IF Blackburn Rovers are to progress to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the second season running they are going to have to end a winless run against West Ham United that stretches back to December 2005.

But, from the 8-2 Upton Park demolition job on Boxing Day 1963 to the 7-1 Ewood Park drubbing in October 2001, Rovers fans do have happy memories of facing the Hammers.

Another came in April 1994 when a 74th-mintue strike from lifelong Hammers fan Ian Pearce earned Kenny Dalglish’s side a 2-1 away win which not only kept their title hopes alive, but also sealed the club’s place in Europe for the very first time.

Henning Berg had headed injury-hit Rovers into a first-half lead with his first goal for the club but they looked to be heading for another costly draw when Martin Allen equalised with a deflected free kick.

However two minutes after coming on centre-back-turned-striker Pearce took a defence-splitting pass from Alan Shearer and fired in his first league goal for the club.