Blackburn Rovers had to settle for a point after dominating this Ewood Park encounter with West Ham United.

It was the visitors who netted first, Mark Noble stunning Rovers with a fine 35th minute strike that curled in off the far post.

But Rovers responded well, and levelled five minutes after the restart when half-time substitute Keith Andrews slammed the ball through a host of bodies.

The home side went in search of a goal that would have seen them claim all three points, El-Hadji Diouf twice saw efforts chalked off due to offside, but ultimately they were left frustrated as West Ham just about managed to keep Rovers out.

So a point is all Rovers had to show for their endeavours, but that is something that they haven't managed to achieved against West Ham United since December 2005, when the dust settles on the season it could prove to be a very important one.

Sam Allardyce made just the two changes from the side that was well-beaten at the Emirates seven days earlier, club captain Ryan Nelsen returned to the defence, whilst there was a first start in the league for a month for Benni McCarthy.

Rovers were a real threat from the off, the long throw capabilities of Morten Gamst Pedersen proving to be a real thorn in the West Ham side early on.

He had already served warning with a third minute throw that the visitors struggled to clear, but five minutes later another throw into the area from the Norwegian was only partially cleared, Ryan Nelsen clipped the ball back into the area, Chris Samba nodded on for Benni McCarthy, but from just six-yards out his left-footed strike was well off target.

Rovers continued to deploy the long throw of Pedersen as they continued to force West Ham back, Robert Green had to be alert to rush out to block an effort from Stephen Warnock after more confusion in the area.

At the other end Paul Robinson was a relative spectator, a routine save from Di Michele and a quick race out of his area to clear, his only involvement.

Jason Roberts saw an effort blocked after sharp turn in the box, but it was at the other end where panic set in when a quickly taken throw on the right saw the ball pumped into the area and as neither Robinson nor Samba could clear, the ball fell invitingly to Diego Tristan, but as the Spaniard pondered Ooijer acted and cleared the ball away.

Rovers thought they had broke the deadlock just past the half hour when from yet another Pedersen throw, Samba nodded down for El-Hadji Diouf to sweep home, but the Senegal international was clearly offside and the goal was chalked off.

But four minutes later a clear offside decision didn't go Rovers' way when from a quick break West Ham took the lead. Luis Boa Morte was in a clear offside position as he fed Diego Tristan, but play continued and Mark Noble finished in fine style with a shot from the angle with the outside of his boot that went in off the far post.

The goal knocked Rovers back, but they did come late in the half, the impressive James Tomkins blocking efforts from Pedersen and Roberts. But as the half-time whistle blew, Rovers left the field scratching their heads as to how they were behind.

Rovers were forced into a change at the break as Andre Ooijer was unable to continue due to a groin strain, but it was his replacement Keith Andrews who made an immediate impact.

Inevitably Rovers' equaliser came from a long throw from Morten Gamst Pedersen on the right, the ball was only cleared as far as Andrews and from a position similar to the one scored by Noble in the first half, the Republic of Ireland international drove the ball hard and low and into the back of the net.

It was Andrews' first goal at Ewood Park, his third goal of the season.

Boosted by the leveller Rovers went in search of a second goal, pushing the Hammers further and further back.

El-Hadji Diouf had the ball in the back of the net for a second time on 63 minutes, but like his strike in the first half it was ruled out for offside as he latched onto the rebound after Chris Samba's effort was saved.

It was one way traffic towards Robert Green's goal, Diouf couldn't connect at the back post following McCarthy's magic with the cross, then from a Pedersen throw McCarthy saw his effort saved, Stephen Warnock unable to get to the rebound first.

But no matter what Rovers tried, they just couldn't find a way through, McCarthy and Pedersen saw shots blocked, as did Andrews and Roberts moments later.

West Ham offered little of an attacking force, and aside from a late scare when Kieron Dyer's pace troubled Samba, there was little for Paul Robinson to do as his England counterpart at the other end Robert Green was kept busy by Rovers.

But despite their efforts and a half of total domination, Rovers just couldn't break West Ham for a second time and had to settle for a rare point against the visitors.

Results elsewhere didn't fall in Rovers' favour either, as they once again find themselves nervously looking over their shoulders at the teams below them.

ROVERS: Robinson, Ooijer (sub Andrews 46 mins), Samba, Nelsen (c), Givet, Diouf, Mokoena, Warnock, Pedersen, Roberts, McCarthy.

Subs not used: Brown (GK), Tugay, Dunn, Zurab, Villanueva, Treacy.

WEST HAM: Green, Neill (c), Ilunga, Parker, Boa Morte (sub Lopez 79 mins), Kovac, Noble, Spector, Tristan (sub Payne 90 mins), Tomkins, Di Michele (sub Dyer 82 mins).

Subs not used: Lastuvka (GK), Sears, N'Gala, Stanislas.

Booked: Nelsen, Mokoena (Rovers), Parker (West Ham)

Attendance: 21,672