Premier League: Blackburn 1 West Ham 1

Steve Kean made a disappointing start to his Blackburn managerial career as his side threw away the points in a 1-1 draw against rock-bottom West Ham.

The interim manager, who took charge after Sam Allardyce’s shock sacking earlier in the week, was looking to carry on his previous boss’ good work at Ewood Park by securing a fourth straight home win.

It looked likely when Ryan Nelsen scrambled a goal early in the second half but Hammers substitute Junior Stanislas fired in an equaliser 10 minutes from time to secure a precious point.

The result leaves West Ham still stranded at the foot of the Premier League table with boss Avram Grant a firm favourite to go the same way as Allardyce.

It remains to be seen how much time Kean will have in charge but his day was further ruined by the loss of Jason Roberts, Christopher Samba and Phil Jones to injuries just as they enter the busy festive schedule.

According to Blackburn’s Indian owners Venky’s, Kean’s brief was to bring more entertainment to Ewood Park but there was precious little to warm up the freezing fans in the first half.

Morten Gamst Pedersen at least looked a little happier to be freed from his role as long-ball expert, moving into a more central role.

And he went closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half with a curling 22-yard free-kick that rookie West Ham keeper Ruud Boffin held onto as it headed for the top-left corner.

At the other end, Frederic Piquionne twice fired off target from tight angles while Luis Boa Morte brought a smart save from Paul Robinson at his near post after a clever pass inside the full-back.

Rovers came out fired-up after the break and got their reward in the 52nd minute. Brett Emerton robbed Pablo Barrera as the Mexican dawdled on the ball and whipped in a dangerous cross.

The ball fell to Nelsen two yards out but his shot was brilliantly saved by Boffin only for it to bounce back to the centre-half to knee over the line.

West Ham went close to an equaliser in the 70th minute when Pedersen failed to deal with a cross and the ball fell to Matthew Upson 12 yards out but his shot flicked the outside of the post and went wide.

They did eventually tie the scores in the 79th minute when Scott Parker dribbled into the Blackburn box and Michel Salgado’s tackle saw the ball break to Stanislas, who slotted the ball past Robinson from the angle of the six-yard box.

Moments later, Blackburn’s David Dunn turned the ball into the net from a corner but the goal was chalked off for a foul in the box.