Quite a dilemma for the gentle folk of Upton Park. Should more abuse be directed at the former midfield stalwart who 19 years ago slipped on a Manchester United shirt a little early, or a manager who has wound up the troops by not establishing their team as the most entertaining in the capital?
Such is the disgruntled world of East End football, where offence is taken easily and forgotten slowly. Paul Ince, of course, got lock, stock and two swearing barrels from the off. 'The reception was great,' he joked. 'It's like a circus. There was probably 10 or 15,000 fans out there who weren't born when it happened, but West Ham still has a place in my heart.'
Alan Curbishley escaped with less phlegm, yet neutrals feared for him every time Blackburn threatened an equaliser - discontent smouldering as one seemingly clean goal was disallowed and a soft, second-half penalty conceded. Only when Craig Bellamy and Carlton Cole scored in time added on did the West Ham fans relax and revel in their side's best Premier League start in nine years. 'Obviously it's been a difficult week,' Curbishley said. 'The fans are having a go at you after two games and I've not heard of that before. When the West Ham fans get behind the team, they are second to none; when they're not happy, they let you know. I've not moaned too much, I've just kept my counsel and got on with it.'
That cannot be easy for Curbishley. Season one at West Ham he steers the club to safety on the final day of the season yet receives little credit. Season two ends with the secure mid-table finish his employers requested, yet the supporters grumble about a shortage of thrills. Season three begins with his squad asset...#8209;stripped of Anton Ferdinand, Freddie Ljungberg, Nolberto Solano and Bobby Zamora as the credit crunch hits, yet he collects the flak.
Ince gave a midfield debut to Australia's Vincent Grella, who soon saw yellow for a high and heavy challenge on Scott Parker. 'Dirty northern bastard,' intoned the home support with questionable geography. His new manager had already received worse, Upton Park taking a full 40 seconds to launch their first round of 'Judas' abuse.
His team might have had an early goal, Stephen Warnock teeing up Roque Santa Cruz for a well blocked shot, then out-muscling Valon Behrami but failing to find a finish. However, if Blackburn's attack looked potent, the defence were unsure. West Ham forced a series of set pieces and when Julien Faubert hung a corner above the penalty spot Davenport outjumped all to convert.
Soon that lead was doubled. Faubert played a straightforward ball from the right wing to Mark Noble, whose hopeful shot skipped between Christopher Samba and Dean Ashton before finding the net. If it was hard to work out which goal was softer, West Ham soon contributed a candidate of their own.
Parker initiated the errors by popping a ball up for Steven Reid to head goalward. Davenport and Behrami continued them by allowing Jason Roberts to turn and outrun them. A precise finish narrowed a gap that only some suspect officiating would prevent from completely disappearing. On the half-hour, Samba headed a cross on for Matt Derbyshire to tap in with his first touch. Whether Samba had been penalised for pushing or Derbyshire for offside, the decision looked wrong. 'It's a legitimate goal,' said Ince. 'I don't understand it.'
His next frustration was self-inflicted, as Cole handed Blackburn a penalty Roberts could not convert - his spot-kick too slow to beat Robert Green, a goalkeeper who revels in stopping them.
More effective as forward than defender, Davenport carved a shot across the face of Paul Robinson's goal, while Derbyshire's clever chip just cleared the crossbar. Green saved smartly from Reid and Brett Emerton, and Robinson still more impressively from Craig Bellamy and Cole.
A ball over the top ended the contest - Bellamy sprinting on to Lucas Neill's lusty clearance to leather past Robinson. A minute later, Behrami, Parker and Cole combined to make the scoreline still more deceptive. Curbishley, you fear, may be on the rack again soon.
THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT
Luke Madden, Observer reader
On the back of a funny week with lots of things coming out of the club, it was a really good result, which makes up for the previous two, and we're back in the top half of the table. People are getting ahead of themselves with all the talk of sacking the manager. It wasn't a 4-1 game, but we were the ones playing all the football. Green's penalty save changed the game - he doesn't get the chance with England that he deserves - and Bellamy's pace made a huge difference. There are signs of improvement, but it's hard to judge when we don't have our best XI, and we need Bellamy and Ashton to stay fit. Curbishley needs more time, but we do want to be entertained. Ince got the usual friendly reception, but it's more important that the crowd get behind the team.
The fans' player ratings Green 8; Behrami 7, Davenport 8, Upson 7, Neill 6; Faubert 7 (McCartney 7), Noble 6 (Mullins n/a), Parker 7, Etherington 6; Ashton 7 (Bellamy 7), Cole 7
Marcus Tattersall, Observer reader
Our Hammers hoodoo goes on. Rovers seem destined always to turn a West Ham season around. Although old mother Riley did his best to spoil the game with characteristic fussiness, we should have taken something. Rovers are in desperate need of an out-and-out right-winger, but Keith Andrews showed enough drive in the second half to suggest he can make an impact at this level. I was very sceptical before, but he was my man of the match - you'll be hearing much more about him over the next 18 months. The wasp-like Bellamy had the last word, finally waking a sleeping ground with a touch of class that we remember and miss. He'd have an argument with an empty room, but he made the difference. I think we're in for a long winter - Ince hasn't had the time to bring in the right people; we're lacking in too many departments.
The fans' player ratings Robinson 6; Ooijer 6, Samba 5, Nelsen 5, Warnock 4; Grella 5 (Andrews 7); Emerton 6, Reid 6, Pedersen 5 (Treacy 5); Roberts 6, Santa Cruz 5 (Derbyshire 5)
