Hammers goalkeeper Green was outstanding as his team dug in to defend the lead given to them by substitute Dean Ashton shortly after half-time.

"It is a tough place to come to. They have quality players now and are playing quality football," Green told Sky Sports.

"To come here and put in the display we have and defended like that for the last 35 minutes is very good - excellent.

"Away from home we defend particularly well and hit teams on the break - and that is what we were looking to do today."

Ashton, who came on as a second-half substitute as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury, described his goal as a "bonus" to go with the fact he also finished another match in good health.

Manager Alan Curbishley, celebrating a year in charge of West Ham, congratulated his team on grinding out an appropriate result for him.

"There was great determination," he said.

West Ham have a Carling Cup quarter-final at home to Everton on Wednesday - and with one eye already on that match, Curbishley was understandably heartened by today's win.

"Blackburn put a lot of pressure on us, but we dug in," he added.

"We've come here and done a really good job. It is a massive week for us - that is the first leg."

Rovers manager Mark Hughes admitted he could take few positives from his side's display, and claimed they only got going after falling behind.

"We never got anywhere near the level we are capable of - certainly in the first half our passing was poor and we never got any tempo or momentum to our play," he told Sky Sports.

"They restricted us to playing in front of them.

"Second half, we were disappointed with the goal we conceded - possibly we needed that to get us going and after that we tried to ask questions of them.

"But it's one of those games we want to draw a line under."