Zamora scored 15 minutes from time as the club ended a run of five successive league defeats and moved of the bottom of the Barclays Premiership table after a 2-1 victory at Ewood Park.

Referee Howard Webb allowed the striker's effort to stand on the advice of assistant Jim Devine, even though his team-mate Carlos Tevez cleared the ball off the line from an offside position.

Even Hammers' manager Alan Curbishley admitted the ball had not crossed the line and Hughes could not contain his anger after seeing his club's bid for European football derailed.

"I am delighted. I don't care [the ball was not over] I'll take it," said Curbishley.

"I've seen the replay of it and obviously it hasn't gone over the line. On the day you get penalties, other decisions and some go your way.

"The linesman is a long way away and I think my players' reaction may have affected his decision.

"We have had some bad luck so I'm delighted it has turned.

Stunned Hughes said: "I am absolutely astounded by the decision. The only debate I felt was whether the ball was over the line.

"When I went to see the video, the guy who cleared it was their man. He is clearly offside and interfering with play.

"Why the hell officials can't get that right I have no idea.

"He (the assistant referee) was able to see through two goalposts and a 6ft 3ins keeper and able to judge the ball was over the line.

"Referees are sometimes being undermined by their assistants. They have too much of an influence."

There was little hint of the drama to follow when Christopher Samba opened the scoring for Blackburn with his first goal for the club.

But the Hammers drew level when the industrious Carlos Tevez scored from the penalty spot after being brought down by Brett Emerton.

To cap a miserable day for Blackburn David Bentley was sent off in stoppage-time after picking up his second yellow card.

Hughes said: "I have asked the referee to make sure his door was open when I come to see him.

"We were 1-0 up and all of a sudden officials lent a hand. They got caught up in the emotion of the game "It was not a penalty as there was no contact.

"He (Tevez) knows what he is doing by inviting the challenge. He had it in his mind before going down.

"Then to make a poor day even worse referee sends off David Bentley when it should be a free-kick to us as Lucas Neill pushed him into the ball."

It was only Curbishley's second win in 13 league games and he said: " I felt as the game wore on we became stronger.

"We created a few chances and we made our own luck.

"I have just seen the replay of the second goal and I will take that.

"It gives us a chance now of getting out of trouble and gives us a massive lift.

"If we can get get a result in our next game we will start putting pressure on the teams above us.

"It is not over as there are a lot of games left."