, and even when the back four was breached, Rovers came across a goalkeeper in Robert Green in tremendous form. His save from Tugay's thunderbolt through a crowded area in the final throes the pick of the saves.

In the end Rovers didn't have enough cutting edge in the final third, as the visitors celebrated their fourth away win of the season.

Before the game Mark Hughes made just the one change from the side that started eight days earlier, with David Bentley serving a one-match suspension for picking up his fifth yellow card of the campaign last time out against Newcastle, Morten Gamst Pedersen came back into the side for his first start at Ewood Park in over a month.

And Bentley's guile and goal threat was certainly missed in a first half that was memorable for some robust challenges from Rovers, and a spate of long-range efforts at goal.

On five minutes Lucas Neill, roundly booed by the home fans for every touch, saw his pass inside cut out by Benni McCarthy, he quickly released the ball forward for Roque Santa Cruz to run at goal, marshalled well by Gabbidon, the Paraguay international spread the ball to David Dunn who unleashed a swerving 30-yard effort that flew inches over Robert Green's cross bar.

Twelve minutes later and it was Tugay's turn to have a strike at goal, McCarthy again working hard to rob Scott Parker and the former Turkish international let fly from distance, but again the ball curled just away from goal.

West Ham worked hard to close down the space, frustrating the home team, but their best effort of the half came from Scott Parker, who, like Dunn and Tugay before him, tried his luck from distance, thankfully his dipping effort was a couple of yards wide. Then two errors from Stephen Warnock almost allowed the visitors in, but Boa Morte's effort was well over the bar.

On the stroke of half-time came the first shot on target, David Dunn launched a crossfield pass that Pedersen did well to control, from a tight angle he shot at goal but Green was there to turn the ball into the side netting.

Both managers made changes at the break, Robbie Savage getting his first taste of action since the win at Tottenham Hotspur at the back end of October, whilst Dean Ashton replaced Matthew Etherington for the opposition.

And it was the West Ham bench who were soon celebrating their change as it had a near-immediate effect. But for the stout defending of Andre Ooijer, West Ham could have taken the lead on 51 minutes, but from the resulting corner kick, a poorly placed header from Brett Emerton was seized upon by Nolberto Solano, George McCartney crossed from the byline and Aston was there to poke home from close range.

Five minutes later and Robert Green twice denied Rovers. From a Morten Gamst Pedersen corner kick firstly he pushed away Christopher Samba's downwards header, then when Andre Ooijer pounced on the loose ball to turn and shoot but the West Ham number one was there once again to make a vital block with his legs.

Rovers continued to press and probe but their inability to carve open the visiting defence meant that they had to take their opportunities when presented to them, Tugay saw a long-range effort deflected into the arms of Green, whilst Pedersen failed to find the target with a venomous effort on the right of the area.

With Rovers pouring forward at every opportunity, there were always chances that West Ham could take advantage on the break, only a smart save by Brad Friedel on 73 minutes stopped Luis Boa Morte from doubling the visitor's lead. Solano's deep cross picking out the West Ham winger, his effort was first time but blocked by the chest of the American.

Jason Roberts was thrown on in a desperate attempt from Mark Hughes to get something out of the game, but it was Roque Santa Cruz who twice had opportunities to level for Rovers.

Firstly he headed wide from Morten Gamst Pedersen's inviting cross, but a minute later when Tugay lofted a ball into the area, the Rovers frontman showed the good and the bad side to his game, he may have brilliantly brought the ball under his control, but with just Green to beat he blasted the ball horribly over the bar.

Rovers had to play out the final six minutes of the game with just ten men after Andre Ooijer was helped off with what looked like either a thigh or a hamstring strain. The Dutchman, who had arguably been Rovers' best player on an otherwise miserable afternoon at Ewood Park, pulled up when attempting to clear a ball, this allowed Carlton Cole to run at the nonexistent Rovers defence, his pass to Ashton was perfect, but thankfully the finishing wasn't as the ball was blasted high into the stands from twelve yards.

But even so Rovers still threatened in the latter stages, West Ham having Robert Green to thank for keeping the home side at bay, threatening from a series of corner kicks, one was cleared out to Tugay who shot through a host of bodies on the volley only for Green to make a flying save to his right to tip the ball around the post.

That was as good as it got for Rovers, the referee's whistle signalling their third defeat in five games. They now have six days to work out where it all went wrong before the trip to the JJB Stadium to face Wigan Athletic next Saturday.

ROVERS: Friedel (c), Emerton, Ooijer, Samba, Warnock, Dunn (sub Reid 71 mins), Mokoena (sub Savage 46 mins), Tugay, Pedersen (sub Roberts 76 mins), McCarthy, Santa Cruz.

Subs not used: Brown (GK), Derbyshire.

WEST HAM: Green, Neill (c), McCartney, Gabbidon, Upson, Parker, Etherington (sub Ashton 46 mins), Cole (sub Camara 88 mins), Solano (sub Spector 76 mins), Mullins, Boa Morte.

Subs not used: Wright (GK), Noble.

Booked: Ooijer (Rovers), Cole (West Ham).

Attendance: 20,870