BLACKBURN manager Mark Hughes said poor finishing proved to be his side's undoing against West Ham United.

Rovers slipped to a disappointing 1-0 defeat - their second in three home games - courtesy of Dean Ashton's 53rd minute winner.

But although Hughes was critical of the manner in which his players conceded that goal, he felt missed chances at the opposite end ultimately cost his side at least a point.

"We had good chances," said the Rovers boss.

"We had an opportunity when Roque had to head it which, in fairness, he did well to get to.

"He will also be disappointed with the chance he put over the bar shortly afterwards, and maybe Morten had an opportunity as well on his wrong foot which he didn't really test the keeper with.

"So we had good opportunities and good situations which we didn't take advantage of.

"But, overall, we are probably disappointed with the level of performance we produced.

"It was down on what we know we can produce."

Although Hughes felt his own players underperformed on the day, he was also complimentary about the way West Ham did a job on his team.

"West Ham got a lot of players behind the ball and they were trying to stop our influential players from getting into the little areas we try to work to get into," he said.

"I thought they did that very well in fairness.

"Danny Gabbidon and Matthew Upson at the back were both outstanding, and that made it very difficult for us."